Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-09-20
THE FIERY FURNACE.

am DIR. Harris, residing in
Twelfth street, and enjoying re-
munerative practice. When was
somewhat younger than what ! am
now, an adventure happened to me
which never had, and ] hope never
wlllhave, parallel. The recollec-
ton of it fills me with horror; and
it seems incredible that | should
have survived it.
One evening went to superin-
tend the bathing of one of my pa
tients, whose case was to me an OBJ
ject of peculiar interest. As was
returning about eleven O'Clock at
night, the glare of light reflected
by the clouds in the northwest at
tracted my notice, and | joined the
crowd of people who were hasten
lug that way. We soon ascertain
ed that Benson's distillery was OH
fire. 1t was long structure, sup
ported at one end by an old build
ing forming two wings, and at the
other by "a similar, but perfectly
new edifce, not yet finished. On
my arrival the scene was fearfully
grand. Several engines poured
torrents of water over the roofs and
through the windows, from which
the roaring flames were leaping III
to the air. The hoarse shouting of
6remen, the pumping of the en-
CINE, the engineers bawling through
their trumpets to those stationed on
the roofs, the pillows of smoke roll
ing up into the illuminated sky, ex-
cited me, and could not remain in
active. ] was soon at work, and in
few minutes found myself drench-
ed with water and perspiration.
One of the duties in which took
part, was rolling the barrels of spirits
from the warehouse, which, it was
feared, would take fire, and render
tenfold the destruction and extent
of the confagration. To do this, it
was necessary to pass over "a plat
form of mason work, which encased
a vast copper boiler, the mouth or
opening of which was on level
with the platform, and of five or six
feet in diameter. At some eight or
ten feet above our heads was
floor, the beams of which rested in
and extended through the wall,
which, alone, protected us from the
flames.
After | had made two or three
turns on this platform, one of the
spectators who had witnessed my
exertions, directed my attention to
the ends of the joists, which were
just taking fire; the floor would I'M
doubtedly soon fall, and, perhaps,
drag down with it the opposite wall,
the mortar of which was still wet.
| retreated a few steps. At this
moment saw at the other side of
the platform, a man belonging to
one Of the insurance companies,
who made sign to me to give him
assistance. Casting my eyes up
wards to the floor above, and believ-
ing there was no immediate danger Of
it's falling, | ran to the ladder on
the other side, and was scarcely
mounted on it when mass of ma
son work fell upon US. | know not
how | escaped being killed; the
ladder was broken to pieces; a whirl-
wind of smoke, ashes and flames ell
circled me. | was lost. could not
find the place ] had left. ] became
bewildered. | attempted to run; Il
rush of flame stopped me. Suddenly
my footing gave way, and my ears
were greeted by the sonorous sound
Of striking metal. ! had fallen in
to the large copper boiler. Well,
thought l, when my first fears van
ished, after all am in greater
safety here than above, mid falling
tim bers and surrounding fire.
After this / could hear nothing
but the falling of timbers and bricks,
which seemed to strike, rebound, and
descend again in rapid succession.
I thought at one time the boiler was
going to be crushed, but the sur
rounding mason work protected it.
A considerable quantity OF rubbish
fell into the boiler through the
opening. To this rubbish it will be
seen, owe my life. In the midst
of the noise which the concavity of
my metal prison rendered, perhaps,
more terrible by its verberation,
/ believed myself forever lost. ]
tried to climb up the sides of the
boiler. Vain effort! They were as
smooth as glass. My prison was,
at least, fourteen feet in diameter,
and almost as high. began to es-
innate my chances of getting out
when the whole of the old wall