Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-10-11
JOE THE FIREMAN.

on the heavy air. Suddenly there was
a clearance to right and left as the
ominous roar and rattle of fire engine
was heard On the front sat Joe Lang
ford, one of the bravest of that brigade
Df real heroes. Aye, braver are they
than all the great soldiers of history
from Alexander down to Wellington,
since their mission is to face every
danger in saving life-nOt in destroying
it,
That night at the station where Lang
ford was on duty a "calP' arrived
which caused him much alarm, for it
came from the very street in which he
lived himself, where, in a tOp-tlOOr
room, he had left his wife and child.
However, there was one consolation,
they would not be many minutes get
ting there at their rate of speed, and
when they had reached the scene of
the disaster he was infinitely relieved to
find that his dear ones were IN no
immediate peril. The burning house
was situated on the opposite side of the
,treet-directly opposite as IT CHANGED.
Alice Langford and her little girl had
already retired to rest when the former
was awakened by the lurid glare upon
the window blind, the hoarse shouts
rom the street below-the terrible cry
( Fire She rose softly so as not to
disturb the child, drew the curtains
aside and pcorcI out into the night.
fh" lllmc,. which were now mad!y leap
l.s high in th" air Illuminated the
..nol" street. and all things were plain
Invisible a. 10y daylight. As the men
Uf the brigade directed their hose and
poured great Jets of water, which splash
ed and hissci impotcntly upon tho fire
she thought instantly OF Joe, her bus
band. Surely he would be there. 1t
was not long before She deserted him,
AK in hand, mounting up the escape.
1t gave her a thrill of horror to see
him swiftly mounting that ladder; then
coming out at the top and Clambering
on to the sill of the window which was
directly on level with her own. Next
she saw him raise his AK and the wood
and glass of the easement flying about
his head in a thousand splinters. Then
he stood up on the narrow ledge and the
hot flames and the dense black smoke
which burst out OF the room surrounded
and enycloped him from every side.
She turned away shuddcring and
covered her face with her hands. Oh,
how she wished she had not seen this,
She felt that now when Joe was away on
duty She would never know a peaceful
night again. But when she turned
away she heard the shouts and the
cries and the splashing Of water, and
felt as though she was impelled by
some fascination to look again at the
scene of disaster.
Now some Of the inmates were throw
ing some OF their bedding and other
effects out of windows-which in
London crowd was not much better
than leaving them 10 the devOuring
flames, 50 far rs the rightful owners
were cOncerned-whilst others were be-
ing assisted down one of the escapes.
Then Alicc's gaze travelled upwards
again and was rivcted upon the scene
which was being enacted in the top
room which her husband had now
reached.
Here he found a soddened drunka d
living on the bcd-an unkempt, uu-
shavcn wretch, who was apparently un-
conscious of the gravity OF his situation.
This was the very man whose careless
ness a. ne came up stairs had caused
the fire, only that was not known then,
of course.
Langford's ; wife from the opposite
side Of the street could not hear the
words that We're spoken. but she could
distinctly see all that passed, and re-
cognizing the man when he rose up the
full horror of the scene and her power
Iessncss to aid possessed her like
terrible dream.
"Halloo, my mani" cried Joe rough
Iy shaking the drunkard, don't you
know that the house Is on fire? Come,
or you'll be roasted alive?"
Fire. muttcrcd the other drowsily;
thought it was a bit hot! Have mother
drink"
Drink be hanged! You've had
few too many as it IS. Come on"
Langford exclaimed, who, being that
much h-cOndcmned, though highly-tO-
be-respected individual, a moderate
drinker, entertained an immense con-
tempt and disgust for drunkards.
The man sat up and seemed suddenly
to grow sensible and conscious of his
position.
Joe Langford, " he exclaimed, "what
the devil are you doing here?'
Hiram Davi,?'
Funny, ain tit, when one comes to
think YOU married the woman | loved,
and its through that I'm what ami
We'll. never mind about that now"
said the fireman, boldly scizing Davis
in his strong grasp Cor the latter appear
ed to Toe strangely avcrse to being rescued)
and forcibly dragged him toward the
window.
What shat" he stammered
wildly. 'what in heavens name are
You going to do with me?"
They had now cIambered to the win
dow ledge, and had only reached it just
in time, for at that moment the floor of
the room fell through with a terrible
crash and the space was filled with
great volume Of smoke and flames,
which choked and blinded them.
by Jingo' cried Joe, that was a
narrow shave, and no mistake. Now
then, Davis, slip down the escape, and
clear out of it,
Il vill-don't YOU fret" Hiram ex-
claimed. fcrccly, suddenly selling his
TrcsCrycr 10y the throat The mis-
yrCant's hlooI-shot ewes blazed malig-
uauly. hc vas mad with drunken de-
Huium. I'm going down safe enough,
lut don't Won think YOU are going to
,SraTe: curse Won. As he spoke these
words he threw Langfoul off backwards,
who fell head long into the burning
ruins.
Nor mg7e than five minutes had
ELAPSED since ,hc tiraucn C..mc Uu
fle ladder. iut ID seemed like an age
fH tLe re-.r Woman Watching from iho
opposite ,ligus the siaayt. and when
she Saw Tie climax % tire tragedy, a
via shrek Cfhorror aud anguish broke
SOD li her lrs Then slc rushed from
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