The Penn's Grove record., 1893-10-06
JOE THE FIREMAN.

It was night in a crowded thorough
fare in the borough, where the stench
and noise of a mighty multitude rose up
on the heavy air. Suddenly there was
a clearance to right and left as the
Luminous roar and rattle Of Il lire engine
was heard. On the front sat Joe Lang
ford, one of the bravest of that brigade
of real heroes. Aye, Drawer are they
than all the great soldiers OF history
from Alexander down to Wellington,
since their mission is to a c every
danger in saving life-not IN destroying
lit.
That night at the station where Lang.
ford was on duty a ''call' arrived
which caused him much alarm, Tor IL
came from the very street in which he
lived himself, where, in a top-hoor
room, he had left his wife and child.
However, there was n consolatioh'
they would not be many minutes get
ting there at their rate of speed, n
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
street-directly opposite as it CHANGED
Alice Langford and her little girl a
already retired to rest when the former
was awakened by the lurid glare upon
the window blind, the hoarse honts
from the street below-the terrible cry
of "Fire!" She rose softly so as not to
disturb the child, drew the curtains
aside and peered out into the night
The flames, which were o madly leap
ing high in the air illuminated the
whole street, and all things were plain
~ visible as by daylight. As the men
of the brigade directed their hose and
poured great Jets of water, which splash
ed and Kissed impotently upon the FIRE
she thought instantly of Joe, her u
band. Surely he would be there. 1t
YVES 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 c~lanibering
on to the sill of the window which was
directly on a 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 enveloped him from every side.
She turned away shuddering 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
of disaster.
Now some of the inmates were throw
ing some of their bedding and other
effects out Of window-which in a
London crowd was not much better
than leaving them to the devouring
flames, so far as the rightful owners
were concerned-whilst others were be-
ing assisted down one of the escapes.
Then Alice's gaze travelled upwards
again and was riveted upon the scene
which was being enacted in the top
room which her husband had now
reached.
Here he found a soddened drunkard
lying on the bed-an unkempt, I'M
shayen wretch, who was apparently un-
conscious of the gravity of his situation.
This was the very man whose careless
ness as he came up stairs had caused
the fire, only that vas not known then,
of course.
Langford's wife from the opposite
side of the street could not hear the
words that were spoken, but she could
distinctly see all .ilat passed, and re-
cognizing the man when he rose up the
full horror Of the scene and her power
lessness to aid possessed her like a
terrible dream.
"Halloo, my mani" cried Joe rough
ly shaking the drunkard, don't you
know that the house is on fret Come,
or You'll be roasted ~alive?'
"Fire?" muttered the other drowsily;
Thought it was a bithot! Have mother
drink"
Drink be hanged You've had a
few too many as it is. Come on!'
Langford exclaimed, who, being that
much-condemned, though highly-to-
b~e-respected individual, a moderate
drinker, entertained an immense on
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 hereF"
"Hiram Davis?"
Funny, %ain'tit, when one comes to
I think you married the woman l loved,
| and it's through that I'm what | ann
"Well never mind about that now"
| said the fireman, boldly seizing Davis
in his strong grasp (for the latter appear
| ed to be strangely averse to being rescued)
and forcibly dragged him toward the
| window.
s'What- xhat-" he stammered
| wildly, "what in heavens name are
| YOU going to do with me?'
They had now clambered 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 a
great volume of smoke and flames,
which choked and blinded them.
"By Jingo!' cried Joe, chat was a
narrow shave, and no mistake. Now
then, Davis, slip down the escape, and
clear out of it!'
81 will-don't you fretp' Hiram ex-
claimed, fercely, suddenly Selling his
preserver by the throat. The mis-
~creant's blood-shot eyes blazed malig.
nantly; he was mad with drunken de-