Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-01-18
THE BURLINGTON FREE PRESS THURSDAY JANUARY Is 1904

their door. and the next instant they were
CRYING to us from the outside of our hut
and heating fliriously at the door which
separated us. We stood back as the heavy
panels creakcd under the pressure of sturdy
shoulders, and presently II mighty thrust
burst the lock away, and the door flew back.
In the midst of the wild confusion that
followed felt my arm grasped and found
Gordon by my side.
Come along, little woman. Don't give
way: there's n brick-it's all right
Half fainting with fright ana the sut-
locating effect Of the dense smoke blowing
down upon us, ! staggered along by his
side, past crowd of panic stricken
wretches surging about the gate of the
yard in expectation Of its being opened for
them to escape, and then through y shower
of sparks and past roaring and cracking
mass of fire into an open space, where it
was possible TO breathe freely and get u
comprehensive idea of what was going on.
This ctape, like most others, consisted of
four or five leg buildings of Il single story,
inclosed by n high palisade of solid logs,
planted side by side and each cut to II sharp
point at the top. One of the buildings,
used as storehouse and carpenters shop,
had taken fire, and the wind, which was
blowing iierCely, carried the hames and
smoke down upon the kancra. The end
of that one in which Gordon had been shut
up was already blazing, and it looked as if
all the huts in succession must catch fire
and be destroyed, for the officials could do
nothing to extingush the flames and were
solely occupied i'll dragging what moyables
were worth saving into the space where we
aud few others stood.
just in front of Us was an ugly little man
with red beard. \ sGrdonic grin was on
his impish face.
Look at them" he said, pointing to II
party of warders hauling along II cum
DrOus piece of furniture. Half dozen
men choking themselves to save Il piece of
wood not worth II couple of kopocks. and
mot one will stir foot to prevent those
poor wretchcd devils tramping each other
/ to death at tine locked gate"
"Is there any danger here" ] asked. He
turned around and answered bitterly:
"Nes; there's the danger of living to see
/ the mines of Kara or any other pit Of
( Tophct that our holy car in his mercy con
/ signs Us to-
/ Shading his eyes from the glare Of the
flames and looking into the smoke, he
sad:
"If those fools, instead Of pounding each
! other into a jelly, would only pile them
selves into heap Systematically, there
would be II chance for some of u TO snatch
/ few days, respite in the forest Hello
hccNclamed as II lull came in the conflict
/ of screams and curses. They not such
fools after all: they've got the gate off it,
hingos-Iin Off" And with that he dis
} appeared into the smoke.
The wardcns also discovered what had
happened. Half dozen ran across 10 Il
shed and returned With rifles in their hands.
The noise Ut the gates WAS over now. The
cracking Of timber, the soft whirl OF
rising dame. an occasional thud as a beam
lcll-these were the only sounds that
reached Us for minute or two, Then q
shot was fired, and another and another
half Il dozen shots perhaps, and two OF
three yclls answered for echo.
We stood still till tn warlcYS returned
che by one, and all WAS still. Then Gordon
drawing closer to Inc, whispcrcd
shall VIC try"
"Yes, ycs-wc will try | answered
eagerly. for the thought that we also might
escape had Just theu occurred to me.
Gordon slipped down his hand arc
grasped min, tightly. Between us and the
gateway, on WhlCn the smoke stlil DlcN
down in thick column, charged will
whirling sparks and dropping flakes o
fiery cmbers. stood a couple of wardcrS
One was charging his rifle.
We must make Il slip behind them anc
make a dash for the smoke" said GordoI
as we edged that way
We waited one breathle,s minute, an,
then as n roof fell in, throwing up II,
eddying column of sparks, which drew Of
the attention of the Wardcrs. we elippr,
quickly behind them and rushed into TIT
smoke.
We were seen. \ voice called to us t.
stop, and a shot was fired afterus. But W.
were already lost to sight. The smok
blinded us, and stumbling over the bodie
of those who had been trampled to death il
the frantic struggle to escape We reached
the open gateway.