Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1894-04-14
JOE THE FIREMAN.

IL was night In q crowded thor
oughfare In the borough. where the
stencil and noise Of o mighty multi.
tude rose up on the heavy air. Sud.
denly there was . clearance TO right
and 10 left NJ the ominous roar and
Il rattle OF q fire engine was heard. On
the front rai Joe Lang ford. ono OF the
bravcst OF that brigade Of real heroos.
Aye, drawer arc they than all the
great soldiers Of history from Alex.
ander down to Wellington. since
their mission IL TO faco every danger
In saving life not In destroying IL
That night NJ the station whore
Lang lord was on duty q ''call" ar
rived which caused him much alarm.
4 for IL came from the very street in
which no lived himself. where, in a
tophoor room, he had left his wife
aud child. However, there was one
consolation. they would not be many
minutes getting there at their rate
of speed, and when they had reached
the scene OF tho disaster he was in.
fnitcly relieved TO dnd that his dear
Zones were In no immc iiatc peril
The burning house was situated on
chs opposite side OF the street d.
rcctly opposite ~ II CHANGED
Alice Langford and her little Girl
had already retired to rest when
the former was awakened by tho
lurid glare upon the window blind.
the hoarse shouts from tho stroot he
low--the terrible cry Of Fire" She
rose softly so rs not To disturb the
child, drew tho curtains aside and
pccrcd out into tho night Tn.
fames, which were now madly leap.
ing high In the air i'll minated the
~ hole street, and all things were
plainly visible ms by daylight As
3he men OF the brigade directed
holr hose and poured great jets OF
Fater, which splashel AMI Missed
bnpotently upon the fire she Thought
Instantly Of Joe, her husband Sure
y he would be there, II Wa not
long before she deserted him. ax In
band, mounting up tho escape.
IL gave her . thrill OF horror 10
ee him swiftly mounting that led
er; then coming out at tho ton an
laundering on to the sill Of tIo win.
low which was directly ON n level
Fith her own. Next she saw him
sisc his Ak and the wood and glass
y tho CAS- ient dying about his
cad In q thousand splinters Then
20 stood up on the narrow Ia gc and
10 hot flames and the dense black
nokc which hurst out OF the room
Grounded and onvelopod him from
Ivory side.
She turned away shuddering aud
powered her face with her hands
ph. how she wished she had
bot seen this. She felt that now
khen Joe was away on duty she
Fould never know a peaceful night
gain But When che turned away
he heard Oh shouts and the cries
md the splashing Of water, and felt
. though she was impelled by some
FASCINATION to look again At tho
Gene Of disaster
Now some Of the inmates were
browning some of thei.' bodding and
ther effects out Of windows which.
q London crowd. was not much
etter than leaving them to the
evouring flames. so far rs tho light.
III owners wero concerned whilst
thors were being assisted down ono
the oscapen Then Alice's gaze
travelled upwards again and was
rvetsd upon the scene which Was
(cing enacted 10 the top room.
fhich her husband had now reached.
Here he found soddened drunkArd
ing on the bed an unkempt. un-
haven wretch. who was apparently
nconacious OF the gravity OF his
ltuation This was the very man
hose carclessness rs no came up
lairs had caused the fire, only that
ss not known then. Of course.
I.angford's wi c from the opposite
de OF the street could not hear the
ords that were spoken. but she
build distinctly see ali that passed,
I'd recognizing the man when he
pse up the full horror OF the scene
nd her powerlcsspess TO aid pos
fsscd her like terrible dream.
"Hslloo. my man" cried Joe
pughly shaking the drunkard. don
Du know that the house 10 on Dire
ome. or youll DO roasted alive"
"ftreH" muttered the other drow
~, Thought l, was q bit hot Have
,other drink ?"
drink DO hanged! You've had 4
w too many as ID Ia Come on
AnRford exclaimed. who. being thai
uch-condemned, though highly to
respected individual. q moderat.
mixer. entertained an immense con
mpt and disgust for drunkards.
The man sat up and soemed sud
eniy TO grow sensible and cousciou,
his position.
Joe l.angiord." he exclaimed
what the devil are you doing heree
'.hiram Davis"
"funny. aint IL, when one come
think you married the woman
we'd. and it's throu IN that I'm wha
amv'
swell, mover mind about tha
pw," said the fireman. DO dly seiz
% Davis In his strong grasp (for tn
stor appeared 10 10 strangel
verse 70 being resoued) and forcibl
v@ged him toward the window.
'WhAt-what ~" he sta;nmore
IDLY. what In heavens name ar
pa going 10 do with meP"
They had now clam bored
lndow ledge. aud had only reacho
tues In time. for ~ that momeI
2 hoor Of the room fell throug
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