Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-02-22
es5I.S5;SgExSof
QUIZ
Ez 800
GAk4yFR eARktTI H O
QSSSICS@V

of dismay.
The kamera was full of smoke-it choked
us as we breathed-and through the one
small easement a dull red glow fell upon
us. When we perceived that it was not
our kamera, but another, which was in
flames, we concluded that it must be the one
in which the men were confined, and shrek
ing the names of our friends we rushed at
the door, vainly trying to break it open.
The muffied clamor of voices told us that
the men were still shut up. Suddenly there
was a great outburst of voices as they forced
their door, and the next instant they were
CRYING to us from the outside of our hut
and beating furiously at the door which
separated us. We stood back as the heavy
panels creaked under the pressure of sturdy
shoulders, and presently a 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 brick-it's all right"
Half fainting with fright and 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
:hem to escape, and then through shower
Of sparks and past roaring and cracking
mass of fire into an open space, where it
was possible to breathe freely and get a
comprehensive idea Of what was going on.
This etape, like most others, consisted of
four or Eve log buildings of a single story,
Enclosed by high palisade of solid logs
planted side by side, and each cut toa sharp
point at the top. One of the buildings,
used as storehouse and carpenters shop,
had taken fire, and the wind, which was
blowing fiercely, carried the flames and
smoke down upon the kamera. 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 extinguish the flames and were
solely occupied in dragging what movables
were worth saving into the space where we
and few others stood.
Just in front of us was an ugly little man
with red beard. A sardonic grin was on
his impish face.
Look at Them" he said, pointing to a
party of warders hauling along cum
brous piece of furniture. Half dozen
men choking themselves to save piece oil
wood not worth couple Of kopecks, and
not one will stir a foot to prevent thost
poor wretched devils trampling each Other
to death at the locked gate"
SIS there any danger here?p | asked. He
turned around and answered bitterly:
"Yes: there's the danger of living to SCI
the mines of Kara or any other pit Of
Tophet 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, hs
said:
''If those fools, instead of pounding each
other into a jelly, would only pile them
selves into heap Systematically, there
would be a chance for some of us to snatch
few days respite in the forest. HelloF
he exclaimed as a lull came in the conflict
of screams and curses They're not sucf
fools after all; they've got the gate off its
hinges-Im OFF, And with that he dis
appeared into the smoke.
The wardens also discovered what had
happened. Half dozen ran across to &
shed and returned with rifles in their hands
The noise at the gates was over now. The
cracking of timber, the soft whirl o.
rising flame, an occasional thud as bean
fell-these were the only sounds that
reached MS for minute or two. Then 4
shot was fired, and another and another
half a dozen shots perhaps, and two OIL
three yells answered for echo.
We stood still till the warders returned
one by one, and all was still. Then Gordon
drawing closer to me, whispered:
'Shall we tryy"
ayes, yes-we will try" | answered
eagerly, for the thought that we also might
escape had just then occurred to me.
Gordon slipped down his hand anc
grasped mine tightly. Between us and tbs
gateway, on which the smoke still blew
down. in a thick column, charged with
whirling sparks and dropping flakes o.
fiery embers, stood couple OF warders
One was charging his rifle.
I'VE must make slip behind them ano
make a dash for the smoke" said Gordon
as we edged that way.
We waited one breathless minute, and
then as a roof fell in, throwing up al
eddying column of sparks, which drew of
the attention of the warders we slipped
quickly behind them and rushed into the
smoke.
We were seen. A voice called to- tc
stop, and a shot was fired afterus. But we
were already lost to sight. The smoke
blinded us, and stumbling over the bodie:
of those who had been trampled to death in
the frantic struggle to escape we reached
the open gateway