Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-12-11
THIS GIRL A HEROINE SAVED 4 BA9Y AND HER AGED MOTH
 FER FROM A FIERY DEATH.

First Rang the Fire Aiarm-HIade Two Trips of Rescue-When Danger Was Past, Became Hysterical and Painted.
 Tillie Stern, a tall, dark haired girl of 19 years, saved two lives the other day at her home, i'll tenement in East Eighty y-fifth street, New York. One was a life almost spent-that of her mother, who is past 80 and helpless from infiam- matory rheumatism, the other that of golden haired child just learning to talk -Hortense Speakmaster, 8 months old, and the pride and joy of the big tene- ment.
 Tillie and her widowed mother live on the second floor, and on the top floor, three flights further up, live Leonard Speakmaster, his wife and the baby, Hortense. The mother had just dressed the child in its pretty gown of white muslin at 1 0 |. m. when Tillie knocked at the door. She intended just morn ing call to inquire about the little one, and, incidentally, to borrow q kitchen utensiI. Hortense showed her new gown, and when the girl started down stairs cried to go with her.
 "P'ease, mamma, please, she plead ed, and the mother nodded consent. Til lie took the little one in her arms, and old Mrs. Stern showed her the pictures in the morning paper. Tillie left her at this pleasing entertainment when she started for the grocery hard by.
 She smelled smoke when she reached the foot of the stairs. The hall was filled with it. but she thought it came from some careless neighbor' s stove and went on to the store When she came back, she saw the smoke coming i'll volumes from the speaking tubes. The halls were stifiing, and she screamed for the jan itor, Charles Roeder. He came, but stood paralyzed with fear, and TiIlie thrust him aside impatiently.
 Arouse the peoplel Tell them the house is on firePi were her orders.
 She ran to First avenue and fell, half fainting, against the post contain ing the alarm box. She turned the han de and then started back to the burn ing house, her mind filled with anxious thoughts. Was her old mother safe? Had they saved little Hortense?
 The street before the house was crowd ed with people when she got there. Ex- cited tenants ran to and fro, and among them she spied Mrs. Speakmaster.
 Where is Hortense? Is she safe?'
 eshe is up stairs with mother" an swered the girl her pale face becoming even more blanched.
 Instead of answering, the mother fell in dead faint.
 The smoke was now pouring ill dense clouds from the open hallway Tillie glanced at the mothers form being dragged to place of safety and with her lips tightly compressed rushed into the hall and to the stairs.
 They saw her throw her gingham apron over her head as she dashed ur and stood breathless until, minute later, she came out through the smoke bearing the golden haired baby in hen arms She handed the little one to g neighbor and rushed back
 My mother She must be saved P they heard her say.
 The rooms were black with smoke Mother Where are you? Come quick ? she called. The old mother staggered forward and leaned on the girls arm To return through the hall was impossi ble, and Mrs. Stern, helpless with rheu matism, begged to be left to die.
 Tillie threw open the window ant ran over the fire escape to the apart ment next door. The men were too ex cited to listen to her. "Come help me tC get out my mother, ;" she said "Sht will suffocate D
 One of the women was touched by tht appeal She forgot her fear and followed Tillie back over the fire escape and int the room where Mrs Stern sat. They lifted her out of the window into pure air and over the fire escape to safety. After she had done all this the relapse came, and Tillie became hysterical and staggered into chair weak and limp. She recovered after the firemen had ar. rived and put out the fire, and the ten. ants were restored to their water soaked rooms. New York World