St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-16
Colby IN FLIGHT.
Brisk Fire in a Maison de Joie
Creates a Feminine
Panic.
THE SPECTACULAR ESCAPE
OF Colby Gray, a Yellow
Haired Girl With Trilby
Feet,
WHO CLAD IN A NIGHT ROBE
Descends the Ladder in the
Presence Of Hundreds Of
People.
WHO CLAD IN A NIGHT ROBE

For perhaps quarter of an hour
yesterday morning fierce fire ragged
in the blishment of Mrs. Ida M.
King. No. 101 West Third street,
which endangered the safety and
menaced the lives of nearly dozen
slurnbering women and small
quota of visitors scattered through
out the building The blaze created
a genuine panic of feminine alarm,
and for a brief time terror and con-
sternation reigned in the abode Of
frivolity. Fortunately, by the
prompt action of the central police
station force and the energetic eff
forts of Chief Jackson'S men the
blaze was controlled unattended by
any serious consequences, although
it occasioned many hasty and undig-
nified exits on the part of the ter
rorized women. One distressing in
cident occurred, the victim of which
was Miss Mamie Brannon, cham
bermaid, who received several pain
full injuries, being severely burned
on her arms and about her head.
The chambermaid originated the
panic, which, for the time, threat
ened sleeping beauty. At 10 o'clock
she was industriously engaged in
cleaning a soiled mat, which was
immersed in a tub of gasoline. AS
she labored she stood near par
TALLY raised kitchen window. The
vapOr coming in contact with a
heated stove caused an explosion,
the flames momentarily enveloping
the frightened domestic. She ran
rapidly down stairs, and unmindful
of her own injuries, fastened to the
police station and summoned assist
ance.
Sergeant Horn and a corps of po-
lice responded on the jump. When
they entered the burning building
the roar of the flames as they de-
voured everything combustible in
the kitchen was plainly heard, while
dense volumes of smoke permeated
the structure.
All the while, unaware of the dan
ger which menaced them, ten women
slept peacefully in the building.
Their rescue was the first idea of the
alert police sergeant, who, with the
activity of an athlete, darted through
the building, rapping on doors, and
originating racket which would
lage churchyard.
Quick and energetic responses
were ELECTED, and when the odors of
smoke penetrated nostrils a
FEMININE RACKET
arose which visibly augmented the ex-
element of the moment. Shrill
screams and plaintive appeals for res
cue emanated from the various apart
ments.
In the meanwhile the fire department
had arrived and soon the blazing
kitchen was invaded by gallons of
water which quickly removed further
danger in that direction Stimuli
taneously a plan of rescue was formu-
lated, and tall ladder was run up to
the third story on Third street where
quartette of frenzied women in a
condition of hysteria, eXcitedly await
ed rescue from their perilous position
Too alarmed to don even pretext of
a costume, and eager only to escape,
Goldie Gray, Fannie Holmes, Gladys
Raymond and George Duffy, the
sirens Of the third story, clad only in
dainty garments of white, peered anX-
iously into the street below, watching
with the intensity of fear the prepa-
rationS for their flight.
Quickly and securely the big ladder
settled opposite a convenient window
and an inviting avenue of escape was
opened. Goldie Gray, a petite blonde
with a profusion of f1axen locks, in
augurated the series of living pictures,
which were produced with kaleido-
scopic rapidity to the delectation of
many interested spectators. Miss
Goldie wore a startled expression like
frightened gazelle, and natures cos
tune, including daintily ruffled robe
de chambre, with which the chilling
breeze toyed mischievously. AS her
Trilby feet touched the topmost round
of the ladder, Chief Jackson softly
hummed Sweet Marie and gaZed
afar, while the optics of Captain Irwin
and the members Of Hose No. ! were
assiduously centered upon a man over
in West ST. Paul. Yet, occasionally
q. gleeful smoker emanating from some
mischievious spectator reminded the
rapidly descending fairy that her
dainty gyrations were not wholly I'M
observed.
Rapidly, and with the grace of an
acrobat, did Goldie Gray manipulate
the ladder, pausing oft to adjust her
night robe in numerous places which
evinced naughty desire to desert her.
Rosy as a peony, and Shivering with
the cold as her unprotected feet touched
the frozen snow, Goldie concluded her
lightning descent. Emboldened by her
success, her three companions essayed
the same perilous journey, each arriv-
ing in the str .et below
WITH DIsHEv ELEH LOCES,
tingling cheeks and an intense desire
to speedily get off the earth. When
the last one was safely rescued, Sergt.
Horn who had been an interested
spe .tator. collapsed utterly. The IS
cuee we're conveyed to an adjoining
store which served as an impromptu
dressing room.
Scenes of excitement were being en-
acted in the meanwhile on the second
floor, where portly Mrs. King and the
rest Of her little flock were congre-
gated. An extremely panicky condi-
lion prevailed, and for a few minutes
the little coterie of terrorized fenin-
unity were as active as an army of
Kansas grasshoppers. Hastily grab
bling up what came handy, an old red
stocking, a dilapidated ) iprnr, gau Iy
rat or section of chewing gum, they
franticaily deserted their apartments,
a I'd sought refuge in the street and
adio.tns hou-ts Tive men, W AIRY pill
grims cruelty thrust from cosy couches,
so badly ratified by the alarm of fire,
bolted into an unoccupied room, where
they obstinately remained, despite
Oarni' gs of their danger. After the
excitement had subsidized the pair quiet
ly vanished
The fire itself was practically insig-
nificant, entailing loss of perhaps not
more than $500, which will be sus-
tanned by the Armstrong estate, to
which the building belongs In view
of the excitement created and the nil