The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-02-02

It Is a cellar frc-a bad one-and in
a factory. Clouds Of dense black smoke
pour up from the basement and out
of every crevice around the big folding
doors that form the entrance. Bits Of
falling glass tell us that the pressure
of smoke and Of the gas generated by
the combustion going on within the
building is beginning to break the win
dows in the upper part, and II we are
not active the flames will get the bet
ter of us. Our foreman Is every where
at once, directing the captains Of the
arriving companies to their different
positions.
The Waterman Of the factory cannot
be found. Our foreman shouts, Quick!
the battering-ram. Break open the big
doors!'
One is quickly. unshipped from. its
place underneath the truck, and, with
a man on each side, at the command
Of the captain, the ram Is lunged for
ward at the big doors. Crash-the
doors culver under the impact of the
combined weight Of the solid mass
of iron and the two heavy men. A
few more blows and the locks give way,
the doors fly open, and into the black,
sitting smoke we force u way, drag
| ging the heavy hose with us.
We can see no f~ire-nothing but thick,
| dense smoke, choking our threats and
making the water run from our eyes in
streams, meanwhile the men from the
truck company have been at work with
the butt-ends of their axes, and have
broken open the headlights and graf
ing in the front over the basement
doors. The fire having shown up there,
we are ordered to "back out" and work
in the basement-an order easily given,
but not so easily obeyed; for the smoke
is now thick and so sitting that peo-
pie in the crowd on the other side Of
the street are obliged to beat a quick
retreat before it. But we firemen are
there to obey commands, not to ques-
ton them, and down we go.
A shower of glass greets us as we
back out, for it is now raining glass
and bits Of the window-frames from
above. Ladders having been raised to
the upper floors. the truckmen are max
ing an opening for the pipemen of other
companies, that they may be on hand
should the fire get above the first floor.
Another shower. this time a red-hot
plaster, greetS lis as we work our way
into the basement; and the fire, now
spreading all over the ceiling, brings
more down around us. The heat is
frightfur there, and we turn our fire
hats back foremost to protect u faces
as best we can. We slash the water
around. knocking over burning beams
and piles of packing boxes, the hose
squirming and quivering under the
pressure Of the tons Of water being
forced through it every minute; the
united strength of three or four mer
Is required to control it. All at once
one Of our number gives a gasp and
tumbles down at u feet, face forward,
In a pool of dirty water and plaster
overcome by the smoke and heat. An.
other drops his hold upon the hose
and StOopS to assist his fallen com
rade. 1t is now red hot in the base
ment, and we cannot breathe much
longer.
If we do not back out soon it will be
all over with us; but firemen, in the
enthusiasm and excitement of the mo
ment, hate to retreat until actually
driven out, so we still hold our position
At last we cannot stand it, and We
retreat to the doorway.
The fireman who was overcome, as
sisted by one or more companions
reaches the foot of the stairs. A bat
talion-chief, in command On the pave
ment above, seeing u position, shouts
Here! A man hurt! Down in thu
basement" In a second a dozen brave
fellows dash down the steps, and, lift
ing up our injured comrade, carry hin
tenderly up to the street, and then ovel
to n of the patrol wagons, where
with plenty of fresh air and brisl
rubbing, he is soon brought to his
senSes.-St. Nicholas.