The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-11-17
the top floor, and all that day I looked

%&~.&~.&sS<R-.e-[SSsex -.&zIG~1& the top fioor and all that day looked out the south window at the flames that were raging all over the south side. 1t never occurred to me that the fire would spread across the river, and having been worn out by the excite ment of the spectacle, I lay down to sleep that night, and it was the most refreshing sleep had for weeks.
 Hours after, I don't know how long, I was awakened by a hideous noise. There was a dreadful uproar, and as I looked out of the window could see the sky was crimson, while showers of red-hot sparks were falling all over. The light was so vivid in my room that I could see distinctly every object in the apartment. dressed in "a hurry. The excitement gave me strength. This surprised me at the time, for I knew didn't have ten cents in the world, and just what I was going to do I couldn't for the life of me make out, nor could I even think about it. Downstairs I tore and as reached the front door a shower of sparks fell on the house and the roof took fire.
 ''The street was full of people running like mad and I started to follow them. Just as I reached the curbstone intend ing to take to the street my foot struck aginst an iron ring in the sidewalk and head first I was sent sprawling into the gutter. As fell I threw out my right hand, and as my fingers clutched the soft mud in the gutter felt something in my grasp that made me start. held it up to the light and saw that it was purse Instantly had it open. saw a, roll of grenbacks, and then thrusting the money into my pocket, I tore on after the crowd.
 You may not know that there is a tonic in money, but let starving man pick up a dollar and his heart will beat with new courage. That was my case. As soon as found that money seem ed to get stronger. knew it belong ed to some victim of the fire that was burning up the city, but that made no difference There were $3S5 in the purse. I counted the money dozen times the next day and every time I ran my fingers over the crisp bills I felt my nerve coming back. In week I was well man and I made such good use of the $375 I had left the second week that I have never wanted for a dollar since. Yes sir, the Chicago fire made my fortune'
 "A barrel of cider played part in the great fire quite foreign to the purpose fo,- r1,bi ,fcr;r, oil i,,te la5 said Scott Fergus, who was in a remi- niscent mood the other afternoon
 The Fergus family has lived in the city ever since it was worthy of name, and the exciting incidents of the fire of '71 have remained fresh in the memory of Scott Fergus. He leaned back in his chair in the Fergus Print ing company's office and slowly stroked his beard, while his face assumed the benign expression attendant on the rec ollection of a. good story. After a few moments occupied in an apparent study of the ceiling, he resumed:
 Tn 1871 there was on Grand street in North Chicago a small frame dwelling house, perhaps a little further removed from it's neighbors than they were from each other and set back from the street about twenty feet. I do not know whether 1t is still standing or not, nor do remember it's number, but it stood there a couple of years ago, like the relic it was. On October the man who owned the place-his name have also forgotten-saw the fire was headed his way and knew that the little home would soon, like thousands of others, be wrapped in flames From it's com parative seclusion the thought entered his mind that there might be a fighting chance of saving the place if only he had a supply of water. He had re- solved to remove his family as the neighbors all around him were doing, and save what they could carry, when he remembered that in the cellar was a barrel of cider, which they had pur- chased for their regalement during the long winter evenings. He would use that Quickly removing the liquid from it's cool storage place he gave dip pers and other containers to the differ ent members of the household, and in- structing them to watch for every little bladze, the resolute band of amateur fireman and firewomen worked and watched, and while every house for blocks on every side became the prey of the flames, this little home was saved and that by mere barrel of cider. - Chicago Daily News.