The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-05-27

the excitement of their mistress dan
ger, nobody had thought of the child.
1t was an only one, boy about two |
years old, who slept with his nurse,
or "mammy," as she was called in the
household, in O back room in the up
per story. Mrs. Stewards first thought
on her escape had been to look for her
darling aud but for this the absence
of tho child might have been even
longer overlooked.
The hall of the house was now all in
flame, the fire pouring out through
the doorway as from the mouth of a
furnace so that ingress by that path
was impossible, Most of the second
story was also burning, and the entire
first floor, for the conaagration had
broken out there originally. To reach
the apartment where the nurse, prob
ably paralyzed with terror, was still
with the child, seemed out of the ques-
tion entirely.
But there was one there who deter
mined to make the attempt. The sight
of the mothers face, and the sounds
of her broken means, as she sank into
the arms of those who restrained her,
exhausted by her struggles to escape,
determined Juba to try at least to res
cue his young master.
81 will go, missus," he said "don't
cry no more"
He looked around as he spoke for
some means of scaling the second story.
| There was no ladder, and only one
staircase, but the bough of an orna-
mental tree, that overshadowed the
house, fortunately held out means of
access to a bold heart and q strong
arm. Not stopping even to hear his
mistress thanks, he clambered up the
tree, ran out on the limb, and drop.
ping on the roof, disappeared within
the dwelling.
How breathless we're the moments
that ensued. The flames were spread
ing with frightful rapidity. The caves
of the building began to smoke, show
ing that the fire within had reached
the roof, and soon after the whole line
of them flashed into couhagration.
Meantime the lurid element poured
out from the windows, ran upward
licking the combustible front and
streamed in a waving, dazzling pyra-
mid high over the top of the mansion,
far into the blue armament. Millions
of sparks, accompanied by volumes
of rolling smoke, sailed down the sky
before the breeze, completely obscur-
ing the heavens at intervals, though
occasionally this thick canopy, + artially
blowing aside, the calm moon was seen
peacefully shining down through the
rent, in strange contrast to the other
terrible scene. The roar of the con-
migration had now become intensely
loud and, to add to the horror, there
began to be heard the awful sound of
timbers falling within the house.
Mrs. Stewart had watched the fire
in silence, her hands clasped and lips
parted ever since Juba had disappeared
within the house. Each moment ap-
peared an Iage to her. At last the
suspense, thus lengthening out inter-
minably, as it seemed, became intoler'
able.
Oh it is vain," she cried, making
q new effort to rush into the flames,
she cannot find my boy. Let me go
myself. For the love of God"
But at that Instant, through the
smoke that almost hid the only window
that was not already on fire, appeared
the faithful Juba, holding aloft the in
fant. The flames were all around, and
in a moment more would overtake him.
He made rapid gesture for some one
to approach.
Four of the males, comprehending
his wish, snatched a blanket and
rushed promptly forward. The heat
was intolerable, but they disregarded
it, and standing beneath the window,
with the blanket outstretched, they
shouted to Juba to throw the child
down to them. He had, however, an
ticipated them. The infant fell while
they were speaking, was caught safely
in the blanket, and was hurried imme-
diately to Mrs. Stewart, who elasped
il to her bosom with frantic delight.
The whole was the work of less time
than we have taken to describe it.
But simultaneously terrific crash
was heard, that made the very earth
tremble beneath the spectators; q
huge column of smoke shot up toward
the sky, from where the roof had
been; and, as if propelled from force
pump, a gush of intense flame fol
lowed, leaping far up into the highest
heaven.
The crowd, one and all, gasped fol
breath. Then came a deep, long
drawn sigh. For the roof and floors
had evidently fallen in; and the faith
full Juba, alas was nowhere to be
seen.
A dozen persons rushed toward the
building, and, until driven back by
: the heat, stood close by the window
: where he had been latest visible. They
had hoped to find him there. They
had hattered themselves that there
had been time enough for him to leap,
But it was now plain this had not
been the case. He most probably fell
the floor giving way before he threw
, the child, and if so this explained the
. cause of his haste. They said this to
, each other as they fell back.
Q But there was little time for words
a Scarcely had this thought been ex
l changed before there was another
r crash, and, with momentary waving
9 motion, almost the entire building fel
= in, so that what had been a stately
mansion an hour before was now only
+. a shapeless pile of blazing timbers.
F., The shouts, the eXclamations, the