Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-01-30
GRADE III-LESSON XII.
HOW CHARLEY WRIGHT SAVED
THREE LIVES.

lHhIJCI Ii Ed.
About ten O'Clock in the morning of
the last day of January, 1882, fire broke
out in building at the corner OF Park
row and Beekman street. in the city of
New York.
At the time OF the fire the ground floor
Of this building was taken up by stores,
and the upper stories were divided into
many offices.
In this great structure there was but
one stairway, and that one was built Of
wood. Indeed, great part of this old
building was wooden, and SO very dry
that when, on this cold and stormy Tues
day OF January, fire suddenly seized it,,
numbers Of the inmates were cut off from
escape, and persisted in the flames.
Yes, many lives were lost on that
terrible day; but three lives were saved,
saved by the quick wit and prompt
courage of mere lad; and it is Of this
lad, and what he did, that wish to tell
you.
When, in spite Of all that the firemen
could do, the building was wrapped in
flames and smoke, till it seemed as if no
human being could still remain in it,
high up at corner window on the upper
story three unfortunate men were seen
stretching forth their hands.
To leap down on the cruel pavement
far below would be instant death. Go
back they could not. Already the smoke
and heat and fire were close upon them.
Despair was in their faces. What could
be done?
The fremen quickly brought ladders,
but these were too short. The very
longest Of them would not reach half the
distance. At last it seemed as if nothing
could be done, as if these wretched men
must surely perish.
But in the great crowd that stood gaz-
ing in dread and pity on the sight was a
colored boy named Charley Wright, a
bootblack. To this lad came bright
idea: he acted on it; he saved these three
men from dreadful death.
Looking up, as all the rest were look
ing, Charley Wright saw something that
set him thinking. He saw that, fastened
to the roof of the building, just above
the window where these men were, was a
rope of wires. He saw that this rope ran
across the street to the top of telegraph
pole on the other side.
And he knew that if his rope could be
cut at the top of the pole, it would fall
right across the window, SO that the three
men could reach it. This was the bright
idea that came into Charley's mind.
No time was to be lost. In an instant
he seized fireman's wrench that lay on
the stones near by, rushed across the
street, and began to climb he tall, smoot h
telegraph pole.
To do this was no easy task in the
wind and the snow, but by hard, fast,
desperate climbing Charley soon reached
the cross bars. And hard and fast he
worked when he got there.
In moment he had twisted the wire
rope off. Down it fell across the window !!
A great shout of JOY went up from the
men came down this strange fire escape
safe to the ground.
For the moment the brave boy who had
rescued them was forgotten. But only
for the moment. 1t was not long before
every one had heard of Charley Wright,
and his quick wit and prompt act in the
hour Of need.
To this brave lad the American Humane
society voted medal. Even across the
sea people heard of him and praised him.
From far-distant England came a gold
medal, sent by the London Humane So
ciety, on which were stamped the words :
Presented to Charles Wright, for saving
three lives, Jan. 81, 1882"
All honor to brave Charley Wright.