The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-03

ing tale the stranger arose and, saunter-
ing over to the desk pulled open drawer,
took out a big plug of tobacco, and, hav-
ing taken a chew, sat down gracefully on
the table.
Perhaps, gentlemen, you will not be-
lieve me, but"
But Drissel had determined to get even,
and he interrupted the stranger.
THE most thrilling, sensational and dar-
ing rescue from a burning building that 1
ever saw said Mike, winking al the other
officers, was on July 4, 1886. At that
time 1 was catching for the old Browns,
and we were stopping at the Benton hotel
in Chicago. We had played q double
ender with the White Stockings as they
were known then. and as l caught both
games 1 was very tired, and after I went
to bed / slept like a log. The rest of il,
how 1 was awakened by the smoke and
narrowly escaped. wouldn't interest you,
I'll go on with the rescue.
Gwen, after got out found some of the
other boys, and we were standing on the
corner watching the fire. The whole
building was a mass of flames, but as it
was thought that every one had escaped,
we looked upon the whole thing as a joke,
a sort of fitting pyrotechnic display to
celebrate our winning both games. But
suddenly a murmur-one of those that
make your blood creep-came from the ho-
tel. We looked up,and there on the window
ledge on the fourteenth floor stood wo-
man with a baby in her arms. Back of
her all was darkness, so we knew the fire
had not yet reached her room, but it was
only matter of a few minutes as the
flames were shooting from every other
window in the building.
AT that moment a man in a full-dress
suit, with three four-carat diamonds in his
shirt front, a heavy gold chain on his vest
and carrying a gold cane, studded
with diamonds, rushed on the scene.
That's my wifeH he shouted. "A humid
red dollars TO the man who saves her. and
he unscrewed one of the diamonds and
handed it to policeman as a guarantee
of good faith. Just then we saw a slen-
der young man push his WY through the
crowd III take you up,' he shouted,
pale with excitement Done yelled the
husband. I'll be in the Bonanza saloon
if you succeed Then both disappeared.
Two minutes later the crowd saw the
young man on the roof of an eighteen
story building across the street They
saw he carried a coil Of rope at his belt
and, unwinding il, he threw it, with the
accuracy of a cowboy, to the woman on
the window ledge We could see by his
motions that he was telling her what TO
do, but could hear nothing. But she could
it was plain, for she dis disappeared in the
room Then she came to the window and
made a signal. He began to pull the rope
in until 1t was taut. and at that moment
the crowd realized he was going to walk
across.
THAT Is just what lac did do, stepping
as gracefully as though he was in ball
room. He reached her, put one arm around
her and the other arc und her baby Then
began the hard trip backward, for the
rope was at an acute angle. Slowly, care
fully he made his way, the crowd holding
its breath, for 1t looked as if they would
fall at every step. But they didn't and
Just as they reach ed the roof the fire.
which had burned +, into the room where
the woman was. blirned the rope and the
charred end fell Into the street. Then,
making the woman hold the child, he
wrapped one arm about them BOTH and
slid down the roFYes easily until he reached
the pavement. And that" continued
Mike, was the bravest act ever saw.
That man was a hero"
While Mike was talking they had for.
gotten the stranger, but now they were
startled to hear sobs from his direction
They looked, ind he was weeping large
tears.
Gentlemen" he said. his voice husky
with emotion, II never expected this. This
"a too much."
Whats the matter?" asked Mike, limo.
Gently.
"why-why. you have done me a great