Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-09-09

the smoke boiling up the elevator shaft
thick enough to lay your hat on.
at was nine o'clock in the morning.
and / was sitting in my room, when
there came through the transom a little
puff Of smoke that strung out in faint
line toward the open window. Some one
came running along the hall muttering.
A bigger puff came in at the transom,
and then there was a cry of FIRE.
81 really did not believe it. Here was
an old house that had stood for 80
years. 1t never had been singed
came only the night before last. 1t was
absurd and incompatible with the laws
of chance to think that it had been wait
ing all these years till got inside be-
fore it took fire. Something must be
wrong with the fues.
"On the other hand. had never been
in a fire In the natural run of things
my turn would have to come some time,
and on second thought it seemed-as
am getting along in years-that had
rather overrun the average H. this ex
emption. Possibly, after all, there was
truth in the alarm. / would go down
and see about it, anyway.
"0nce through the door it was diff
ferent proposition altogether. There
was now no doubt about it at all, but
the daylight had suddenly gone out;
even my own room filled with black
smoke while stood there for moment
trying to comprehend the situation.
81 knew there were several persons in
the hall, although not a word was said.
I could hear feet shutting along upon
the carpet and hands striking the walls,
but there was no breath for talking. Il
was a question that occurred probably
TO each one as to how long one couio
breathe such fumes without tumbling
over. | reached the elevator shaft and
felt my way around IL and down the
first flight of stairs. Still nothing could
be seen, but could feel the hot smoke
gushing up from the basement in the
same way that it comes from the stack
of a locomotive.
81 had always connected panic with
a fire OF this kind. but there was no sug-
gestion of a panic here. People were
saving every bit of breath TO carry them
through. Some couldn't have got
through alone. One little old fellow,
cripple. tunbled over on the stairs and
another man shouldered him and
brought him to daylight.
AT the first landing there was
faint glimmer that showed through
waves Of smoke. thought it was the
fire. but IL proved TO be only a gas Jet
that was still burning weakly. Some
one came running through the hall and
said: This way-to the other stair
way and soon came out into daylight.
And then what surprising number of
people there were coming into the main
corridor from all directions.
Eve went down two more flights to
the ground floor. The fremen were
Just arriving at the front door, and
there was crowd of people in the oGice.
''Still they kept coming down the bacl;
stairway people by half than
thought lived in the hotel. A man was
half carrying his wife, who had tainted.
"Nlany Of them were in their night
clothes. and it was AMUSING 10 observe
how they had arraved themselves In the
brief time at their disposal. \ tail rlen
was rolled in a red bed comforter ard
had on a silk hat. l. and under his arms
he carried some ill-asso-ted pieces Of
three different suits If clothing. q
valise. two collars. three cuTs ard
shoe. Behind him came a gentle