The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-10-06
THRILLING RESCUE FROM A FIRE

Studinski. NY "A
THRILLING RESCUE FROM AFIRE.
Some Fine Art in Lying by the Experts
in st. Louis.
The officers of the Sd district had just
come back from the fire on South
Twelfth street when the same stranger
still wearing Capt Young's hat and
smoking Sergeant Lyons pipe, came in
to the station. He had Just been shaved
and although his linen was not ilnna-
culate, he looked bright and fresh.
The fire had suggested to one of the
men another fire. and that fire a rescue,
and that rescue another, and so on.
And then Mike Drissel, noticing the
stranger, thought it would be good
opportunity to get back at him for the
rat and the elevator stories.
The stranger had been listening to
the stories Of wonderful rescues, and as
Sergeant Allen finished a particularly
thrilling tale the stranger arose and,
sauntering over to the desk, pulled open
a drawer, toook out a big plug of to-
bacco and, having taken chew, sat
down gracefully on the table.
Perhaps, gentleman, you will not be-
heve me, but"
But Drissel had determined to get
even, and he interrupted the stranger.
The most thrilling, sensational and
daring rescue from a burning building
that ever saw" said Mike, winling at
the other officers, was on July 4, 1886.
AT that time l was catching for the old
Browns, and we were stopping at the
Benton hotel in Chicago. We had
played double-ender with the White
Stockings as they We're known then,
| as I caught both games / was very
tired, and after I went to bed l slept
| like a log. The rest of it, how / was
awakened by the smoke and narrowly
| escaped, wouldn't interest you, I'll go
| on with the rescue.
well, 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 crowd. We
| looked up, and there ON the window
ledge on the 14th floor stood a woman
with baby in her arms. Back of her
all was darkness, so we knew the fire
| had not yet reached her room, but 1t
was only a matter of a few minutes
as the flames were shooting from every
| other window in the building.
! SAT 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 G
| gold headed cane, studded with dia-
| monds, rushed on the scene. That is
my wife, he shouted. "A hundred dol
lars to the man who saves her. and he
unscrewed one Of the diamonds and
| handed it to policeman as guarantee
| of good faith Just then we saw a
| slender young man push his way
| through the crowd. I'll 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.
/! 1.-TWO minutes later the crowd saw
! the young man on the roof Of an 10
story building across the street They
saw he carried a roll of rope at his
| belt, and unwindiug 1t, he threw it., with
| the accuracy of a cowboy to the Wo-
man 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
! disappeared in the room. Then she
came to the window and made a signal.
He began to pull the rope in until it
| was taut, and at that moment the
| crowd realized he was going to walk
THAT is just what he did do, stepping
| as gracefully as though he was in a
ballroom. He reached her, put one arm
around her and the other around her
baby. Then began the hard trip
backward, for the rope was at an acute
angle. Slowly, carefully, he made his
way, the crowd holding its breath, for
it looked as if they would fall at every
| step. But they didn't and just as they
| reached the roof the fire, which had
| burned into the room where the woman
| was burned the rope, and the charred
| end fell into the street. Then, MAX
| ing the woman hold her child, he
/, wrapped one arm about them both, and
| slid down he rope easily until he
reached the pavement. And that, con-
| tinued Mike was the bravest act l ever
| say. 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, and he was weeping large
| tears.
| Gentlemen he said, his voice husky
with emotion. Il never expected this.
This is too much"
whats the matter?" asked Mike
| innocently.
"why-why, you have done mea great
honor (sobs). thank you (sobs), but ii
is too much (another sob. Gentlemen
YOU may not believe me, but L was thai
young man"