Connecticut western news., 1897-09-30
SAVED THE CANARY.

SAVED THE CANARY.
 On the evening of the alarm of fire at the florists place, three doors from the Alfalfa European hotel, Doe" Horne told of his singular experience at fire in the town of Crosbyville.
 "The first time ever visited in Cros- byville one of my friends invited me to go to 8 shooting match, and after I got out there was asked to enter the contest. We'll, went in and happened to get rifle that sighted just right for me, and I won. A man who had been introduced to me as Captain Jaynes made the next highest score. It seemed to me that the other contestants took their defeat good naturedly, but on the way home my friend told me to look put for this Captain Jaynes. He was . hotheaded Kentuckian, and it seems that this was the first time he had been defeated in year or so, and it worried him good deal. My friend told me that he had taken dislike to me and would probably try to pick quarrel with me at the first opportunity.
 Well, that same afternoon invited all the men who had been at the shoot ing match to come over to the tavern. It was customary for the winner of the match to stand treat to the others. Cap tain Jaynes came in rather late, while we were all sitting around and talking. arose and asked him to join the party. To oo1J1xy o,,l fhnf 1A was not in the habit of drinking with strangers. We'll, I was pretty hot blood ed in my younger days. I said: Very we'll, captain. withdraw the invita- tion. made the mistake of supposing that you would feel at home in con- pany of gentlemen. knew what to ex- pect when I said that He started to 1raw knife, but before he could lift it had hold of him. They pulled us apart and tried to quiet him, but he went away raving mad. They all said that he would kill me the first time we met, put he must have cooled down when he had time to think it over. I saw him often after that-passed him on the street. He never made a move, but knew that he hated me and would be glad of chance to do me an injury.
 "The captains house was right on the bank of the Green river and stood near his mill It was an old fashioned two story house, very broad and we'll built and thickly surrounded by trees. 1t was considered the best house in Crosbyville. The captain was the wealthiest and one of the most prom inent citizens of the town. He was a widower and had two children-a boy of IA or so and young lady named Elizabeth. She was 8 very beautiful girl very charming. had met her several times, but, of course, I had never be- come we'll acquainted with her on &C., count of my feud with her father.
 Well, to make a long story short, the whole town was aroused by an alarm of fire one night, and when we turned out the Jaynes mill was one mass of flames. It was an old style structure, with framework of heavy logs, and it made & fearful blaze. The wind was blowing the flames toward the house. Every one saw that it was of no use to try to save the mill, so we turned in to defend the house-got up on the roof and passed buckets and put out wet blankets to catch the sparks, but it was no use. The men were driven off the roof, and the water dried as fast as it was thrown on. All at once one whole side of the house seemed to spring into flame. There was general shout, and everybody retreated to a safe distance. The members of the family and the neighbors had been removing the house. hold goods Just as the house caught fire and all the men were getting out ot it as fast as they could I heard Eliza beth Jaynes cry out, The canaryP Then all ran back into the house, with every one calling to her to stop. didn't hesi- tate a moment, but ran after. She ran through that terrific heat and dense smoke right up the stairway, and fol- lowed. l caught her by the arm at the top of the stairs and told her to come back. She was hysterical and excited She said she wouldn't leave until she got the bird. In spite of all could do she pulled away from me and ran to the front room-her bedroom, I be- lieve-and felt her way to where the bird was hanging Gentlemen, it was never hotter in any bake oven than it was in that room. As soon as she got the bird cage dragged her back through he hall.
 "The smoke was not so thick now, be. cause the fire had got free draft through the house and was making a fearful roar and spreading rapidly. When we reached the stairway, the whole lower end of it was ablaze. dragged the girl away to the front win dow, but by that time the whole veran da was on fire The crowd outside saw us and shouted something, I couldn't tell what. I saw that there was no es cape over that burning veranda. Wher the people outside began to shout, the girl tainted. I threw her across my shoulder and started for the rear of the house, because I knew that was my only salvation. The whole stairway wal ablaze by that time, and flames were creeping up through the floor. closed my lips tightly, and in about four leaps ! reached back window. Outside there
 was @ big tree, almost brushing tn,
 window. I kicked out the window sasl
 and simply jumped into the tree.
 was the only thing to be done. Luckil,
 I got my arm over a limb, which sagget
 with us and dropped us to the ground
 scrambled to my feet and ran, witt
 the girl still hanging absolutely linn
 and helpless over my shoulder. I wen
 straight for the river with the intention
 of jumping in. The heat was something Tk IoI l,-I, fho ,o- who had been filling their buckets a the river.
 "Just as staggered down the rive