St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-11-12
IN DEADLY PERIL.

department Tor st. Nicholas, brings the
series to an end with paper on "The
Fire Patrcl' in the October number. Mr..
Hill tells the following story:
An incident that occurred at severe
fire in big business house some two
years ago will give an idea OF what the
members of these protective departments
have to face at times in order to save
property. The fire broke out about mid
night in the basement Of an immense fire
proof building on Greene street, extend
ing a whole block from West Fourth
street to Washington Place. When the
fremen arrived, half the basement, or
practically half the block. was in flames,
but on account of the fireproof construc-
ton OF the building the fire was confined
to the basement part. The fire was burn
ing so fiercely that the shutters OF the
basement windows were almost red hot
and the dead lights over the sidewalk
were so heated that the tar around the
glass was bubbing and running in
streams across the walk to the gutter.
The construction of the building was very
substantial, and it was almost impossi-
BILE for the firemen to make an entrance /;
indeed, the windows and headlights had
to be broken in before they could secure
access to the building and get to work.
The basement was occupied by straw
hat manufacturer, and the captain Of No.
2 Fire Patrol tone Of the first companies
to arrive) felt sure there must be a sub
cellar stored with most perishable
stock. How to reach it before the fire.
men began to throw water upon the fire
was the question. 1t seemed well nigh
impossible to get into the basement
through the regular entrances, and to
venture in while the fire was raging as it
was seemed almost foolhardy, but he de-
termined to reach the cellar at any cost
and find out what it contained After
considerable effort he succeeded in maxi
ing an entrance on the north side of the
building 1.-THE main body of fire was on
the south end), and cropping his way
through the smoke and darkness, lam
tern in hand, he found himself in the base
ment. The heat was intense and the air
sitting. Ahead Of him in the corner of
the basement he could see the flames roll
ing about, cracking and roaring as they
devoured case after case of goods. Peer
ing through the thick atmosphere, it was
some time before he could discover any
thing that looked like the entrance to the
cellar; but finally he spied door about
midway i'll the basement that he felt sure
must lead to the sub-celar. 1t was dan
gerously near the roaring furnace ahead
of him, and he thought to himself: Can
back again before the fire cuts me OFF,"
He made up his mind at least to make
the effort. So he walked cautiously
across the basement floor toward the
door, keeping his eye on the fire all the
time. 1t grew hotter and hotter as he
advanced, and the perspiration was
pouring from his face in great beads, and
he was almost suffocated when his hand
finally rested on the knob Of the door.
He opened it and stepped inside. What
relief! The transformation was almost
marvellous, for the change from the heated
atmosphere of the basement to the cool
air OF the cellar was like stepping out of
red-hot oven into an ice-box.
He descended the cellar stairs rapidly,
and holding his lantern aloft, looked
about him. 1t was as he had suspected.
The celler was filled with immense cases
OF straw hats. and although, owing to
the fre-proof floor, the fire probably
could not descend, when the many
streams got to work, the damage by
water would be enormous.
Hehastily assembled; peering cautiously
out Of the door, he found the fire had not
advanced any further. He then made his
way quickly through the dense smoke to
the street.
He reported to the superintendent of
the patrol, who had arrived by this
time, the fact that he had been in the
basement and his discovery in the cellar,
and told him he could do great deal Of
good if he could only take the men down,
and cover up the stock. The superin-
tendent was at first 10th to let him do
so, for the situation looked too danger
Gus, but finally he gave permission and
the captain gathered his patrolmen about
him, and armed with covers they fol-
lowed him to the sub cellar to cover
up"
By this time the companies that had
responded to the second and third alarms
sent out were at work. as well as the
companies that had been ordered into
the basement; and the air in the cellar
was not as pleasant as when the captain
had first descended. The fire had begun
to Settle" and the sub cellar was filed
with thick, murky smoke. while con-
slant, scalding drip was falling from the
ceiling.
Ii this dim, sitting atmosphere the
patrolmen went to work with a will
spreading their waterproof covers over
case after case of valuable stock, while
overhead they could hear heroaring and
cracking OF the flames, the splashing of
the many streams as they were dashed
about, and now and then dull crash as
some heavy piece of masonry was crum-
bled away by the heat. These were con-
ditions under which few men would care
to labor, and yet the members of the
patrol were working energetically,
scarcely giving thought to the danger
that hung over them.
At any moment the fire raging in the
basement over their heads might get be-
yond the control of the fremen battling
with it, and, spreading, cut off all means
OF escape, or the steel and iron structure
OF the building, warped and twisted by
the dreadful heat it was being subjected
to. might give way and send floor after
floor loaded with heavy merchandise
crashing down upon them. This and a
hundred other possibilities menaced them
while they labored in the murky cellar
and when the work was done 1O1 covers
had been spread and property valued at
over hundred thousand dollars had
been saved from destruction.
When No. 2 Patrol returned to quar-
tiers the next morning (for it was nearly
morning before they were through,
there was sea rcelv q ,rernhe uhnsa ,ecl,