Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-09-18


there was big tree almost brushing the
window kicked out the window sash
and simply jumped into the tree. 1t
was the only thing to be done. luckily
1 got my arm over limb, which sagged
with us and dropped us to the ground.
l clarubcred to my feet and ran, with
the girl still hanging absolutely ltmp
and helpless over my shoulder. went
straight for the river with the intention
of jumpingin. The heatwas something
deadly. 1t had driven away the men
who had been filing their buckets at
the river.
"Just as staggered down the river
bank saw a sl<iff. Some one had prob
ably rowed across the river to the fire,
for the boat was not fastened. l dropped
the girl into the boat and gave it
strong push out into the current. and in
a few seconds we were floating down
stream and were safe"
"She had the canary, suppose" said
the lightning dentist.
"Oh, yes. She was in dead faint, but
she hadn't let go of the cage. AS soon
as / recovered my breath EEd wet my
clothes in two or three places where
they were on fire splashcd water in
the girls face and she recovered con-
sciousness, but she was so tluS.ered and
excited that she didn't know where she
was or remember what had happened.
I'VE could look up the rivsr and see
the burning house. 1t mace huge
blaze and threw bright glare across
the river. 1 remember the peculiar cf-
feet of this glare on the windows of the
houses across the river. 1tcaused them
to glow as if the houses were filled with
live flames. The girl was so frightened
that she thought all the houses were
atire.
"When / got ready TO row back dis
covered that L hadn't any oars. The
current was swift and we were drift
ing rapidly, so pulled out seat board
and used it as a rudder, and in few
minutes 1 made landing near house
occupied by Mr.. Wesley. Miss Jaynes
was still so weak and nervous that she
could hardly walk, but assisted her to
this house and aroused the inmates.
They would hardly believe my story at
first, but they could see the burning
house up the river, and they recognized
Miss Jaynes as soon as the lights were
brought.
"The woman of the house was very
kind. She cared for the young lady
tenderly for about two hours and had
one of the boys drive us back to Crosby
vile. Now, in the general excitement
we had forgotten that the people in
Crosbyville had no reason to believe
that we had escaped from the burning
house. Miss Jaynes said several times:
L suppose father is wondering where l
am but she had no idea that he and all
the others were convinced that we had
perished in the flames. However, you
couldn't blame them for thinking so,
The window from which 1 had leaped
was well hidden by trees, and there was
no one at the river bank when we leaped
into the boat. We learned afterward
that the men had pulled down the burn
ing veranda and had planted ladder
at the front window where we had been
seen. The blaze was SO fierce that they
had been driven back.
every one supposed, of course, that
we were lost; so you can imagine what
happened when we drove up in front
of the ruins about seven o'clock in the
morning. They were already searching
for our bodies. Yes, sir; they thought
we were ghosts. AS soon as l ex-
planned to them how we got away you
never heard such cheering in your life.
To Nf fho
wagon and took her over to a neigh
boring house, to which the captain had
been taken. He had been almost wild
with grief. Those who went over to the
house say it was one of the most affect
ing meetings that could be imagined.
First he wept like baby and then he
jumped up and laughed like boy and
said he didn't care for the loss of his
buildings so long as his daughter was
safe. suppose his daughter must have
given him a very favorable account of
my efforts in her behalf, for presently
he came out of the house and walked up
to where / was standing and said: Mr..
Horne, you have done me the greatest
service that one man can do another.
All that have is at your command now
and forever. l once did you an injus-
tice. You have repaid me. Will you
take the hand of q man who honestly
admits himself beaten and humiliated?
said to him: Captain, you are brave
and gallant man, but you were mis-
taken for once. Let us say no more
about the Misunderstanding of the
past We shook hands, and from that
day forward we were friends. He was
man of passions and prejudices, but
if he came to know you and like you
he was the truest friend a man ever
had"
"There's only one thing needed TO
make that good story" suggested the
dentist. "You ought to say that you
married the captains daughter"
81 am not going to sacrifice truth in
order to make a fancy romance" re.