Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-03-09

HOW SERGEANT VAUGHAN SAVED
A LIFE AT THE HOTEL ROYAL
FIRE.
Jacob A. Riis, author of How the
Other Half Lives" writes of Heroes of
Who Fight Fire" in the February Cen
fury. The article is one Of the series.
Heroes Of Peace" Mr.. Riis tells the.
following story Of an heroic rescue at
the Hotel Royal fire in New York six
years ago:
Sergeant Vaughan went up on the
roof. The smoke was so dense there
that he could see little, but through it,
he heard a cry for help, and made out
the shape of a man standing upon a
window sill in the fifth story, over
locking the courtyard Of the hotel The
yard was between them. Bidding his
mon fcllow-there were five, all told
he ran down and around in the next
street to the roof of the house that
formed an angle with the hotel wing
There stood the man below him, only
q jump away, but a jump which no
neral might take and live. His face
and hands were black with smoke.
Vaughan, looking down, thought him a
negro. He was perfectly calm.
1T is no use" he said, glancing up.
Dent try. You can't do it"
The sergeant looked wistfully about
him. Net a stick or a piece of rope was
in sight. Every shred was used below
There was absolutely nothing. But
| l couldn't let him." he said I'd
me, months after, when he had como
out Of the hospital a whole man again
mad was back at work. just couldn't
standing there so quiet and brave" I'd
the men he said sharply:
Il want you to do exactly as l tel
you, now. Don't grab me- but let me
get the first grab" He had noticed that
the man wore a heavy overcOat, and
had already laid his plan.
Don't try" urged the man. you
cannot save me. ] will stay here till ii
gets too hot; then 1 will jump"
mo, you won't" from the sergeant
as he lay at full length on the roo.
locking over. 1T is a pretty hard yard
down there. l will get you or go dead
myself"
The four sat on the sergeant's legs al
he swung free down to the waist 50
he was almost able to reach the man
on the window, with outstretched
hands.
Now, jump-quick!" he command
|
him by both wrists, as directed, and the
sergeant got a grip on the collar of hi
coat.
Hoist" he shouted to the four OF
the roof, and they tugged with thei
might. The sergeants body did no
move Bending over till the bacl
creaked it hung over the edge, a weigh
Of 203 pounds suspended from ant
holding it down. The cold sweat start
ed from his mems foreheads as the.
tried and tried again without gaining al
inch. Blood dripped from Sergean
Vaughan's nostrils and ears. Sixty fee
[ below was the paved courtyard, owe
against him the window, beyond which
l he saw the back draft coming gath
p ering Roadway, with lurid, swirlin.
smoke. Now it burst through, burnin,
7 the hair and the coats Of the two. Fo
= an instant he thought all hope wa
: gone.
But in a flash il came back to him
r To relieve the terrible dead weight tina
= wrenched and tore at his muscles h
e Twas swinging the man two and fro Xix
d a pendulum, head touching head. II
I could swing him up. A smothere
e shout warned his men. They crep
o nearer the edge without letting go thei
4 grip on him, and watched with starin
e eyes the human pendulum swing wide
|, and wider, farther and father, unit
9 now with mighty effort, it swun
y within their reach They caught tn
t. skirt of the coat, held on, pulled il
J. and in a moment lifted him over tn
g edge.
They lay upon the roof, all si1
e breathless, sightless, their faces turn
e ed to the Winter sky. The tumult {
a the street came up as a faint echo. Tn
+ spray Of a score of engines pumpin
below fell upon them. froze, and Gov
cred them with ice. The very roar {
was the first to recover. He carrie
was tn first to recover. He carrie
IN down the man he had saved, and sa'
Ie him sent off to the hospital. The smu
had been rubbed off his face Monda
/ had dawned before he came to, an
i days passed before he knew his res
r cuer Sergeant Vaughan was laid u
le himself then. He had returned to h
! work and finished it, but what he ha
= gone through was too much FOR huma
M | strength It was Spring before he n
n | turned to his quarters. 10 find himse
promoted, petted and made much Of
Century.