Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-02-04
NOT USING THE sToVEPIPE.
A Case OF Literal Observance Of Fire
Inspectors Instructions.

A Case OF Literal observance OF FHs
Inspectors Instructions.
A day or two ago Fire Inspector
Sharp entered a shoe shop in q Broad
street basement for tie purpose of max
ing an inspection. The owner OF the
shop is an old negro man who has
known Inspector Sharp for many years,
and he was highly delighted at the
honor bestowed upon him. When he
was informed that the stovcpipo was in
such fix that it might set the building
OH fire and was told not to use it any
longer, he entered no protest and said;
"No, sab, Marse Sharp; she sho
gwinter come down dis day"
A few lines on Inspector Sharp's
notebook told of the condemnation of
the fue, and he went on his way, CIV
ing no further thought to this particu-
lar case.
A short while afterward man pass
ing along the street stopped in front OF
the building under which the shop is
located. He smelled something burning,
but passed ON, thinking it was smoke
from locomotive. Then another man
stopped. He saw smoke coming through
the sidewalk grating. He pointed it out
to another, and then a crowd gathered.
The smoke increased and was seen issu-
ing from the building above the side
walk. Some one suggested sending an
alarm. Others opposed this, and COM
promise was arranged by which Assist
ant Chief Cummings was telephoncd for
and the crowd made committee of the
whole to investigate the cause OF the
smoke.
They walked down the steps Of tie
shoeshop, and when they opened the
door they were almost blinded by the
dense smoke. In the middle Of the floor
sat the shoemaker hard at work. In
front Of him was the i'll fated stove. A
hot fire WAS roaring in it. and from all
sides black smoke was issuing. There
was no stovepipe to convey the smoke
TO the flue The pipe was lying in a
corner and was bent and broken.
Great Scott. old mani" exclaimed
a committeeman why don't you put
your stovepipe up and let the smoke
out? Here, give me lift, and will
help you with it. He started toward
the pipe, hut the old negro jumped in
front Of him. exelaiming:
"Don'tlech dat pipe For Gawd sake
don't lay er finger on herl Marse Sharp
say she mus'n' be used, an he knows
He's got on er blue coat an brass but
tons an wears cap jes' lax Chief JOY
ner He told me ter take dat pipe
down, an down she come.
"But look at that smoke, old man.
You will smoke everybody in the build
ing out, and they'll have you arrested,
was urged. Don you know you can't
burn a fire this way. Be sensible and
put up the pipe.
"No, stree. All de perlice in town an
Chief Manly ter boot can make me put
dat pipe up. Don't you know Marse
Sharp? wuz raised right 'longside er
him. an l sho' know dat when he say
pull dat pipe down an don't use 1t he
know wat he's talkin bout, an down
she come, an down she gwinter stay
twell he come an say put 'er up ergin.
At this juncture Assistant Chief
Cummings and Inspector Sharp arrived
on the soene and explained to the old
man that he must not use his stove I'M
Ill the nue WAS mended.
Now. Marss Sharp" explained the
negro, you knows You never said
nuthin bout no stove, an pipe don't
mean stove. Atlanta Constitution.