Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-08
Break her down. break her down.

gives out with the pump
and it is useless. %%
BY this time the grocery men have
opened their stores and have trans
ported to the scene of the fire all the
pals they possess. Fortunately the
store is situated within a few yards Of
the mill brook" so that water In
plenty can be found.
Form a line" shouts the self-consti-
tuted leader, for such occasions bring
to light dozens Of these leaders.
At once all the men who cannot as
sist in carrying the things from the
store fall into line. Two lines are
formed from the stream to the back Of
the building, one line of men to pass
the pals of water along to the brave
men on the end of the lines, and the
other line Of men to return the empty
pals. Thus they work. Every man Is
thoroughly in earnest and they work
as they never worked before. Some
are in good clothes but they mind that
not the least. Dirt and water, with
smoke and cinders do not count here.
The fire must be put out.
Beside the hardware store is furni-
ture store and undertaking establish
ment, the building being the same size
as the one that is burning. Connect
ed with this is the dwelling in which
the undertaken and his family, as we'll
as another family live. The surplus
men rush into the store and against
the will Of the owner, begin to drag the
contents forth into the street until
everything has been removed. BY this
time the women have arrived upon the
scene. Let us look at them for a mo-
ment
They are. if anything. more excited
than the men. Their teeth chatter in
the excitement and their blanched
faces show up all the more CHASTITY in
the Pickering freight. They are
hysterical. and while some are laugh
ing. others are crying.
1t is their appearance as compared
with the everyday appearance that
excites the most comment. Here is
Miss Jones who Is always such model
Of beauty. She has in her excitement
slipped only a wrapper over her night
robe and put her feet into a pair of
well-worn slippers, while over her head
of tangled hair she has placed an old
roses that it possesses when she
charms the young SWANS Of the town.
and some Of them note this fact. Chief
among others who note her appearance
are her rivals who inwardly glory that
though they have come in a negligee
dress, they have put on better and
more articles of clothing than she.
Women are all about in all stages Of
dress. They would not for worlds on
any other occasion be seen without
their hair crimped. but here they are
with the crimping pins and curl papers
on them. They wear the Oldest clothes,
all of which seem to set upon their
figures as a coat on a scare crow in
Farmer Peaslee's corn patch.
The furniture store is on fire. is the
cry. These women see the danger Of
the choice things of Mrs. Smith and
Mrs. Brown who live in the house at
tached. and in they rush to clear the
house. 1t is but a few minutes after
the alarm for the second store being
afire that they have cleared the houses
and the men are bringing out the last
of the stoves and the carpets.
I'VE must have more lines to pass
the water" shouts another leader.
usually the selectman or a leader in
ware store alone. We can't hope to
save that. Come up here and save this
store and house, and keep the fire from
getting into Uncle Handy's house, next
door to his place.
At this command half the fire brigade
fighting the first fire rush out of line
and make way to assist in fighting the
second fire. The first leader is jealous
and wants the men to stay where they
are, urging them to keep fighting and
save at least part of the building.
and so the two factions are formed.
One fights one fire and another fights
the other.
Volunteers, we want volunteers for
this line shouts another born leader
as he passes the buckets. Come you
men out there in the crowd Don't
stand and do nothing. Get in here and
work. You are no better than we are. If
this house burns it will be your fault"
And so he RACES on.
Now just word about the men who
are where the danger is the greatest.
In every town there are a few men
who are afraid Of nothing.
Here is Will Wheeler. He is one of
those good natured fellows, a hard
working man. accused of being care
less ahOut his appaarapoa huf royor