Waterbury Democrat., 1900-11-01

corner of Seventh and G street, checked, headed off and driven back. But it was the most terrific work that I ever experienced. The model-roCm of the patent office was practically eaten out by fire before we could get there with our nozzles. It was tre- mendous loss to the government. We could do nothing to save the model room, and it was all that we could do to save the building which is the home of the interior department.
 "The other government department buildings have been free from fires, excepting the old navy department building On Seventeenth street. That fire occurred so long ago that I have forgotten the date. Besides, it didn't amount to much, for We put it out in a very short time.
 Did you ever hear of the burning of the Smithsonian institution? That oe- cured about dinner time in February, 1866, or 1867. Talk about cold weather! That was a hummer! We worked in snow a foot deep and with a blizzard of wind sweeping around us. We poured icicles on the fire. Tie water seemed to almost freeze as it left the nozzles. We had an awful time with the hose, too, for it was almost frozen. And if the water hadn't been running through it very fast it would have frozen in the hose. We saved the walls. but that was all Ii was impossible to save any thing else. The wind helped the flames and completely baffled alI of cur efforts. If it hadn't been for the bitter cold and the terrible wind we might have done better. We certainly worked hard
 enough.
 "There were three other notable fires in which cold weather prevailed against us and our work. Walls opera house burned down. It was on the corner of Ninth and Louisiana avenue, close to Pennsylvania avenue. The site has since been occupied by Ford's theater, and is now the common vaudeville play house. That was an awful night of hard work in winter weather.
 Then there was the burning of Lin coln's hall, the home of the Y. M. c. A. That fire occurred in midwinter and kept US hard at work all night, but it went up in smoke. Some of the firemen succumbed to the cold and were obliged to give up. There were many frozen fingers and toes and ears, and some of the men never recovered from the ef- fects of the work of that night.
 Tn the winter of 1886 the National theater burned. We were all praying that no fire would occur that night, for it was blustery and cold-a sort of damp cold that penetrates even to the bones. But just after midnight we were called out, and we worked all night to save adjoining property. The theater was doomed when we got there. But it was on Pennsylvania, in the heart of the city, near two prominent hotels, and surrounded by business houses. We saved all of that property. But it was a night of exhaustion and terror to all of us on account of the weather. 'sWeI, I'm glad it is all over. But, to tell the truth, I really enjoyed the work, the excitement of it and the feel | ing that we were hcroically enGeavor- ing to save life and property for our fellow men. There is a great deal of | pride in the breast of true fireman. lIe feels that he is a public benefactor all the time; and let Tie tell you that I have seen many q fireman do deeds which would give him U nero's crown if done in battle.'
 Then, turning from the subject of fireman's life in the early days, Mir. | Clark said: 'Some evening l will tell you about my experience as page boy in the house of representatives. l was | there when some of the greatest men in the land were members. EXPresi- dent John Quincy Adams was one of them. I was there when Morrill,, of Vermont; Sumner, of Massachusetts; ] Breckenridge, of Kentucky, and Brooks, | of South Carolina, came to congress. Brooks was the man who assaulted Sumner with a cane. All four of the men whom I have named were physical | giants. Sumner was the handsome est { of them all. He was natural athlete. i If he had taken different course in life he could have whipped regiment i of Suilivans, Corbetts and Sharkeyg. :, fl tell you about those men some even- ing scon.' SMITH D. FRY. Q | An Imperial Benevo1cnce.
 The cZarina has organized an asso- citation of Russian women in reduced ! circumstances, who are almost com et, 3Ix- r.-