The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-01
a MILLION DOLLAR FIRE.
1t Was Worth That Amount to
Thomas Proctor.
Nv III. l., DAWES,

When Thomas Proctor entered my Of
fee one October morning ten years ago
little thought the day would prove to be
the most eventful in the lives of three
men.
1 had aided Proctor financially in sew
eral promising business ventures and they
all wound up in disaster. which was not
due to any mismanagement on his part,
but to a combination of unfortunate cir
CT instances.
After the last collapse Proctor obtained
a situation at a salary which barely sup
ported his family. This went on for about
two years, when his employer failed, and
Tom was again stranded. He had been
without employment about a month, when
he ca led at my office that October morn
ing.
l gave him some good advice and en-
enlargement, ard what to him was more
substantial some dollars to relieve his
immediate necessities.
Proctor expressed his gratitude in his
blunt, homely fashion, and added earn
estly: perhaps this is the turning of the
tide, Mr.. Burrows" and 1 replied, Il
hope so with all my heart"
At that time l was a director in large
transportation company, and thinking
that possibly l might secure a position
there for my young friend we started on
a search at once. tatt
On the way down town we stopped at
a wholesale house to buy hammock to
send to friend in Florida.
The clerk informed us that as the ham
mock season was over all their stock had
been packed. away on the top floor, so we
assembled TO the fifth floor in the elevator
and then cl mbed two fights of stairs, en-
tering a room occupying the whole area
of the building.
clerk was busily engaged with gen
tleman whom recognized as Hon. Moses
Oglethorpe, mult.-millionaire, the richest
man in the state.
The clerk went down stairs for some
thing leaving us alone-a millionaire,
merchant and a poor man.
Suddenly we were startled by the clang-
ing of gongs, a footing of bugles, and
commotion in the street.
We all rushed TO the window, drawn
thither by the natural desire inherent in
the breast of the average American to
witness the rush of the fire engines.
Great Scott gentlemen" exclaimed
Tom, excitedly, "the fire is in this build
ingw We all rushed to the door Proctor
reaching it first. As he swung it open he
was driven back by a sheet of flame and
smoke.
NO chance to escape by the stairs"
said he; perhaps there's a fire escape;
you stay here while ! take a look" and
with that he ran to the front, side and
rear windows. When he rejoined our lit
tie group the answer was plainly written
on his face mo fire escapes anywhere
on the building.
In that time of awful peril and danger
Tom Proctor was cool and collected. so
we naturally looked to him to find som"
avenue of escape. Ten minutes be. lie
he was the most insignificant person in
the room, a penniless bankrupt, realizing
his own insignificance more keenly be-
cause of the presence of a modern Croe-
sus.
A few moments had changed the stand
ing of the two extremes Of our trio, and
Proctor had jumped to the head Of the
class. for we were in situation where
brains were of more account than dol
lars.
He carefully examined the room, hoping
to find a skylight, but was unsuccessful.
Then he sought the windows again, think
ing he might discover coping or cor
nice by which we could reach some ad-
Joining building, but with the same hope
less result.
Then we ran to the windows to see II
there was any chance of help from the
fremen. A cry of horror reached our ears
as the crowd in the street caught sight
of us.
The fremen raised ladders against the
side of the building, but our hearts sank,
of the fourth floor.
one cry reached our ears, but ii sound
"A like a death sentence. Some one. ev:.
IDENTIFY a fire chief. roared through a
trumpet, Jump! it's your only chance!'
at the same time pointing to a group of
men holding a large blanket directly be-
meath US. ~
"Mv Godw groaned Oglethorpe, ITS
suicide to jump from this hight. IT makes
me dizzy TO think Of it,"
proctor was as cool as the proverbial
cucumber. and talked to US as calmly as
AZ discussing a business scheme in my pri-
vate office.
.It,s case OF roast or Jump" said he,
as we came together for final conference,
"that's the whole thing In a nutshell. The
onlv redeetnlng feature in the case Is that
Zach Of US can choose the way In which
a. suits him to die. Personally, 1t makes
iittIe difference to me. Death by fire isn't
really so horrible az IL appears, and as for
tuuping, you will lose consciousness long
before YOU reach the ground. After all,
nv case Is much worse than yours, gem
,iernen. Your families will be well pro-
vlded for. but God only knows what will
become Of my wife and children when I'm
.'see here, young man." Oglethorpe ex-
claimed. graspinR Tom by the arm, Il
csn'f he roasted IN this hell-hOle Hike rat.
and 10 Jump n stu worsei God, man,
Isn't there some escape? We cant die
IKE this! Why, man alive, ia give o mil