The sun., 1900-12-16

| y noinDTo ms TOtr -nOOnr nflnlf'
and was OF on a salop 10 the Acadia. whore
the chief magistrate was impatiently await
! Ing an official summons to tho hrc
! Pending the ARRIVAL Of the Alcaldr the bonn
beros collected from the crowd the reoIle
! who had lived in the burned and burning
buildings These people were rnnde to stand
together hundred feet from their ruined
homes until the Alcalde's arrival. for, 10y the
law of Ponce only the Alcalje IL permitted
To save life and property nj n fire Theses
people who had had the temerity To save
themselves must of necessity he saved again
or som" one would have To he fined and i'm
prisoned soon the Alcalde puned mp to the
scene ready 10 do tho off1cial rescuinQ. n per
formance which the reoI le checred s,l"mnly.
Then the two-inch hose was attached,
cls'ern was opened and tho ranks Of the bonn
beros were recruited with relays Of men
from the crowd TO aid in working the bomhn
The tall Americana drew out his watch
and allowed that he had won the last bet
with two minutes To spare and the short
Americana Acknowledged the obligation.
Sebastiano was pipeman and he felt that
his opportunitv was near on the edge of
the crowd ne had caught a glimpse Of the
hckle Maria and she was standing near and
smiling on the tall Americana. who sneercd
~ the valentes bomberos and made Sebas-
tiano furious
Sebastiano picked up the e-foot tin shield.
which was part OF the pipeman's equipment
and designed TO protect him from flames
and heat. In the greatest silence he rushed
forward and planted his shield fairly against
the wall of the burning building
'Naliente Sebastiano!' shrieked the mul-
titude in exultation. But tn" acclaim fell
on unheeding esrs.
rhe spectators looked on with hrcathles-
interest as Sebastiano bore line Of hose up
to his vantage point behind the shield Never
before in Porto Rico had = bomharo been
seen so near IRE
Sebastiano crouched behind the shield
and held the nozzle OF the hose firmly be-
tween his knees ready 10 play the stream.
The citizens wen, wild
"Nalien,e Sehastiano, bravo bompero'
The cry passed from lip to lip.
Sebastiano waited patiently. one minute.
two minutes three minutes but not drop
of water fell from the nozzle. He turned
and saw his comrades and the citizen relays
working furiously al the bomba he fanCled
he could hear the squeak of the machinery.
Still no water came and when he turned To
look again he saw nothing but the rov-ter-
ing Americana aud the tickle Maria laugh
ing aud chatting together.
"lnfeicidad!' moaued Sebastiano. aud
waited again.
Five pesos to ten that the chap behind
the shield die, Of thirst " remarked the short
americana. but h- friend was engros.ed with
the Senorita Maria and paid 10 attention.
rhe iropic sun was at meridian now 1t
beat down tercelv on Scbastiano's coal sCut-
tie helmet it, heat aud glare were reflected
from tho tin shield and blinded and da27led
him. The flames from the burning build
ing seemed pale and sicklv in the cleaning
sunlight. Scbastiano wet finger and
touched the shield 1t was as hot rs a coal
He spat against 1t and heard II sizzlc. He
began 10 think that after all his companions
who stayed behind were wiser tina n he. Now
and then he pceped around the edge Of the
shield al the burning building He could
hear the flames crackle.
In. stalwart citizens fairly made the bomba
groan. Six men on a side a; the long handle-
and the workers we're relieved frequently
Finally the water came trickling from Tie
nozzle between Sebastisno's knees. The
first Jet spurted aga inst the shield and hot
yspor rolled about Sebast'anos head, blind
Ing aud choking him. BY mighty effort
he passed the nozzle around the side of the
shield. but it was too hot for his grip and he
let il fall to the ground h" tried 10 reach
it again. but his wonted visUr was gone. Hl-
limbs we're heavy and only the image OF th"
ncie Maria was clear to his vision
The rays ot the sun became focused On
the fat top OF Sebastiano's metal helm et
Love and jealousy and hate burned IN III
,tals The sun without aud hls na~siou-
within combined 10 produce the hottest time
! ,hu Sebastiuuo had ever eSperien" ICED The
-hlclG was now a menace instead OF pro-
lection and tn. helmet was a frying pan His
head began TO whrl His vision was blurred
| He strove feebly ~ rlse aud fell back again
! against the shield The shouts OF encour-
| agement from he spectators sounded o him
Ike the long duh beat of the surf IN the shore
| Two miles away,
shrek Of agony wont up from the citi-
| 2ens High above tho general shrek a single
piercing voice rem, the All Maria had
| tainted Sebastiano rolled his head aud hl>
| diving glance fell on the ickle Maria as she
was caught in the arr.S ~ the staggering
Americana Scbastiano'- last breath bore
| heavenward an imprecation
Ten pesos even that he's griled'" chal-
lenged the tall Americana.
"III take il. replied the short one He'll
| br fried
The men a, the bomba ceased pumping
! and volunteers were called Tor 10 take part
| in an expedition for the relief Of Sebastiano
| Then il was found that the Alcaldc had de-
| parted
| Poor Saba.tiano'" walled the multitude,
| and the rut hle.s sun continued to beat down
! and the flames and smoke rolled over him
| Poor Sebastlano" and n messenger was
sent in haste for the Alcald"
| Forten long minutes the vaente bombero' >
| body cooked on the hot shald Then came
the Alcalds putting and painting With him
at its head The relief expedition act out and