The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-04-26
A Million Dollar Fire
By II L. Dawes
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w my Office one October morning
ten years ago / little thought the day
would prove to be the most eventful
In the lives Of three men.
had aided Proctor financially in
several promising business ventures,
and they all wound up in disaster,
which was not due TO any misman-
agcment on his part, but to com
bination Of unfortunate circum-
stances.
After the last collapse Proctor OBJ
tanned a situation at a salary which
barely supported his family. This
went on for about two years, when
his employer failed and Tom was
again stranded. lie had been with
out employment about month, when
he called at my Office that October
morning.
/ gave him some good advice and
encouragement, and what to him was
more substantial, some dollars to re-
lievc his immediate necessities.
Proctor expressed his gratitude in
his blunt, homely fashion, and added,
earnestly; Perhaps this is the turn
ing OF the tide, Mr.. Burrows" and |
replied; Il hope so with all my
heart"
At that time I was a director in
large transportation company, and
thinking that possibly | might secure
position there for my young friend
we started on search at once.
On the way downtown we stopped
at wholesale house to buy ham
mock TO send to friend in Florida
The clerk informed us that as the
hammock 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 climbed
two flights Of stairs, entering room
occupying the whole area of the build
ing.
A clerk was busily engaged with
gentleman whom ! recognized as Hon.
Moses Oglcthorpc, multi-milionaire,
the richest man in the state. The
clerk went downstairs for something,
leaving us alone-a millionaire, mer-
chant and poor man.
Suddenly we were startled by the
changing OF gongs, footing of bugles
aud a connection in the street
We all rushed TO the window, drawn
thithcr by the natural desire inherent
in the breast Of the average American
To witness the rush OF the fire en-.
Ciucs.
Great Scott! gentlemen" cx-
claimed Tom, cxcitcdly, "the fire is in
this buildingl | smell smoke! We
must get outl"
We all rushed TO the door, Proctor
reaching it first AS he swung 1t
open he was driven back by a sheet
of flame and smoke.
"No chance TO escape by the stairs"
said he; perhaps there's Il fire es
cape; you stay here while ! take a
look" and with that he ran TO the
front. side and rear windows. When
hc rcjoincd our little group the an.
swcr was plainly written on his face.
In that time of awful peril and
danger Tom Proctor was cool and
collected, SO we naturally looked to
him 30 find some avenue of escape.
Ten minutes before he was the most
Insignificant person in the room, n
pcnnilrss bankrupt, realizing his own
insiguliicancc more kccnly because Of
the presence Of modern Crocsus.
A few moments had changed the
standing OF the two extremes OF our
trio, and Proctor had jumped to the
head Of the class, for we were In n
situation where brains were of more
account than dollars.
He carefully examined the room.
hoping 10 find n slIylight, but was
unsuccessful. Then he sought the
windows again, thinking he might
discover coping or cornicc by which
we could reach some adjoining build.
ing, but with the same hopeless re.
suit
Then we ran 10 the windows TO sec
II there was any chance Of help from
the iircmcn. a cry Of horror reached
our ears as the crowd in the street
caught sight OF us.
The hrcmen raised ladders against
the side Of the building, but our
hearts sank, for the ladders reached
only the window Of the fourth floor
One cry reached our ears, but il
sounded like death sentence. Some
one, evidently fire chief, roared
through a trumpet: Jump! it's your
gully chancel" al the same time point