The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-05-04
A Million Dollar Fire


VLTIIEN Thomas Proctor entered
wv nv office one October morning
Ten years ago i 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 msman-
arcmcnt on his part, but to com
bination of unfortunate clrcum
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 10 him was
more substantial, some dollars to re-
1ieye his immediate necessities.
Proctor expressed his gratitude in
his blunt. homely fashion. and added
rarncstly perhaps this is the turn
ing OF the tide. Mr.. Burrows, and
replied: II hope so with all my
heart
At that time l was director IN Q
large transportation company, ana
thinking that possibly l might secure
a position there for my young friend
we started on a search at once.
On the way downtown we stopped
at a Wholesale house to buy ham
mock 10 send to a friend in Florida.
The clerk informed us that as thu
hammock season was over all theil
stock had been packed away on th'
top floor. so we asccnded to the hfti
floor ia the elevator and then climbed
two fights of stairs, entering room
occup>inr the whole area of the build
ing.
4 clerk was busily engaged with
gentleman whom l recognized as Hon
Moses Oglcthorpc. multi-millionairf
the richest man in the state. IN
clerk went downstairs for something
leaving us alonc-a millionaire, mel
chant and a poor man.
Suddenly we we're startled by IN
canging of gongs, a footing of bugle
and a commotion in the street.
We all rushed to the window. draw
'hither by the natural desire inheren
IA the breast of the average America
10 witness the rush of the fire 81
ginsS.
Great Scott! gentlemen" e
claimed Tom. excitcdly, the fire is
this building. / smell smoke.
must get Quit"
We all rushed TO the door. Procte
reaching il first. As he swung
open he was driven back by she'
of fame and smoke.
NO chance to escape by the stairs
said he: perhaps there's fire
cape: you stay here while take
look" and with that he ran to u
front. side and rear windows. Nhs
he rcjoined our little group the a
swcr was plainly written on his fac
In that time of awful peril a'
danger Tom Proctor was cool al
collected. SO we naturally looked
him to find some avenue of cscaT
Ten minutes before he was the mo
insignificant person in the room,
rcnniless bankrupt. realizing his ov
nsigniiicancc more keenly because
the presence Of modern Crocsus.
few moments had changed Z
standing of the two extremes of 0
trio, and Proctor had jumped to Z
head Of the class. for we were in
situation where brains were OF mo
account than dollars
He carefully examined the roo
hoping to find slxylight. but v
unsuccessful. Then he sought I
windows again, thinking he mig
discover coping or cornicc by viii
we could reach some adjoining bIi
ing, but with the same hopeless
sult
Then we ran to the windows to I
y there was any chance OF help fr'
'hc iiremcn. A cry of horror reach
our ears rs the crowd in the str'
caught sight of ms.
Tho iircmcn raised ladders agail
me side Of the building, but 9
hearts sank. for the ladders reach
only the window OF the fourth flo
One cry reached our cars, but
founded like death sentence. 30
one, evidently fire chief, roal
through trumpet: Jump! it's ~
only chpncc," nj the same time moi