The Van Buren press., 1900-05-05
Az ~. NJ ~ W. W. .N1sk " W W .slk.N,
A Million Dollar Fire
Observation-Disclosures NS7lS NNNSNS'
BY H L. Dawes

XATHEN Thomas Proctor entered
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-
agement on his part, but to com
bination of unfortunate circum'
stances.
After the last collapse Proctor OBJ
tanned situation at 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 a 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: 81 hope so with all my
heart"
At that time I was a director in a
large transportation company, and
thinking that possibly | might secure
a position there for my young friend
we started on search at once.
On the way downtown we stopped
at q wholesale house to buy n 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
ton floor, so we ascended to the fifth
floor In the elevator and then climbed
two flights OF stairs, entering a room
occupying the whole area of the build
ing
A clerk was busily engaged with Il
gentleman whom ] recognized as Hon,
Moses Oglethorpe, multi.millionaire,
the richest man in the state, The
clerk went downstairs for something.
leaving us alone-a millionaire, u mer.
chant and poor man.
Suddenly we were startled by the
changing of gongs, 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 en-
gnes,
"Great Scott! gentlemen ex-
claimed Tom, excitedly, "the fire Is in
this building! | smell smoke! We
must get out!"
We all rushed to the door, Proctor
reaching II first. AS he swung 1t
open he was driven back by sheet
Of fame and smoke,
"No chance to escape by the stairs"
said he; perhaps there's n fire es'
cape; you stay here while | take a
look" and with that he ran to the
front, side and rear windows. When
he rejoincd our little group the an.
swer 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 to find some avenue OF escape.
Ten minutes before he was the most
insignificant person In the room. u
pennless bankrupt, realizing his own
insignincance more keenly because of
the presence OF modern Croesus.
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 u
situation where brains We're of more
account than dollars,
He carefully examined the room,
hoping TO find u skylight, but was
unsuccessful. Then he sought the
windows again, thinking he might
discover u coping or cornice by which
we could reach some adjoining build.
ing, but with the same hopeless re-
suit.
Then we ran TO the windows TO see
II there was any chance Of help from
the firemen. A cry Of horror reached
our ears us the crowd In the street
caught sight OF us.
The Aremen raised ladders against
the side OF the building, but our
hearts sank. for the ladders reached
only the window Of the fourth tIoor
One cry reached our ears, but It
sounded like death sentence. Some
one, evidently fire chief, roared
through trumpet; "Jumpl It's your
only chnncel" at the same time point.
ing to II group of men holding large
blanket directly beneath us,
my Godl" groaned 0glethorpe;
ats suicide TO jump from this height
II makes me dizzy 10 think of IT,"
Proctor was as cool us the proverb-
Ial cucumber, and talked to us as calm
" as II discussing business scheme in
my private office,
Its u case OF roast or jump" said
he. as we came together for final con-
ference, "that's the whole thing In q
nutshell. The only redeeming feature
ir the cuse is that each OF us can choose
the way II suits him best TO die. Per-
sonally II makes little difference TO me.
pasth by Are Isn't renlly no horrible us