The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-03-14

teen-year-old boy, OF humble
life and calling. living in Chicago, who
Is built Of the material Of which heroes
are made. His name is Oscar Bela'
and he is an elevator conductor IN
one Of the hotels Of Chicago.
Some days ago fire broke out in
Z this hotel. There were over hundred
guests In the house at the time, nearly
all OF whom were at that moment in the
dining-room, on the seventh or top
floor.
The Western papers give full ac-
counts OF the action Of this brave boy
In this emergency and we condense
the story here
Oscar Bella was on duty at the ele-
vator when the fire was discovered; 1t
was hot and swift one, and almost at
once filled the elevator shaft with
dense smoke, while flames began 10 eat
nto the base Of the shaft This plucky,
thoughtful boy had no idea Of running
from tie danger. On the contrary, he
instantly resolved 10 save the people
on the top floor. TO resolve with him
was TO act.
He started the cage up the shaft at
full speed, through hot. suffocating and
binding smoke, so sitting that he had
TO pause TO wet his handkerchief and
tie IL over his face. He went safely
up, filed the cage with terrified peo-
pie, assured those who could not get in
that he would come back for them,
preferred women and children for his
load, and down he went
Back he came second time, though
the flames were now licking the sides
OF the shaft, and TO see across its mar
row confines was nearly impossible.
He filed the cage again and down he
went with his second load of human
life.
A third time he made the ascent,
though scorched and well nigh blinded,
and this time he gathered all who were
left But before starting down he ran
over the floor and discovered the in
valid wife of Carl Albrecht, editor OF
the Abedud Post. He carried the half
dead woman over his shoulder to the
cage. and down the load of scorched
and half stified life went out, through
smoke and fame.
Arriving at the bottom in safety,
Oscar discharged his precious cargo
upon the hot floor and prepared to go
up once more, If, mayhap, some one
had been overlooked, but the fire was
too fierce and be was forced to desist.
Ia ..1F 81 E.f,
American boy was not through. The
T'res carrying natural gas into the
hotel had burst. and there was immi-
nent danger Of an explosion. The fire
engineer in charge shouted for some
one u volunteer to point out where
the big ingress valve was. Oscar
stepped at once to the front, clambered
TO the back Of burly fireman with n
safety helmet and asporator, and thus
rode into the fire, down into the base
ment. pointed out the valve and ii was
closed.
Where is there or where or when
was there ever q hero with more
glorious record. The true blood runs
in his veins, he has been hero all
the while and only needed an oppor-
tunty TO show what was in him.
This great country of ours has thou.
sands OF just such heroes, and il is
from their ranks we get the men to
place behind the guns of the army and
navy when troublous times come. Yes.
our army and navy are made up of
brave, self.sacrificing American boys
who have become men that make
American soldiery invincible in war,
just as the american hustler is in
vincible in civil life. Our land is full
Of heroes.-Newport News Times Her
aid.