Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-04-17
Observation-Disclosures OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
THE HEROISM OF MICHAEL MCMJ! Ian.
BY Ed. w. Riis.


to pump sufficient stream through
the hose already leveled at the build
ing. Other engines were just arriving
and preparing to take up positions at
neighboring hydrants. A pygmy crowd
watched him ihtently, their anxious
faces upturned to the spot where he
stood. BY leaning far out Michael
could see the man in the adjoining
window. Cautioning him to keep still
he mentally figured the distance be-
tween them. Then he crawled out on
the sill.
Between Michael and the window
of the burning house was a space of
some six feet. 1t was too far to jump
but midway narrow ledge jutted out
from the building. So narrow was it
that Michael would not have been able
to stand on it without some assistance
He looked around for something to
hold on to and found it in tangle of
electric light wires stretching along
the wall at his hand. Selling these he
swung one foot over on the ledge and
held out his right hand to the man in
the window leaning over as far as he
could without letting go of the wires
Obeying directions, the man stepped
timidly out, clutching Michael's hand
which held him to the side of the
building like wise. Then, as the driv.
er commanded. he inched along the
ledge till he reached the end. The hot
breath of the flames famed his face
and the smoke nearly shut off his
breathing. To the man, facing the is
sue of life and death. on that slim
street, the time during which he
inched along the ledge seemed inter
minable. 1t seemed ages longer be-
fore the fireman had slipped back his
foot to the other sill. Standing there
by almost snuperhuman strength, he
half swung half lifted the man to a
place beside him and then in through
the window. 1t was done at last AMI
a mighty cheer greeted the act Fire
men mounting On scaling ladders ar
rived just in time to pull the exhaust
ed Michael and his trembling burden
OuO ch0 tehO tDCl1 QOn Ii. L llS lLdu ndA
swooIed, but be soon recovered in the
fresh air. AS for Michael, he was
hero.
OF the great destruction wrought by
the fire, and the space in the newspa-
pers devoted to the Rescue by Fire
man Mcmillan" it is not necessary
to tell. The town raving with the
news. Michael took it all calmly and
modestly, as brave firemen should do
In quarters that evening he was con-
graduated by his comrades and patted
On the back by his captain.
That evening woman, closely muf
fed up, came to the firehouse inquir-
ing for Mr.. Mcmillan. Under ordinary
circumstances visitors are not allowed
to disturb the firemen, but the captain,
who knew the woman ,winked at a
breach of discipline for once. Micha.
ell rung back at first, refusing to see
her, but big Jack Rainey pushed him
forward with laugh at his fear of
1.-THE women folks"
Thus adjured, Michael faced the
caller. For the moment there. was 81
lence, then she spoke. The first words
sent thrill through Michael for it
was voice he well knew and loved.
Il saw the fire this afternoon,
Mike" she began.
did you Rhoda?" was the response
in an almost inaudible voice.
"Yes, and / want to tell you, Mike
Mcmillan, that | am proud of you!"
she went on quickly. 1T was grand ="
"Aw," replied Mike, shifting awk-
wardly from one foot to the other and
blushing like schoolboy again. Il
didn't do nothin'." Mikes grammar
was not faultless, but Rhoda didn't
seem to mind. She lowered her head
and picked for moment at her shawl.
Then she lifted it again and looked
straight into his eyes with a laugh.
Say, Mike" she said, and for some
reason the poor boy turned red as a
peony, Il guess l didn't mean what
/ said the other afternoon" Then she
dropped her eyes to the shawl again.
1t took Mike sometime to grasp the
situation, but he met it at last like
a man. What then? There were none
of his comrades there to see, but he
would not have cared had the whole
world looked on. He was Rhoda's
hero.