The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-02-06

The great excitement had kept Bar
ton nerved up to the occasion As the
dawn broke. however, the strain was
too severe for the frail tenement. He
felt something snap somewhere. and
his eyes blinded as he staggered over
the ruins He brushed back the hair
that hung matted and dripping over
his forehead and tried to steady him.
self. There was a child's arm protrud-
ing from mass of plaster and bricks
at which he had been working as in a
nightmare. sobbing and coughing, and
alternately cursing and praying. Cor
don was several feet away, lifting a
beam with Miss Andrews.
He Strengthened up and saw 1t all II
a mist that darkened swiftly. Again
he brushed his hand over his forehead
and tried by all the exercise of his will
to keep from falling, but the next mo-
ment he reeled. stumbled against
projecting timber and fell face down
ward. The fingers of the child. which
had been moving slightly, touched his
warm cheek. When John Gordon came
over to lift Barton up. the child's arm
encircled Barton's neck.
Gordon gently unclasped the arm
and, lifting up his friend. carried him
into Hope House. As he laid him down
Barton opened his eyes and whis-
pered, Never mind me. save the 9th
ers."
Gordon kneeled and kissed Barton's
forehead, and. leaving him in charge
Of one of the residents. he went out to
the work When he and Miss Andrews
had dug out the child. it had breathed
| its last. Miss Andrews kissed the dis
| figured face, and the first tear that
Gordon had ever seen her shed fell on
| the body.
"One Of our children In thc kinder
earten. oh, my God. For this slaugh-
| ter of the innocents who shall be
counted guilty?"
She carried the child into the house,
| and when she came back there was an
added divinity OF righteous indignation
In her blue eyes, added sadness In the
lines Of her patient face.
| Day broke ON Waterside district.
Ward IS. over a scene that had never
before been witnessed In any part Of
the city. There had been very many
fires before this horror Of tenement
house fire, Ward IS. But no disaster
i had ever before been marAed by such
sickening slaughter of children. In No.
| 81. Mr. Marsh's double decker, twenty
nine children were burned or crushed
| to death. In the other blocks twenty
three more were victims OF the falling
wall or the nights exposure. Seventy
five families were instantly beggared.
saving only the clothes they wore. and
left without a roof to shelter or cant
to pay for bread. Gfeat piles of value
less furniture and bedding filed the
streets and alleys, soaked by the rain
which continued all day. Hope House
stood solitary and alone, choked with
the dead and the living. among whom
Miss Andrews moved with an Angels
lpity and a commanders firmness. She
Twas perfectly self possessed and knew
lust what to do next. Under her lead
rrship order grew out of awful confu-
zion. and Hope House, transferred into
a hospital, knew at once that she who
had been the gracious head of the set.
tlement was also its director under the
shadow of this fearful calamity.
Barton had been carried into one OF
the residents rooms. When Gordon
came in to see him after he had yielded
to re-enforcements sent in by the de
Ipartment, Barton was lying soapale and
still that Gordon feared the end had
come, but the great eyes opened in q
Take me up to my rooms, John
Williams is used to caring for me, an'
am in the way here"
"In the way, Miss Andrews" Cor
don spoke to her as she appeared a
the door of the room, lis my friend Mr
Barton in the way here?'
"In the way. l feared you hat
passed on. Mr.. Barton. when / saw
: you carried into the house by Mr.. Gor
don. You are not able to be moved
The exposure
} ''The exposure did me good" Barto
] interrupted almost roughly. Send 70
a carriage John. can go easily enough
tainted out there. I'm not used
night work. They saved Hope Hous'
Miss Andrews
"Yes. thank God" she said softlI
+ Even with all the horrors of that nigh
s and the awful sight out in the hall an
I library, she felt thrill at the though
: that the people had loved her n little.
"Get me out of here, John" Barto
said again as Miss Andrews steppe
back into the hall and resumed hC
: work. Its the beginning of the en'
! and l don't want IL to come to n
here"
i Gordon did no. demonstrate. Und'
other circumstances he might ha,
done so. When he had first entered Il
room. he had partly closed the door. bl
{; the groans. the shrieks for mercy. Il
J. walls Of friends discovering relativ'
N in the piles of crushed humanity ot
y ON the floor. had swept into the roo
2 and Barton had shrunk down I'm Il
D bed and shuddcred. Gordon went on
y closed the door aud ordered a carriai
e for Barton. When IL came. he went
IN help Barton get ready. To his amaz
ic ment, he was up and waiting. When
10 got up Off the bed OH which he was S
ting. he reeled ON his feet and wou
rs have fallen il Gordon had not put 1
arm about him.
"You are not able to leaver'
ne Il am, l tell you, l will never d
here. I'll live long enough to get to n
r rooms And Ill live long enough
y. write up this horror too. The day
ce judgment ought TO begin today (
IL some of the people in this God forsak
or metropolis. John. There's your frier
Mr.. Marsh. l suppose the building W
'e, insured. He never nything, e
e. Not that sort"'