Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-05-26

IN
I'M 1894. Oliver Martin, young
man twenty six years old, was
engaged AS assistant ookkeeper by Il
wholesale house dealing in paints. oils
and varnlshes in one Of our large East
ern cities
The firm was busy at all seasons, hut
particularly so in the spring. Martins
drst April in the city found the store
heavily stocked with goods; every day
considerable shipments came from the
manufacturers. and almost equally
large ones were sent out to Gus
TONER'S.
All the clerks had to work overtime
to keep up with the volume Of trade.
Martin found it impossible to balance
his books without coming back after
supper and often 1t was late In the
evening before his duties were over.
One night at niue Martin was the
only man in the store. The office was
situated In the rear of the grouud
door. and was separated from the main
room by glass partitions.
As he pored over his columns. a
slight explosion In the direction OF the
street fell upon his eyes. CHANGING
hastily through the counting room
window. he saw dull red flicker just
outside
When cOnflagratlOn starts among
paints and oils 1t must he checked i'm
medlately. or there is lively work in
70 Hr<
sprang from his stool and rushed out
of the office. Already the flames had
made startling Roadway. The rapid
ty with which they darted along the
floor was almost inconceivable. Tho
bookkeeper had known that the goods
were anything like this. Before he
had gone twenty feet sea of fire
surged round him. barring escape by
the windows or the street entrance.
Close at hand was a door leading to
the basement. That offered. at least,
respite. Martin pulled 1t open and
closed it behind him. almost falling
head first downstairs in his haste.
His intention was to escape through
the back basement door, which opened
upon the street below. aud to ring in
an alarm from the nearest box. Every
second Of delay meant dollars to the
firm and their insurance company.
But when Martin tried the lower
door he found to his alarm that It
was bolted and locked. and remem-
bercd with sudden sinking Of heart
that the key hung above his desk in
the Office.
To ascend those stairs and cross the
floor above was absolutely impOssible
he would have persisted before travers-
Ing half the distance. How, then,
should he get out? The heavy door
opened inward and was set in strong
castings. so that 1t was useless to at
tempt to batter a hole through it or to
hammer hard enough to burst off tho
lock. The small, high windows deep
In masonry close to the ceiling. were
heavily barred with iron. There was
no exit through them.
The bOOkkeeper stood in hesitating
dsnay, not knowing which way to
Nutt JuSt tiCtI the uiStiIlt SlEOkeS OF
the fire alarm broke upon his ears.
Some one. probably patrolman. had
discovered the confiagraton, and the
engines would soon be on the spot.
Meanwhile every minute added to his
own peril. and it behooved him to put
forth all his powers to extricate him
self.
Round the walls he ran. like rat in
trap, seeking a chance to escape, but
finding none. Louder and louder
roared the fire above him: the heat
began to strike down through the floor;
strong. pungent smoke permeated the
air
There was a rattle Of wheels with
out; the engines and hose carts were
arriving. A confused hum Of voices
told him that a crowd had begun to
gather.
Martin pulled an empty box under
one Of the windows, jumped on top Of
1t, dashed his elbow through the glass
and began to shout for help. The