The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-05-07
TRAPPED ONE

otldSSilIE SuDuIb tifc lilC OAi6oNS f-SN
received tardy warning of the outbreak
in spite of the lateness of the hour-it
was near to midnight-the firemen found
the inevitable crowd. drawn together by
the dull red glow in the sky which ev-
cry New Yorker learns to read so We'll
already assembled.
The spectators, many of whom, to judge
from their attire had but recently scram-
bled out of bed, had, with the courage or
numbers, boldly invaded the private
grounds surrounding the burning building
and successfully defied the ftful efforts
of the few police present to dlslodGe
them In the center of an open space
On the lawn stood a gentleman in even
ing dress talking TO the young inspector
OF police. and close by. seated on gar
Gen chair, was lady wearing a costly
opera cloak. They were the owner sof
the mansion and had just returned from
the theater An incessant hum of con-
lecture and Interrogation mingled with
the noise of the confiagration.
So rapidly had the fire spread that by
the time the engine appeared the red
dish-yellow tongues of flames were thrust
ing out from every window. and any
hope Of saving the building was vain.
Nevertheless, some of the contents might
be salvaged and the firemen set to work
instantly.
"Any one in there?" inquired the chief
Of the inspector.
50 replied the latter.
The statement had no sooner left his
lips than a shout from the crowd denied
it.
"a man! A man on the roof
The inspector looked up and saw. clear
(, ly outlined against the red glare, the
form of a man creeping along the para
pet which hedged the sloping roof His
progress was slow. for the parapet was
narrow and the flames from the upper
windows were already darting above it.
He was making for corner of the roof
still comparatively free from the fire.
Hes done for, anyhow muttered the
Inspector. THE escape won't nearly
reach him, even if he gets there
The crowd was quieter now. betray
ing its excitement only by hushed repeti-
tions of the same questions. Who was
he? How did he get up there? How
would he get down? Even the owner
of the house could supply no clue to the
mans identity, and the inspector was
lain 10 1O1n n theory OF MS OWN Inc
man had covered the most perious part
of his journey and paused moment,
though exhaused Suddenly, clearly above
the roaring Of the flames. rang out a
sound which struck the faintest muir
murs from the lips OF the onlookers. 1t
was the cry of a child, and it came from
the midst Of the burning mass. The wom-
an seated on the lawn sprang to her feet.
My baby.'' she shrieked, and fell head
long
Again the wall made itself heard. and
the crowd thrilled with horror So the
child was not safe with the nurse, as
the other servants had asserted. The
men looked at one another in helpless
dismay; they know they could do Moth
ing. yet they felt sense of shame. The
woman wept. For a moment the man on
the roof was forgotten and then it was
noticed that he was cautiously retracing
his steps.
Hes goin back fer the kid. Give him
e cheer, boys" shouted some one and
the cheer was given
The unknown heard il, waved his arm
in reply and vanished Then followed a
period of dread suspense. 1t seemed
scarcely thsx the courageous attempt
could succeed. The spectators were too
excited even to whisper; all eyes were
fixed on the spot where the man had dis
appeared. The moments seemed hours,
but at least single voice cried:
There he ISL
This was followed by a ringing cheer
when burst Of flame revealed the fact
that the daring rescuer had a bundle in
!
ment, he recommended the now doubly
perilous task of creeping along the para
pet and hush fell on the breathless
WATCHERS below. They spoke only in hur-
ried whispers, as if fearful that a loud
word might reach him and cause catas-
trophe From time To time the dense
volumes of smoke, sashed with vivid
tongues of fire, hid him from view, but
he reappeared.
Hell do it now" said one. Gosh.
amt he got a nervet'
In fact, the mans very delibera ton was
painful to watch. but at last he reached
the one corner of the building not entire
ly in the grip of the fire, though it was
bursting out from the windows beneath
his feet.
What will he do now?'
The question was on the lips or in the
minus of all for the top of the escape
was good twelve feet below the aprapet
The man did not hesitate. Placing the
bundle on the roof, he hurriedly un-
wound something from his Rist. Then
he stopped and seemed to be making one
end of it fast. The other end fell down
almost to the top of the fire escape. 1t
appeared to be a miniature ladder form
ed of rope. and terribly fran II looked to
those below. The unknown straddled the
parapet and stood on the ladder mo-
ment. as though testing the fastening
Then he leaned forward. and. catching
up the bundle in his left arm, began to
descend. clinging TO the ladder with his
free hand
SO long as the foothold lasted the mans
task was apparently not too difficult. but
soon he had to descend hanging only by
his right arm. sliding his hand from rung
TO rung down the side OF the ladder
These few moments We're agoniing. The
most callous in the crowd shivered at
the sight of a fellow-creature dangling
like spider on a thread in the midst of
flames which darted about him like great
eerpents. When al length he reached the
end, his feet We're directly above the
mouth Of the escape, and a score Of
friendly voices shouted 10 him to let so.
A moment later. the child, uninjured. was
In its mothers hands.
The rescuer, a rough-looking man of
middle age. lay senseless on the lawn
The inspector knelt beside him and wiped
the -blackened features with a wet
cloth Pr9seDtly the man or,arred his eVSs