The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-05-26

q hurricane OF Flame II M l'N nc y , s
a stranger Who Was intoxicated.
All great contlagra tions that are at
tended with loss of life have. Us 4 rule,
their serio comic as Well as their tragic
incidents Many peculiar escapes have
been recorded, but the following story
of how one woman and her TWO chit-
,iren We're saved from death in the
:iwful horror OF the IroquoiS tAeater in
Chicago, where so many hundreds per-
isheu III TIE hurricane of fame and
panic rs told by Miss Elizabeth \.
Reed in the Chicago Record Herald
shortly after the fearful tragedy, Is
unique in many Ways:
Mrs Henry Stirling. with her TWO
children, sat in the fatefu} iroluo1s
theater on that dreadful afternoon
Little Bob was next to the aisle, 5hen
the mother. and Dorothy sat on the
other side. Beyond the slH-yeaf-oid
girl there was 4 vacant scat. but little
heed w:s given to it rs the spectacular
drama went on ana the wondering Ut
tie folks looked open eyed upon inc
scenes before them.
Vt last an uncertain step came Gown
the aisle ard we'll dressed man
lurched into the vacant seat. ihe cur
tain was up. but he was an old theater
Il.
entirely new 10 ninl he turned to the
child Her confdiug blue eyes an
swercI his appeal for friendship: there
was wcndel' in the expressive niue
face bat no fear. even when he VEN
t1lred to lay Il caressing hand upon the
golden curiS.
Airs. Stirling shranA from his con
Illuminating touch upon DoTcthy's he;.a-
He saw or felt her loatling ana said
brokenly. Don't you be 'Grnfd-ish aA
ri@ht-;4ll rjght-sweeti&,l lii girl ever
| shaw-Sweetish liz girl ever SHAW.
The gay drama Went. on. the cfoWI
cheercd. the children cla2pel their
hands. and their merry laughter min
yled with the applause, but the STRAIN
ger still kept his bleareI eyes upon the
lovely child Every few minutes his
hand would stray lovingly over the
sunny head and some expression OF
eudearnenr would fall from his lucef-
tain lips 1t last Mrs. Stirling called
the attention of an usher to the pro
louced annoyance. and Il rcinonstra nee
was made. but the answer came. on
go way-ish all rght-lll right-swect-
ish iii girl ever | sllaU---sWectiSh Ill
girl ever l shaw
Again .he big hand touched tie gold
en- hair. and this time it strayed down
ward ana took the little hand in low
ing clasp. The child looked fearlessly
into his face ana smiled.
The mother grew more and more
nervous Again an usher was ca lee
and n complaint made. The slender
young ;nan looked at the big fellow
and concluded that prudence was the
better part Of valor,' so he went TO
consult with another about effective
methods of getting the intruder out OF
the house.
The stranger looked at the stage
again: this time lie saw 4 tiny tame
rapidly spreading to the scenery. ItlS-
ing instantly. he took little Dorothy in
his arms. Stepping beyond the mother
and urheeding her frightened rem on
STRANGE. he swung the child upon one
shoulder and with the other hand
caught up little Bob; then with both
of them pressed closely in his strong
arms he walked out Of the house. The
doubly frightened mother involunta-
riIy followed him.
This precious instant was tile mo-
ment Of salvation. Another minute
another half minute-and it would
have been too late. They had nearly
reached tie entrance when cry of
horror rang through the house. follow
ed by screams of terror and shricks of
pain.
Without further volition Of their
own they were swept into the street.
Wholly tiazed by the awful shock Mrs.
Stirling pleaded. Put them Gown-put
them down now
NO, thash all right. Where do You
want to go:
Fright up this way to the Ashland
block" she answered Then the
strange party pushed on through the
crowd which w2s already rushing
with helping hands to the scene of the
disaster.
Lurcng from one side OF the walk
to the other and apparently in CON
slant danger CT falling, he still carried
his precious burden safely. Once
within the protecting doors Of the
great Ashland block the elevator car
ried them to one of the higher floors,
where Mrs. Stirling rushed into her
husbands Office crying, oh Henry.
the theater is burning. and this man
has brought the children out!'
Although not half comprehend1nS
the horror, the father put his hand in
his pocket and drew out twenty dol
lar bill, which he offered with profuse
thanks But he and his money were
alike ignored. With majestic sweep
of the hand the drunken hero answer
ed. 60 way-I don't want your mon
~ 1ech the