Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-11-28


Iney turned into the main road at
dog trot and became part Of crowd Of
oddly dressed people. all running In the
same direction.
"Web's place, amt it?" asked Err of
Seth Wingate, who was numbering
along with wooden bucket In one
hand and the pitcher Of his wife's best
washstand set in the other.
EYES," breathlessly answered Mr.
Wingate. "and it's a goner, they tell
me. Every mans got to do his part II
they're going to save It. l alters said
we ought to have fire department In
this town."
Considering that Seth had for the
past eight years persistently opposed
in town meeting any attempt to pur-
chase hand engine, this was rather
surprising speech. but no one paid any
attention to it then.
The fire was in the billiard saloon.
sure enough. and the back portion OF
the building was in blaze when they
reached it. Ladders were placed
against the caves, and line Of men
with buckets We're pouring water on
the roof The line extended to the
town pump. where two energetic
youths in their shirt sleeves were
working the handle with might and
main. The houses near at hand were
brilliantly Illuminated, and men and
women were bringing water from
them in buckets. tin pals, wash boilers
and even coal scuttles.
Inside the saloon another hustling
crowd was busily working to "save"
Mr.. Saunders property. A dozen OF
the members had turned the biggest
pool table over on its back and were
unscrewing the legs, needless Of the
fact that to attempt to get the table
through the front door was an impossi-
bility and that, as the back door was
in the thickest Of the fire, It, too, was
out Of the question. A man appeared
at the open front window Of the Sec
ond story with his arms filled with bot
ties of various liquids, "Original pack
ages" and others. These with fever
ish energy he threw one by one into
the street, endangerlng the lives of ev-
cry one in range and, Of course, break
ing every bottle thrown. Some one Of
the cooler heads calling his attention
to these facts. he retired and carefully
packed all the empty bottles. the only
ones remaining. into peach basket
and tugged the latter downstairs and
to safe place on neighboring piazza.
Then he rested from his labors as one
who had done all that might reason
ably be expected.
Mr.. Saunders himself, lightly attired
in a nightshirt tucked into a pair Of
trousers, was rushing here and there.
now loudly demanding more water and
then stopping to swear at the bottle
thrower or some other enthusiast.
Webs smoothness was all gone, and
the language he used was, as Abigail
Mullett said afterward. "enough to
bring down Judgment on anybody"
Suptdlu Ell CduBht hiih py shS S'SS'S
as he was running past and inquired,
How'd it start, WEBB"
How'd 1t start? know mighty
well how it started, and fore I GIT
through I'll know who started 1t.
Somebody II pay for this. now you
hear me! Hurry up with the water,
you
He tore frantically away to the
pump and the three captains Joined
the crowd of volunteer firemen. Cap.
tain Erj, running round to the back OF
the building, took In the situation at
once. Back of the main portion Of the
saloon was an ell and 1t was In this ell
that the fire had started. The ell Itself
was in a bright blaze, but the larger
building in front was only just begin
ming to burn. The captain climbed
one of the. ladders to the roof and
called to the men at work there.
"That sheds gone, Ben," he said.
"Chuck your water on the main part
here. Maybe il we had some ropes
we might be able to pull the shed
clear and then we could save the rest"
"How'd YOU fasten the ropes?" was