The Grit-advocate., 1905-12-22

showed ltSPll 10 DE very serious one.
The yard seemed one great mass of
flame. which rose many feet in the air
and lighted up the wintry sky with an
angry, wicked red.
AS GS drew up and unlimbered the
hOarse hum of many pumping engines,
the stridcnt shouts of command and
the roar of flames made babel of con-
fusion.
The fremen. tuggng long lines of
hose through the streets or silhoutted
sharply against the flames. We're coat
ed with ice from the spray which froze
in the cold air as soon as it fell.
The lumber district lay along the
side of little bay that made in from
the harbor, and as the burning lumber
piles on the piers toppled over scores
of blazing rafts toated out on the tide
and lighted up the water.
The piles of spruce lumber on the
wharf Of the next yard We're beginning
to smoke, and here and there tiny
tongues of flame ran along the boards.
The crew of GS was set to work top
pling these piles into the water. while
a dozen lines of hose drenched men
and lumber alike.
Shivering in the Icy spray and choked
by the binding smoke, the men worked
steadily, sending tiers of spruce boards
Gathering into the bay. Every mo-
ment the smoke grew more dense, and
Pickering sheets of flame. driven by
the wind, came near enough to scOrch
their faces.
Far out on the end of the wharf Cor
coran, Began and Kennedy were deftly
toppling over huge piles of boards, ell
during grimly the flames which scorch-
ed them and the icy water which
chilled them TO the marrow. The dart
ing tongues of flame became more fire.
quent: the smoke made them sputter
and cough. Even with the spray from
the hose lines drenchng it the lumber
beneath their hands was beginning to
smolder. Just as pillar of fire shot
up from one end of the pile Lieutenant
Reilly came running out on the wharf.
"Get out of here. boys" he shouted.
"Fireboat's coming up on the other
sidew
Began and Corcoran, who were close
together, hurried after the retreating
lieutenant; and even as they left tha
fireboat swung up beside the wharf.
and with her, powerful streams sent
the pile of boards crashing down on
the wharf.
Half way down the yard Corcoran
stopped
where's Dan?" he called to Began.
1t became evident to both men that
Kennedy. who had been OIL the farther
side of the lumber pile, had not heard
the HeueeHant's warning, anG II he nad
not it was almost certain that he
was caught in the debris OF the lumber
piles which the streams from the
tire-boat We're scattering over the
wharf. And the lumber, despite the
efforts of the tire-boat and dozen
streams from the street, was beginning
to blaze.
For a moment the two men stood
stunned by the thought OF comrade
caught in that awful deatE-trap. Then
Corcoran turned and sped up the
wharf. Began followed.
Come back here. you fool" he
shouted. You can't do anything Tor
him now"
Corcoran ran on up the wharf into
the maelstrom of smoke and fame.
Began FASTENED through the yard to
summon aid.
''Tryin' to square himsclf,' he num-
bled, brokenly. Blast those tongues
of Ours"'
Corcoran fought his way through the
blazing lumber. choked and gasping.
His eyeballs seemed to start from their
sockets and his head felt as if it were
bursting. The arm with which he
sheltered his face soon became numb
and lifelcss. Near the end OF the wharf
Il flying board felled him. knocked off
his helmet and cut cash in his fore
head. Blindly. on hands and knees. he
groped his way forward. the blood
streaming into his eyes and the heat
all but overpowcring him.
His hands struck something metallic:
it was Kennedy's helmet. And there.
under Il pile of boards already ablaZe
on top. he saw Dams head. In Il
frenzy he tore the pile apart. and
scizing his cousin by the arms dragged
him out.
Dam he shouted Get up. Get
up"'
But Kennedy lay prone and still. and
Corcoran, STOPPING, graSpal him under
the arms. Half-carrying. half-dra gging
the unconscious man. he staggered
back through the flames. Twice he
sank down. but each time he managed
to get to his feet again and struggle
on, until at last the flames were behind
him, and he had reached the %ard
1t was there that Lieutenant Reilly
and Began found them. Corcoran fee
bly, Juggling at Kcnnedy's arms and
mumblng incoherent words.
At the hospital week later. after
an amount of vigorous persuasion on
kennedys part. they put him on a
Stretcher and carried him TO Corcoran's 5
cot. COrcOran. covered with bnndage
and plaster, smiled weakly as Ken
nedy put out Il linen-swathed hand to
him.
".Iohn." said Kennedy, "thcres some
thing I've got to say to YOU"
Corcoran'S face reddened n bit. He
moved uncasily on the cot. "Oh, that's
all right Dan" he protested.
Kennedy grinncd. "Yc may not be
the handsomest man on the depart.
mcnt just at present, Johnny Cor