The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-22

ed up Tapping like banner IN the
wind.
Help Hanrahan screeched.
"Help."
German clapped hand over his
mouth, 'Well. you lobster" he said.
law, don't, Bull" he pleaded.
DON'T"
German stood up in the thickening
smoke and locked down on hum. Say,
he said, IF you got any breath to
waste, you'd better save it fer yer
prayers. This roofs going to drop you
in a hole SO hot it won't leave enough
of you fer the devil to raise q blister
on. Shut UP, will you ?"
He turned away from him, and
climbed the ladder to the top of the
tank, SO that he might sit down there
in quiet. He could hear the engines in
the street VIII sitting frantically fer coal
from the fuel wa IONS, and they sound
ed very far away. He reached down
into the scuttle and drank from his
helmet again The air came up cool
from the tank. He lay with his face
in the draft of it, and shut his dry eye
lids on his aching eyes
Although he had threatened Hanra-
han with the collapse of the roof. he
had spoken in anger TO terrify him
Into silence. and not because he be-
..eNed that either of them would lose
ms life. He was not Il man of imagi-
nation, and his breath was too strong
IN his body for him to realize the pos
sb. lily of death. If the crew below
cid not find some means of reaching
MN, he hoped TO live out the fire
where he was. Chiefly, he was angry
land bewlldered by his own anger
because Hanrahan had gone To pieces
and made such a noise. He could not
think. The heat was wearing on him.
he lay there, waiting.
j And in fact the men below were al
ready planning to- reach him. For
time Captain BAH had been so busy
! fighting back the flames on the
twelfth floor that he did not think of
the two men whom he had left on the
roof. II was not until sparks and
burning woodwork began to pour
down the elevator shaft that the pos
sib.lity of the situation occurred to
him. Fortunately the building was
! "Ereproofed," and the progress Of the
flames would be slow.
He called two OF his crew to get seal
ing ladders. and leaving his lieutenant
IN charge of the pipes. he ran to the
southwest end of the buildiig--to he
farthest from the fire---and opening a
/ window there, looked up. He could
see no signs of fire IN any window
above him. sT.ooiSs all right" he told
, the men. But you'll have to be quick.
Keep your eyes open fer The windows
behind you.
They had coil of life
line and two ladders. They
! used but one Of the latter.
going UP together for greater speed
AT their first window they saw the
wisdom Of Captain Balls Instructions
The room within was sitting with
smoke and heat, and as soon as they
opened vent in it the fire showed iii
the darkness.
At the fourteenth story a light of
! flames was already glimmering be-
hind the broken pane. The smoke
poured out on them as they beat in
the glass and hauled up the ladder
They went ahead. however, and
while they We're climbing UP the wall
from that window they heard the
rush OF a "back draft below them
and looked down to see the flames in
the thirteenth story cutting them Off
a cry OF warning from Captain
Ball was answered by faint shout
above them. They looked up to see
German Deering down over the edge
of the water tank. Captain BAH
shouted to them, "Come down the
rope!' They looked down to see him
waving to them. They looked UP TO
see that German had disappeared
Jim" the upper man said, I'VE
can't reach EN-" They tied the end
of their rope hurriedly around the
shaft Of the ladder, and each took a
twist of it, IN the hook of his belt and
dropped.
They slid down through fire and /
smoke blistered and blinded. to Cap
tain BAH. who caught each as he came
and drew him in the window. A fire.
man sent by the lieutenant came up
shouting. Fires at the elevator |
shaft" They turned and ran.
German had gone down to the roof |
to get Hanrahan, and found him ly- |
ing on his face on the bricks
The men're comm up the ladders"
he said. Hanrahan Sprang to his feet |
with this new hope of life and fol- |
lowed him around the tank to the
Daraoet.
They looked down to sec the empty |
ladder, twenty feet below them, hang
ing in the flames with a blazing |
rope dangling from the centre of it |
disgustcdly.
Hanrsthan stared ct the abandoned |
apparatus. Il guess, he said in a
new voice.
lie turned back with German to the
front Of the tank again. There was Il |
lull in the wind, the smoke and the |
flames rose up straight on two sides of |
the roof, and the bricks were hot |
under their feet Their was no escape |
now. owe got one chance left" Cor |
man said. 1--WE can get in the tank"
Hanrahan shook his head. mo |
use. Bull" he answered. II got to
cashin. | guess
German cursed him. well, I |
amt" he said. Get a hold of this |
ladder
He braced himself with a foot |
against tho tin covering of the tank, |
bent his back and tugged to loosen |
the ladder from its fastenings. Han |
rahan helped him. They strained and |
struggled with all the strength of |
every muscle. and the great screws in |
the sockets of the uDrights came out |
slowly as if they had been sunk in |
WAX. Once having loosened its hold, |
they ievered the ladder, twisted it, |
and Wrenchod it free. German crawl |
cd under the steel beams and turned |
off the stoD-cock there. Then they |
both climbed aloft, lowered the ladder |
into the tank and slid down, one or |
each side of the rungs into the water. |
They drank together, sunk to the |
teeth.