The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-01-22

his aching eyes.
Although he had threatened Hanra-
han with the collapse of the roof. he
rad spoken in anger, 10 terrify him
into silence, and not because he be-
lieved that either Of them would lose
his life. He was not man of imagi-
nation. and his breath was too strong
in his body for him TO realize the pos
sibility of death If the crew below did
not find some means of reaching him.
he hoped TO live out the fire where he
was Chiefly, he was angry-becauSe
Hanrahan had gone to pieces and made
such noise. He could not think. The
heat was wearing on him. He lay
there. waiting.
And in fact the men below were al
ready planning 10 reach him. For a
time Captain Ball had been so busy
lighting back the fire on the twelfth
floor that he did not think OF the two
men he had left on the roof Tt was
not until sparks and burning wood
work began TO pour down the elevator
shaft that the possibility of the situa-
tion occurred TO him Fortunately the
building was 'hreprCofed." 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 building-tO be
farthest from the fTe-and opening
WindoN there looked up He could see
him. Looks all right" ne told the
men. But you'u have 70 be quick
Keep your eyes open for the windows
behind you
They had a coil of life line and two
ladders. They used but one of the lat
ter. going up together TOR greater
speed. At their first window they saw
the wisdom of Captain Balls instruc-
lions. The room within was sitting
With smoke and heat. and as soon as
n In hn fire Sf1o cd
in the darkness
At the fourteenth story light of
flames was already glimmering behind
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 were
cliInb ing 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 a fainC shout above
them. They looked up to see German
peering down over the edge of the Wa
ter 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 dis
appeared.
Jim the upper man said, I'VE cant
reach EN-" They tied the end of their
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 Ball. 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
shaftl'' They turned and ran.
German had gone down TO the roof
to get Hanrahan, and found him lying
The mems comm up the ladders"
he said. Hanra han sprang TO his
feet with this new hope Of life and fol-
lowed him around the tank to the
parapet.
They looked down. to see the empty
ladder, twenty feet below them, hang
ing in the flames. with A blazing rope
dangling from the centre Of IL into the
smoke. |'HellT' German said dis
gustedly.
Hanrahan stared at the abandoned
apparatus. 4 guess he said in a new
voice.
He turned back. with German to the
front of the tank again There was
lulI in the wind: the smoke and flames
rose up straight on two sides of the
roof, and the bricks were hot under
their feet. There was no escape now.
I'VE got one chance left" German
said. 1--WE can get in the tank
Hanrahan shook his head No use,
Bull he answered I got TO cash IN,
guess"
Gorrnon cursed him. well. amt
he said Get a hold of this ladder"
He braced himself with a foot
against the tin covering of the tank,
bent his back and tugged to loosen the
ladder from its fasteningS- Hanrahan
helped him. They strained and strug-
gied with all the strength of every
muscle, and the great screws in the
sockets Of the uprights came out slowly
as it they had been sunk in wax. Once
having loOSened its hold, they levered
he Ia lda.- t1I-isral IL and r1-I-arlLhal