Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-12


as the burning gases, freed by the collapse
of the roof-faring 200 feet In the air and
licking up the side OF the Hansard building,
to break every window glass IN its upper ten
stories and ignite every window curtain,
window sash and trim In Its north wall
rolled over them in heat that nipped their
ears like a frost bite and was gone.
Corrigan pinned down the pipe that was
back to the parapet with it. The beat of
heat was uncomfortable and he could see
nothing for the smoke that blinded him
with tears. He did not know that the gale
was carrying solid tongue Of fire into the
hidden airshaft, and that every window on
that shaft was already splitting flames. He
could just that the woodwork OF the
window below him was afire, and he called
Waters to train the pipe on it with him.
They doused it black at once and scattered
the smoke to see another blaze below. Then
the stream from their hose weakened and
fell short, and 1t was plain that the crews
were using the water on the lower foors.
We're wanted down below, l guess.
Waters said. We're no good up here
now
Corrigan nodded. They shut off the nozzle
and turned to drag the line to the door OF
the stairs.
They We're too late. Corrigan saw the
blaze in the airshaft and cried out an oath.
That shaft, he knew, lit the stairway from
the ground up and cut them off from the
elevator shaft in the center of the building.
They dropped the line and ran to the door.
Smoke was pouring from II, anu lldIie was
behind the smoke.
Corrigan ran back for the hose. and with
the water to open the way for him rought
down three steps into blaze that couid not
be faced. The wind, blowing IN the broken
windows of the airshaft brought up
smother of heat and smoke against which
his pipe was useless. He was fghtins a
prairie fire with the stream OF an eAtln-
guisher.
Waters pitched forward on his shoulders.
Corrigan braced himself against the weight
turned to catch Waters under the armplts
and carried him up, himself half sufrocated,
and laid him on the roof. They were greet
ed by the fierce purring of the flames
Waters groaned.
"Y' ali right?" Corrigan asked him.
He rolled his eyes. Lets get down Out
O here he gasped.
Corrigan Strengthened up and looked
around him; the doorway was the only en-
trance to the roof He walked BACK 10 kich
the useless hose down the staircase SO that
he might shut the tn-sheathed door on the
blaze below. He went to the stone railing
that surmounted the cornice on the 'front.' OF
the building; the coping oVerhuns the wiz
Gows in sheer drop to the street. he nui
ried to the south wall; the windows there
were twelve feet down, and there was no
pipe no foothold. He went to the back OF
the roof and found another coping.
He turned and watched Waters running
from parapet to parapet, now hidden In q
cloud of whirling smoke. now black IN the
red glow of wnd-blown flames. He saw
him lean over the marble railing or the
front cornice and put his hands IN tru IN.
ret to his mouth. He saw him take on ms
helmet and try to throw 1t down into tne
street; and the gale snatched 1t from ms
hand, tossed it aloft and blew II ava! TO
the south with the smoke and the hSlhs
embers.
He came running back to Corrigan. Lets
get down." he painted. Lets get down.
Corrigan did not reply.
For the Lords sake, Corr1gan, ne cTleo'
don't let's burn alive up here.
Corrigan shook his head. i can't get
down." he said.
He could see that there was nothing on
the roof to burn; the heat and not the flame
would be their danger. The fire was at its
worst in the light-well. AT the point far-
thest from it there was huge water tam
protected with a covering or TN ana sup,
ported across the angle of the walls on steel
beams Even if the roof should fall the
tank would not go with it. They would
have water to prevent the heat from DAN
ing them 10 death. They would have the
tank to shelter them from the drift OF
smoke.
Corrigan went over to it and crouehed
down to peer under the beams: Waters
stumbled against him. Say ne whim-
pered Il can't-I can't get down"
Corrigan pushed him aside lmpauently
well, who said yuh cud?' he snarled.
'Yuh're up here to stay. Yuh better make
up yer mind to that, an shut yer yap.'
Waters threw up his arms and screamed
at the sky in high. dry voice. clutchlng
with his fingers and swapping like a dog
with his teeth. Then he pitched forward
into the smoke on run for the street par
apet again.
Corrigan climbed slowly up the iron lad
der to the top of the tank. He came on a
scutte there and raised It, to find that the
tank was almost full. He took off his rub
Der coat and dipped it down, and 1t came
up dripping. He rubbed it over his face and
licked at the moisture on the smooth tar
paulin, and the touch of water sent a burn
,f h jIIyh h i'm a
reached down with his helmet, drew 1t up
half full and emptied it over his head and
down his back again and again. Then he
drank in great gulps, signing with satlsfac-
ton
The relief brought back his energies. The
tank ladder took his eye. and 1t occurred to
him that if he could get it loose he might
be able to reach lower window with 1t.
He took hold of II IN his great hands, drew
a long breath and strained to wrench it
from its iron sockets, tightening on it slow
ly until the blood drummed In his ears. He
bent the upright of 1t, but the socket still
held It, When he paused for breath he re-
membered Waters and shouted to him for
aid.
He got no answer, and he descended to
the roof to find Waters lying in the worst
dragged him back from 1t and emptied a
helmet full of water on his face.
Waters rolled his head from side to side.
muttering to himself.
LOOK tOFTlStH SdlO IJOOk-d
here"
Waters opened staring eyes, moving his
lips in whisper.
Better get up TO the tank an take dip.
l want yuh to help get that ladder loose"
Waters slipped arm about Corrigan's
neck raising himself his elbow. Get
me down out o this lie whispered. Get
me down out o this an I'll make 1t good.
! got a pull. l got promise"
Corrigan threw off the arm. Stop talkin'
foolish. / can't get yuh down Here, take
a drink
Waters caught at his collar. knocking
aside the water. Get me down." he said,
huskily. You get me down, Corrigan I'll
make 1t good. I'm right in with the gang.
Dorgan said"
Corrigan threw him off with a curse Il
can't get yuh down" he yelled at him.
What the IS the matter with yuh, yuh
Waters fell back and lay breathing hard,
with open mouth. A puff of smoke blew
down and choked him with sob.
Corrigan dragged him across the roof to
the tank and sat down beside hm-uncer-
tain what to do-with his back to the para
pet and his face to the light-well. The heat
swan over them in suffocating current.
Nat tore ont HE n5 Ia1