The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-07-11

ca 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 RATS foated out on the tide
and lighted up the water.
The piles of spruce lumber on the
wharf Of the next yard were beginning
to smoke, and here and there tiny
tongues of flame ran along the boards.
The crew of So was set to work top
ping these piles into the water while
a dozen lines of hose drenched men
and lumber alike.
Shiyering inthe 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 fame. driven by
the wind, came near enough to seorch
their faces.
Far out on the end of the wharf Cor
eoran, Began and Kennedy we're defuy
topping over huge piles of boards. en-
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 drenching it the lumber
beneath their hands was beginning to
smoIder Just as pillar of fire shot
up from one end Of the pile Lieutenant
Reilly came running out on the wharf
Get ont of here. boys!" he shouted.
''Flreboat's coming up on the other
side.''
Began and Corcoran. who were close
together. hurried after the retreating
lieutenant; and even as they left the
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 Coccoran
stopped
Where's DAM" he called to Began,
It became evident to both men that
Kennedy, who had been on the farther
side of the lumber pile. had not heard
the lieutenant's warning, and if he had
not it was almost certain that he
was caught in the debris OF the lumber
piles which the streams from the
fire-boat were scattering over the
wharf. And the lumber. despite the
efforts of the fre-boat and dozen
streams from the street, was beginning
to blaze.
For moment the two men stood
stunned by the thought Of corrade
caught in that awful death-trap. Then
Corcoran turned and sped up the
wharf Began followed.
Come back here, you fooiy' he
shouted "You can't do anything for
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 himseler' he num-
bled, brokenly. BLAST those tongues
of ours!v
Corcoran fought his way through the
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 lifeless. Near the end of the wharf
a flying board felled him knocked off
his helmet and cut cash in his fore
head. Blindly, on hands and knees, he
CROPPED his way forward. the blood
streaming into his eyes and the heat
all but overpowering him.
His hands struck something metallic;
it was Kennedys helmet And there,
under a pile of boards already ablaze
on top, he saw Dams head. In a
frenzy he tore the pile apart, and
Selling his cousin by the arms, dragged
him out
"Danw he shouted. "Get up! Get
upF'
But Kennedy lay prone and still, and
Corcoran, stopping, grasped him under
the arms, Half-carrying, half-dragging
the unconscious man, he staggered
back through the flames. Twice he
sank down, but each time he managed
to get TO his rect again ana Struggle
on, until at last the flames were behind
him. and he had reached the yard.
1t was there that Lieutenant Reilly
and Began found them Corcoran fee
bly, Juggling at Kennedy's arms and
mumbling incoherent words
At the hospital week later, after
an amount of vigorous persuasion on
Kennedy's. part, they put him on a
stretcher and carried him to Corcoran's
cot. Corcoran. covered with bandages
and plaster, smiled weakly as Ken
needy put out a Iinen-swathed hand to
him.
John" said Kennedy. there's some
thing I've got to say to you"
Corcoran's face Redeemed bit. He
moved uneasily on the cot. "Oh, that's
all right, Dam he protested
Kennedy grinned. "Ye may not be
the handsomest man on the depart
ment just at present. Johnny Cor
coran," he said, "but so help me, you're
the whitest. Youths Companion.
Resting the Heart.
ssRpst vnll. heart now and then dI1r-