Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-11-27
HERO OF PARIS FIRE.

ing head hunters when we said fare
well.-Louis Becke in New York Sun.
HERO OF PARIS FIRE.
Leon Desiardins Now In Straits of Dire
Poverty.
On the fatal day in May, 1897. when
the Charity Bazaar fire was breaking
out a young lead roofer passed down
the Rue Jean Coujon. Seeing smoke
and flames issuing from the one-story
wooden building, he pushed In and dis
covered mass OF fashionably dressed
girls and women crazed, rushing about
and clinging to and rendering helpless
a few fashionably dressed men.
The young artisan had no paralyzing
scruples-would not let himself be rem
dered helpless. Pushing out i've girls.
ne picked up one. fought his way out
with her, returned, took another, kick
ed aside third. who grabbed his legs.
struck down frantic man who would
not let go Of his coat, staggered with
his burden to the street-and hurried
back for another.
A few more heroes Of his kind Joined
In the work. but none ran into the fire
like the young lead roofer. None took
out so many women. A charred joist
falling all but stunned him. An aristo-
cratic girl, reposing in his arms. cried:
l''Monsieur, your hair is burning!" and
she put It out with her gioved hands.
He saved twenty women. Then he
walked simply away. and his name
would have remained unknown had not
his landlord the next day called In the
poor doctor to treat him for heat fe-
ver." He was Leon Henri Desjardins.
twenty three years old, unmarried.
Four years later. on November 13.
1901, a young man fell In the Avenue
de yilliers. AS he could not rise two
policemen judged that he was drunk
and took him to the station. There.
however. he explained he had not eat
en- for two days.
| aI am a lead roofer by trade" he
said to M. Michaud, the police commits
sary, but injuries by burns and 5oist
falling on my head prevent me from
finding much work nowadays; the
bosses fear viii get dizzy on the
roofs. This week I have been following
cabs with baggage from the St Lazare
railway depot"
What is your name?" asked the po-
lice comrnissary.
Leon Henri Desjardins."
"You have suffered from burns? Are
you the Desjardins who distinguished
himself at the Charity Bazaar?"
"Yes, SIR"
| Have you not medal?"
| II have three"
Were you not member Of the Le-
gion Of Honor?'
Eyes, monsieur"
why do you not wear the ribbon in
your buttonhole?"
with the child's logic that distin-
| guishes him Desjardins answered: TT
| is not fitting-when work at tramp's
trade"
"The dishonor is rather for those
who let you do IT," said the commits
sary. "This is not drunkard. but a
hero." he said to those who arrested
him.
For years he conducted bootblack's
stand and ran errands.
One afternoon as he sat, pale and
shaky, on his bootblack's chair. ia
nous Partisan clubman sauntered
jauntily by. He twirled a costly cane.
A flower was in his buttonhole. He
was rosy, fresh and fine.
Desjardins laughed. "Ah, that mon
sieur! can't help smiling when I
think Of how saw him the first time.
It was in the fire, yes But he was not
jaunty. He ran believing, knocking
over the girls and women! I had pick
ed UP a girl and he came bawling. and
grabbed me by the coat. Take me
out!' he fairly screamed between his
chattering teeth. 1 had time to notice,
because he stopped me. But had not
time to stay-so knocked him down.
well, he got up and came after me
again. Drop that girl and take me
out he pleaded. Tll give you $4,000
francs to take me out!' he blubbered.
I can't see for the smoke, and you
know the way!
well, he would not let me go and
there was not time to knock him down
again, and so I called to him to fol-
low quick and not pull me back I
ducked my head down and ran with
the GIRL and when we got to the street
that fellow was still holding on to my
coat pocket"
II suppose he forgot the $4,000
francs?" said.
"Yes," laughed Desjardins, because
when / stopped him once on the street
to talk Of old times he threatened to
have me arrested for begging"
"The women you rescued: do they
ever pass in their carriages?
Now and then. There are five
recognize. do not know their names.
But the girl who saved my hair from
burning. she is married and rides by
with two dear little children. It is a
pleasure to see them No, OF course.
she does not know met"
I saw Desjardins once again. 1t was
last week. He was lettering In the au-
tomobile razzle of the Porte Maillot,
lean, white and very Ill dressed. All
his jauntiness was gone.
| What are you doing now?" asked.
| I'm washing automobiles" he said
that is q man promised me job and
I am waiting for him."
| "Are you hungry" asked.
"Yes, monsieur" he answered.-Par-
is Letter.