The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1906-10-30
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OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES MISREPRESENTATION
ling, came a bobolnk chorus. The
wind was in the right quarter to
bring the distant bird music TO orr
ears as distinctly as if the feathered
songsters had been only a few rods
away We heard them I'm delighted
silence till Lizzie cried, There goes
the noon bell"
Ding! dong! A pause. Ding! dong,
ding! came from the tower OF the
city hall only block or two away.
We leaned forward, with lips apart.
Again the alarm was repeated.
"Twenty-three," said Frank. "Why.
that's the corner OF Monroe and
Wayne streets-this cornerl"
Il smell smoke" Lizzie added. I'm
ominously quiet tones. Eve had
whiffs OF it before, but I thought it
came from chimney"
The city-hall bell was s.iH clamor-
inG, and now a half-dozen other bells
and whistles had taken up the sum-
mons
We ran to the windows, but could
see nothing, although now the
rumble of wheels and clanEor of
gonSs came to us in startling con-
trast to tho former silence. Then,
creepingup the rear wall Of the struc-
ture, broad canopy OF smoke came
into view. Probably a window had
just been shattered somewhere below.
ITS in this building" said Amy.
Frank instantly ran down to the
lower floor of the library Thin pen
cilinGs of smoke outlined the door
frame, but the air was comparatively
clear. When the door leading to the
next story was orened, however, we
We're almost blinded and suRocated
by the volume OF smoke that poured
in.
Stay here, girls" Frank shouted.
Open window. so as TO keep the
air clear, but shut all doors, and don t
let in any draft from below"
He caught me by the wrist. Come
on, Jack" he said, and dragging me
through, slammed the door behind
us.
We fell fat on our faces, where the
air was not quite so foul, and crawled
to the elevator shaft. A dull roar
came up to us, and we could see red
flames midway of the long descent.
The elevator car was below, oppo-
site the second story, as nearly as
we could Judge.
TO remain whore We were, even
for a few moments, was both painful
and perilous, to go farther down i'm
possible; but Frank explained that
tn > draft, formed by the open well,
or shaft, must be cut off. II we could
get the car above the fire, it might
save our lives
The heavy counterweight was near
the top, but, unfortunately, Just be-
low our reach. The cord which op-
Grated it had ben burned off lower
down. A coggod rider" held the
weight firmly in place by means of
a steel dog"
Gasping and half-dszed, we ran
to a window, threw It up, and filed
our lungs with pure air. After being
thus refreshed for a moment, Frank
went back into the room, and in a
closet found long. slender iron bar.
Reaching down with this. he pried
desperately at the weight, calling
to me for help. We both threw our
selves upon this lever, and suddenly
were hurled backward to the floor,
while the weight. thus released. shot
downward, dragging the car up the
shaft rough the flames, till It
damned, where the track was broken,
between the fifth and sixth floors.
Again we gasped for breath mo
ment at the open window, and then,
after closing it. hurried up into the
lower reading-roou, where we found
the girls clinging to one another, be
lieving we had deserted them or had
been suffOcated.
We've closed the hue with the
car. was Franks brief and, TO them,
unintelligible explanation OF our alb
sence. THAT should hold the FIRE
back a half-hour, and maybe we can
escape i'm that time"
He pulled of his shoes, and with
ont moments delay, crept out upon
the roof
Lizzie mistook his purpose ITS
OF no use" she said THE flames
are all about the iron ladder at the
back. and Jennie and Amy couldn't
climb down it, anyhow" For the
first time 1 then noticed that her
shoes werc or The brave girl had
crept to- the edge of the roof to exam
inc the fire escape. Frank nodded.
~ had guessed as much. he said.
He stepped cautiously tim OppO-
site a front chimney back Of the cop-
ing. and then slid down to- it, Close
at one side was fixed a tain and strong
flagstaff. with the huge flag then at
half-mast, iu honor of the nations
dead Tie had unfastcned the hall
yards from the clcat by the window.
and now swiftly lowering the flag.
he let b. nutter down into the street,
thereby calling attention to our peril
Gus position.
i watched him draw the rope hand
over hand, till tine looseued end fen
from the upper pulley Then ho
turned and beckoned imperatively
for me TO- come 90 him ] had a-
ready removed my shoes mechanical
Iv. but The dread of great heights
always had been inherent in my na.
turo. Il dld not seem possible that
7 could go down to that dizzy verge
where my friend was working so