The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-09
RESCUE OF MISS BARNES.
Fireman Descends From Fifth Story
With Woman dashed to Him.

l
| Kansas City, May 9.-One of the
most thrilling rescues made from the
burning building yesterday afternoon
was that of Miss Ellen Barnes. who
was taken from her studio on the fifth
floor by firemen.
| 1t was almost at the instant that the
general alarm of the fire was spread
through the streets that Miss Barnes
appeared at the window. Volumes of
smoke poured out at the front of the
building and at the sides. but the
back of the building where Miss
Barnes stood was as yet comparative
ly free from smoke, only on the two
lower floors thin clouds came from
around the easements. The young
woman must have been cut off almost
Immediately from the two means of
escape, the stairway and the elevator
which is to the front of the building.
AS she explained afterward, she did
not know that anything was wrong
until she smelled the smoke. By that
time the lower Railways were dense
with smoke and flame and nearly
everyone had left the building.
The smoke had been slow in reach
ing her on the fifth floor, and with
her door closed she had not heard
the commoton of people leaving the
building. Her own room was COM
paratively free from smoke by this
time and she shut her door to keep it
out as long as possible. Then she put
on her hat and coat, gathered up her
pocketbook, went to the hydrant and
turned it on and wet her handker-
chief. She threw wide her windows
and waved her hands to the few peo-
pie who were hurrying up the street
There was nothing excited in her
movements. To the left of her great
volumes of smoke obscured that endof
f1n hull
to the right and ugly little puffs came
from the windows below; still the
young woman moved her arm steadily
up and down. BY this time a crowd
solitary figure attracted it's attention,
and a cheer went up. From that
time on there was cheer after cheer
of encoura cement. AS one by one
the windows broke forth into clouds of
smoke. the crowd shouted. 1t seemed
an eternity before the f1remen could
get their apparatus into shape Not a
few men in the crowd cursed them for
their seeming lack OF hurry.
The young woman seemed to be
wa tching the progress below The smoke |
was becoming very thick around her
and to some of the eager watchers she
was at times obseured. When they did |
catch a glimpse of her she was holding
still calmly waving with her pocket |
book. Presently through the black
clouds the crowd caught sight of the
bright red ladder, which was gradually |
being hoisted into shape and cheer after |
cheer went up Another interminabIe |
wait and up on the ladders there scram- |
bled red helmeted fireman.
Through the dense smoke he climbed |
up, sometimes lost to sight. The smoke |
was so heavy and dull yellow that at |
times the crowd could see but indistinct- |
ly, but from the time that Charles |
Braun. the fireman, was on the ladders
until he reached safety with his burden |
there was not an instant that there was |
a pause in the cheering. To the crowd it |
seemed almost impossible that he could /
pass through the clouds of smoke.
When he reached the windows and |
climbed inside he and the young woman |
disappeared for the moment. The crowd |
waited breathless, believing that both |
had been overcome. At the end of what |
seemed an interminable time they re-
appeared and began their perilous
descent. The young woman was evil
1ently fastened to him. On the ledge
Of the third floor window the fireman
paused for breath and rested his burden
Another cloud of smoke obscured them
stopped to arrange her draperies. A
few people saw her and believed she |
was falling.
Then the smoke cleared and they saw
the red helmet and the long tan coat |
IF the woman and the screams gave way
to cheers. They saw the fireman hand |
1er something and the knowing one ex-
planned that she was being revived with
4 vinegar sponge. Then the journey
began again. down, down. and to those
who could not see the wild. almost de-
yell a few moments later told
that it was over that the brave young
woman was safe at last
II don't think 1 was scared" sch said
as almost a physical wreck, she was
put into closed carriage and driven to
her home So Olive street. She could
only answer questions as they were
asked.