The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-10-03
(Contfnued.)


pers burningl" cried Marine in tones
that could be heard above the tumult-
Annie, don't be fool! Form in line
there, The other girls are doing it!
Don't stop to dress."
Several of the children had al
ready obeyed Marine and more soon
followed. Annie among the number.
There, that's all right. Now for
ward, march, and at the word the
column started down the steps with
regular, even step, toward safety.
On the floor below all was con-
fusion, and noting this, Marine
drew Annie out of the line and
whispered hurriedly:
Annie. you've gotten over your
scare now and are as cool-headed as
General Grant I'm going to trust
you to take my place as captain and
get these girls out of the building in
safety. I know you will do it all
right"
Thus put on her mettle, Annie
arose nobly to the occasion and
stepping into Marines place she took
command and had her girls outside
in jiffy, before they realized their
danger.
But If there was confusion on the
third floor, the conditions on the sec
ond. among the nursery children,
amounted to little short of pande-
monium. One of the nursery maids
had become panic-stricken and fed,
and Miss Leavitt and one assistant
had to look after some forty and odd
babies ranging in ages from two to
four years besides few older ones.
Meantime the smoke was getting
thicker and an ominous, cracking
sound was to be heard, although
even now, no one knew the exact To-
cation of the flames. Marine darted
back to Mrs. Weber's floor.
You go downstairs and straight
en- things out on the second floor and
} think l can manage these older
children" cried she. 1.-THE girls up
stairs are all out"
: Praise the Lord for one COO
; head! It's more than have got!'
replied the matron as she hurried tt
comply with Marines bidding.
The third story children were the
medium aged from six to nine years
old and Marine found she had hel
hands full.
, "'Children!" she cried in clear
ringing tones Listen! No one i:
going to get hurt IL you will do a.
tell you. Every child form in lint
for the fire drill and we'll have you
4 out before you can say Jack Robin
Y son. Please don't crowd! You ar,
just as safe as though you were down
stairs this minute. I'm not one bi
afraid It's all great funr' and Mar
b ME laughed SO heartily that one o
d two of the others joined her, half
Historically, it is true, but this ap
: pearance of confidence had the effec
s of quieting the rest, and although
: many of them still whimpered il
q terror Marine had them under con
S troll and with a forward, March!
: they were started down the stairs.
The hall lights had been kept burn
ing as usual and the smoke was no
o yet so thick as to be very sitting
e When the third floor children ha
g reached the outer door, Marine toll
= them to join the ranks of the olde
e ones outside. Almost all were ella
: only in their night-clothes and a
Q the night air was chilly and the
d were badly frightened, they stood
trembling and with teeth chatterint
They knew not whittier to fee an
ryet when they got outside and sa'
flames bursting from one of the WIZ
/, dows, they were too frightened t
remain.
A stampede would have resultet
% but the older girls, following Ann
b Murphy's suggestion, quieted tt
IS more timorous ones and kept the
u together on the lawn before IL
y building until they were taken i
- charge a few moments later, by pc
IS sons who were attracted to the sp,
le by the unwonted confusion.