The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1908-03-31
A Change Of
Profession.
By HARVEY j. O'HICCINs.
Copyright by \. s. Mcclure Co.

- okMAN ana Hanrahan thu
Ia 60 two probationers newly as
wv signed to Engine Company
No. -, were the first of theil
crew to reach the roof of the sixteen
story mansard building. They had the
nozzle of line of hose that was being
laid from the standpipe of the TOT
floor to wet down the north wall of
the skyscraper, and they came out in
to the night, dragging their length of
the line, to face a gale Of wind that
took the breath from between their
teeth. They struggled against it.
through the darkness, toward the light
OF fire over the parapet, and they
looked down there through the smoke
at the flames in the roof of an adjoin.
ing clothing house twelve stories be
low them.
Captain Ball had followed them
Turn on your water" he beloved
above the storm to the men behind
Them. and in a moment feeble
stream swelled the line of hose and
%Ushed from the pipe" lie >swore
nj II. 1T can't spit past Its chin" he
said.
It Strengthened slowly as they
watched 1t. Keep victim her down."
he shouted in Germans ear. Get IN
another line" he cried TO the rest of
the crew.
The rushing Of the wind drowned
their answer. but they hurried below
to obey him. He remained with Cor.
man and Hanrahan. watching the ire
spread and brighten In the roof Of the
clothing house. German was still
Srinning at his Cant spit past its
chin"
They were 200 feet above the street
level. and the storm. hurting itself
across the huddled roofs below them.
drew up draft Of heat and smoke To
them as II they We're looking down n
chimney. They could guess what the
heat must be in the street. for across
the road the woodwork OF the win
dows OF five story building hal
caught fire without the touch of any
aame. and n pygmy crew were drench
Ing II with stream which they shot
~ straight from the sidewalk. Officers
the size of manikins ran up aud down
IN the rCddy glow, waving their little
arms. The fire flowed over the roof as
II it were burning oil. and the smoke
came up TO them thicker and the heat
more sitting with every breath.
Their weak stream dribbled down
the wall to dry ont on the hot bricks
before IL touched the point Of danger.
and German leaned over the uarapet
TO see that the paint was beginning 10
peel of In great scales far below. Han.
rahan and he tried hopelessly 10 reach
these by swinging the pipe from side
to side They might as we'll have
tried TO irrigate a desert with II. Their
eyes were dry and beginning 10 smart.
The rest Of the crew came up again.
dragging a second line.
Captain Ball turned to the Iicuten.
ant. NO use bringin' more llucs I'D
here" he shouted. Windows II be
breakIn'. There amt shutter on the
whole blamed buildin'. Fircproof:
She's matchwood! Back down to the
twelfth floor: Get lines stretched 10
the nIr shaft There"
The men went back with their hosc.
"DO the best you can up here" b.
advised German. Chiefs o:,I~cs -
Sc; her down. Look OFT Tor the at
shaft"
G3r'Han caught the first Of these In
.lcuctjous. but th" Wild CARED aw.
al Last warning Of danger AMI o.,
.'.i"jn t'lg1Irl and LEFT the two ilc.,
'",",n"+oti~ ~ ia" catastfophe wl..,ir
VAS preparing for tI"n
! h" al: s,h.tt. in lac. ".a. "a, :tits a..
I s'.r;"'sal f:Hc for tie Game It 81:
EEL g-n,.c i:!,t Tie '."3 -; g..
.I@H ":,l building ut Gosmlus irlt.
."I III" wind. rushing into it. io"
;raI@ht aIpft. Blowing up srl"'< li&r
f.:r draft Uf blast GurB8"" Gur.lla...
catching only tic wall GnI lne win
COWS leI0w him. piled the crews ~
work In the street lie was wishing
for quid " chewing tobacco. and be-
remembered with transportation that
Iianraban would have none. That was
me Of IlaBFahans social Limitations
he lid not chew. lie had bcra nick
named "ID"IIcajc T'c:p" ~ hi9 fellow |
prOlati0neFY at fire headquarters, AMI !
GOrmaa. who vas known $50 Buli GUr-
man. being the Zig Ill; - % lis class. |
bad dcspise,l him from the day that
the instructor. h"A lag pIttPd them !
against each other IN race with seal |
Ing ladders. had then publicly CON.
pared GU:snan ~ luhy hp;poiamus !
tn point u niiIbI"m"*s l"ta Ian |
fahan bad r.:n away FTOtA ban.
These t"o were t"!mg "hrD."B'' q |
getlicr With all tlp hard work of the !
ru'npany. but there was no friendship |
between them. They rnrrIy spoke 10 |
each other. for German had found |
IianrI.IaB'8 coHtcF~s- .ssi MI "hui mir I
an free silver aud had qGarrelPd ,.It.i |
him about this wearisOne enthusiasm |
for politics. They continued stU!IdIy !
nj their work nDx H. The silence of mu- |
tual Indifference. Tile growing strength |
Of the stream threatened 90 tear the |
nOzzle from their bands. mud they |
raised the hose 10 their shoulders 10 |
bend II In n SWANS neck arch fiat |
fro IN CoSTISuED.l