The Detroit times., 1908-12-28

ploded and when he returned from
the cellar IL was TO find the lower
part OF the house filed with flames,
which were rapidly working up TIE
stairway.
Mrs. Watson, aroused by the cries
OF the roomers. had escaped in hef
night clothes. She was later found ky
a patrolnan In the alley back OF the
house. with Mrs. Edith Barnes and
Minnie Anderson. roomers In the
house. All were in their night robes
and were laboring under great excite
ment They were given Temporary
shelter in a house at No. 133 Mont
calm.st.
Mekay's Thrilling Story.
Lying on his bed in st. Marys hos
pital, scarcely able 10 move by reason
OF his injured back. Mckay told
dramatically of his fight with death.
Il was awakened by the cries of a
woman downstairs think IL was
Mrs. Barnes" he related. she was
calling fire, fire. | jumped up ana
took only time to put on my shoes,
for our room was already filled with
smoke. Then awoke my wife and
the children and started downstairs
with them. Before We reached the
bottom We were driven back by the
smoke and the intense heat. From
there could see that the second floor
was already a mass OF flames and
that there was no hope OF escape by
the stairs.
Back, back for your lives | yell
ed. realizing that our only chance to
get out was by the windows. | had
a long. stout rope in the room that |
had bought for just such an emer-
gency was afraid we would be
burned out IN that place some day.
and wanted 10 be prepared for II. But
in the excitement my wife threw the
rope out OF the window bodily and
that left US helpless.
Children Finally Drop.
We'll. the smoke was getting thick
err every instant and presently the
flames leaped in at small inside
window opening on the hallway.
knew that If We remained longer We
would be suffocated and the flames
would do the rest. Something had TO
be done quickly. So | took little
Johnnie under my arm and crawled
out on the ledge. letting myself down
slowly. Then my little girl climbed
out and onto my back with her arms
around my neck. | don't know how
managed TO cling there. but did II.
somehow. | must have been there
about five minutes-it seemed
that many years-when my strength
began TO give out. Then the fire be-
gan licking the window sill and burn
ed the ends of my finger tips. IL was
horrible, didn't want TO drop my
babies for fear | might kill them. but
the fire got hotter and hotter and
finally just had TO let go Of Johnnie.
Edith slid of OF my back second
later-I don't remember now whether
I loosened her hands or not. Then
saw my wife leap through the window
over my head and | dropped, too.
think her foot must have struck my
hand and torn II loose. Anyway we
both landed on the ground about the
same time. thought they were new.
err coming for me In the ambulance.
With that water playing on me was
nearly frozen by the time got 10 the
hospital.
MeKay's Second Fall.
This is the second fall I've had IN
my life. The first one was when 7
was IA years old I dropped 56 feet
through an elevator shaft and wasn't
hurt nearly as seriously as | am this
time. It's the first fire, though and I
hope it's the last"
McKay Is a painter and decorator
end was formerly employed by the
William Wright Co. For the past five
weeks. however, he has been ont of
employment because OF a Stacking up
Of the work and was occupying quar-
tiers In the attic or third floor ot the
Watson house because he could afford
nothing better. He had planned 10
move elsewhere as soon as he secured
work. Mckay is 20 years old.
Mrs. Mckay recalls nothing OF the
escape except that she threw the rope
out. She does not remember jumping.
and the whole affair from the time
she woke in the smokehlle room IN
til she opened her eyes In the hospital
some time later is practically a blank
TO her. II is more than possible-that
she was dazed by the sitting heat.
The fact that her lips are scorchad
shows that the flames came peri!0usly
close.
Edith Mckay is a bright child bp;
her recollection is also rather hazy
She was unable TO say how she got
out OF the burning building and did not
recall slipping from her papa's back
George Barnes. aged II. who occu.
pied a room ON the second floor. AMI
his mother. Mrs. Edith Barnes. room
ing on the first floor were the hero, 5
OF the FIRE. IL was Mrs. Barnes who
first awoke and sounded the alarm
through the sleeping household Tie
Fon, George. jumped into a few clothes
land yelling Fire" Kicked first ON tho
6oor OF the room where his brother
Allan, lay asleep. and then aroused
Miss Minnie Anderson, who occupied
q neighboring room. They hrst tried
90 get down the stair. but flames
blocked the way. Then George lod
the way through a window to the roo.
l..e 4.