The Washington times., 1909-06-28
CHAPTER II.
MID PLANE AND SMOKE.

THIS was the night Of the Park
Avenue Hotel fire in New York.
VIII any one who resided at the time
upon Manhattan island or anywhere
within a radius OF 100 miles of il, ever
forget the fury of the elements accom-
panying that big confiagration2
Every vagary OF weather which New
York can produce-and there are not a
few o. them-seemed to be forthcoming.
Wind rain, snow, sIeet, hail, light
ming, thunder-the whole gamut was
/ furnished. And the wind was a terrific
blast from the northeast which tore Off
shutters and sent street signs flying
I he rain came in slanting sheets. the
snow, sleet and hail WED in their vio-
/ lence. The lightning was as vivid and
the thunder as crashing as that Of mid
summer.
1t was night when the sane and
sober citizen Rugged his nTeside, and
thanked providence that no commerce
Callet hin cut.
Weather, however, is a matter OF
minor consideration when one is three
and twenty, and still a stranger TO
rheumatic tWinges; so Robert Graham,
two years out OF law school, had
thought nothing OF faring forth early
in the evening TO an obscure resort on
the East Side. where II had been pre-
vIousiy arranged that cornwall party
GO his Gle sSnlates should meet 10 hold
a beefsteak dinner.
The steak. Juicy and tender, just of
the growing embeTs, was all that coulc
be desired, and with the best of the
feast in keeping, TIE Jolly company
held high revel, needless Of the storS
without as they toasted their student
days. and sang the Old glees until the5
fairly raised the ceiling OF the smoky
little room, where they were gathered
II was late when they broke up. and
3 fro "a gfr r.
they could see the crimson fare re-
fected in the heavens and hear the
clang of engines IN all directions rush
ing through the slippery streets.
There's a big fire somewhere up
town." exclaimed some one. Let's all
gor'
As il happened a car came joiting
along the BOWery AT that moment. and
/ the whole crowd took after it.
When they approached the scene OF
+ the confiagraticn at last a terrifying
7 sight met their eyes.
Already a great armory was IN names
sending a Whirling mass of sparks
I broadcast for blocks. Across the street
I the gabled roof Of the big hotel was
/ blazing in a dozen places. sending a
thick column Of smoke skyward. With
I such a start who could say how far 1he
destruction might be Carried2
Indeed. had IL not been for the steady
T doWnpour of rain a fortunate shift in
I the direction Of the wind the Park ave
nue. fire might well nave been one OF
/ the most disastrous IN the history or
the metropolis. Under ordinary con-
ditions il could hardly have failed 10
/ sweep westward as far as Broadway.
wiping out the WaldOrf-AstOria and
+ devastating all that valuable section in
} tie neighborhOod of Fifth avenue and
( Tlirty-fOurth street.
/ The car progressed up Fourth ave-
4 nue. as far as Twenty-ninIh street,
/ where II was halted by the lines of
hose. The party Of diners scrambled
of and pressed forward TO join the
+ a.ved and silent throng watching the
I remorseless spread Of the flames.
Graham. more fortunate than most
of his companions, possessed a badge
admitting him TO the IRE lines, and
( he therefore. lost no time in Wrig-
I Cling his way through the crowd and
entering the burning hotel
SO far he had looked uPon the ar
I fair merely as destructioa Of prop
eTtv; ROW 20 his horror he learned thai
{ human llfe was in DANCE S well.
With tie elevator shaft a pillar OF
flaIae and the upper floors filled with
smoke aEse5=cE fire In hundreds Of spots
the guests were I'm a panic and were
leaDing wildly TO death
II was a time when stout hearts and
Z willing hands were needed in the worn
of rescue. and Graham quickly followed
the lire of blue fremen and amateur
helpers hurryinE up the broad staircase
Again and again he made the trip