Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-12-09

The next morning Arthur wrote to
President Mayhem, detailing the cir
cumstances, and the president
promptly wrote back that such law
lessness would not be tolerated, and
that the fire steamer would be prop
erly guarded by the village authori-
ties for a reasonable length of time.
Arthur promptly wrote back that
the guard-with the time restriction
would be unnecessary, as Taxpayer
Pritchard had offered to shelter the
steamer at his factory, where it would
be amply protected until such time as
the selectmen saw fit to bring their
negotiations for its purchase to a
close.
Selectman Mayhem glanced at his
communication for a moment, but his
face softened as he tossed it aside:
Smart boy he growled, Il sup
pose that father of his is proud Of
him"
At 2 O'Clock the next afternoon,
a warm September afternoon, Elroy
Green, a market gardener, went into
his we'll stocked barn, in the east end
of the village, in hopes that he could
destroy a worthless dog that had an
noyed the chickens. His wife had
seen the mongrel run into the barn,
and Elroy hal promptly taken down
his shotgun and started the chase.
He saw the dog crossing the barn
floor and in his agitation fired at it.
Whether he hit the creature or not
is of little consequence. He at least
succeeded in setting fire to the barn.
For a moment he did not notice the
tiny fame. When he saw it he
rushed for water. The fire was be-
yond his reach when he anne back.
He ran down the roadway, shout
ing an alarm. The cry was passed on,
the bell of the town hall rang, the
volunteers came by twos and threes.
A half dozen men pulled out the an
cient hand machine and headed it
toward the fire. The drag rope was
quickly filled, the tub rumbled up the
street, followed by hose cart and
bucket wagon-ard the Springville
volunteer department was in full ac-
ton.
But. the fire had gained dangerous
Roadway. \ brisk breeze had sprung
up, the barn was all in flames and
blazing embers were whirling through
the air.
When the alarm sounded Landlord
Bolton, Inventor Pritchard and Ar
thur Brill were in close conversation
on the hotel porch. They watched
the cloud Of black smoke rising adobe
the trees, and the flying embers.
Looks like a bad beginning"
growled the landlord. "Notice the
breeze"
Lucky it isn't blowing my way
said Jonn Pritchard. Lucky, too,
that we've got the steamer here"
4The steamer is subject only to the
call of the Springville board OF select
men" said young Arthur Brill.
The landlord groaned.
sand they're stiff necked enough
to let the village burn up before
they'd ask for it. Look at that" Fe
! pointed a finger at the smoke. ats
spreading all right. Say, Ill take
| the horses down to the steamer and
bring it and the cart up here to the
hotsl. This is a central point. What
do YOU say?'
81 say yes" replied Arthur. ait
would be we'll to be in readiness, no
matter what your stiff necEed friends
may do"
Twenty minutes later the steamer
was halted in the hotel yard, ready
for action.
IF 1 am Called" said young Ar
thar Brill, what water can l get?'
THE fire. is close to the six-Mile
Creek" replied the excited landlord
| from his seat on the engine. ell
drive you to the right spot. Gee,
look at that! What are they think
ing about?'
1t was quite evident that the fire
was spreading. The breeze was still
brisk, aid the ">oke came rolling Up
in huge +"
The Inv. II I'D his foreman were
on the hose wagon; the engineer from
the Brill factory, the landlord and Ar
thur made up the engine crew.
The young mai looked around.
"Ouito an imposing denartment,"
he said. I'VE will have to organize
after this is over"
The landlord gave a sudden start
and clutched the reins over the team
with a firmer hand.
"Sce who's coming" he cried.
There was no mista!ling the bare
gray head and bent form. The pale
faced mar in the light wagon behind
the galloplng horse was Ezra May
hsw.
The young man ran forward.
"Mr. Brill" the old man gasped,
"the board of selectmen ask your
cid at the earliest possible moment"
Eyes, Sir" responded the young
man as he sprang to his place. Gall
ready, Mr.. Bolton"
And the apparatus rumbled down
the street.
1t was a hard fight, but the steamer
and its crew won it. The light frames
couldn't stand up under the powerful
stream. 1t knocked the blazing rope
walk TO pieces, it battered down the
great barn that was used as a ware
house for green tobacco. For more
! than two hours that heavy stream