The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-06-17
MAYOR BURNSIDE
ROMANTIC HERO AT
MORNING BLAZE
What a Diplomat Does When
Caught Between Fire and
Painting Woman.

WATERFOWL, s. D., June 16.-The
prize story Of the Masonic convention
is told by Mayor George w. Burnside
of Sioux Falls, and is an incident OF
the last meeting OF the grand com.
mandery in this city 20 years ago.
The Queen city mayor and three
other gentlemen were assigned a roon
in the Kampeska hotel. One of the
quartet was Dan Glidden. a well known
Sioux Falls gentleman, who on this
occasion was Respondent In high
topped boots and a high silk hate
get-up that made a distinct impression
on the mayors memory.
Before retiring for the night, Glidden
insisted on learning all about the fire
escapes, for Dan would not stay In a
hotel where the FIRE escapes were not
adequate. He feared fre-didn't want
to spoil his boots or plug hat.
The hotel clerk explained about the
fre escapes and even showed Glidden
where and how he could easily get out
Of h building in case of q fire alarm,
Glidden an Attraction.
Strangely enough, just at daybreah
the Xxi morning a clerk rushed
through the halls, rapping loudly on
each door and shouting fire" the
smoke from which was rolling In vol
umes from the lower windows OF tbs
hotel.
Glidden had brought no night shirt
with him, 80 had slept in his under
wear, which was a rich carmine in col
or, crawling into the back side of the
bed in which Burnside slept. No soon
err a the alarm been given than Gid
den shot over his bed fellow like a
red comet. Ramming his long feet into
his tall boot and DOMINIC his plug hat,
he grabbed all the clothing in sight and
rushed out of the building, leaving his
fhran Vnnp H.,anfAn .rfkLL. nAaAl.akn1xy
nothing to wear except what they had
been sleeping in. The three pounced
out OF bed and followed, their shirt
tails Tapping in the breeze. When they
reached the street they beheld Glidden
dancing about and still hugging tho
clothing which he had started with,
his red underclothing. adorned by that
high hat, n one end n the top boots
on the other, serving to make their
room mate a most conspicuous figure,
1t was Don discovered that not
withstanding the smoke there was no
fire to speak OF. 1t being confined TO a
small place under the kitchen floor,
Hero In undress Uniform.
But the climax for Mr.. Burnside had
not been reached. He was about to
make his way back into the hotel with
some articles OF clothing which he had
persuaded Glidden to part with from
hhS uSpol tHhCht WHICH,, just IlcdE OHe VI
the principal exits, he encountered a
gentleman and his wife escaping.
Whether 1T was the sight Of Gliddep
In his devil" costume, or the appear
ance OF the three lon0-legged chaps
In their leggless shirts, or the general
commotion, Mr.. Burnside has never
been able to figure out, but at any
rate the woman tainted dead away"
and dropped gracefully into the may
or's arms. ...t,-. .I... ..
There I was" said he, 'in my shirt
tailed raiment, with absolutely MOTH
ing else to cover my lank body, and
that woman serenity resting in my
arms, pinning me down while the goats
that were with me were escaping to
cover. OF course gallantry forbade
that / should drop her limp form, and
fee like a jack rabbit, and yet, as you
fellows may guess, it was rather en-
barrassing to hold her to ones breast
in the presence Of an a~ugmenting and
excited audience gathering in front OF
h building that Tune morning"
How he finally got rid OF her he does
not remember, but that after
else had gotten dressed and made
themselves ~presentable he alone was
forced to parade before the tittering
crowd back to his room to take what
was left OF, the clothes.