The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-12-01

"hth nuuuthif the WfiOie restaurant
seemed alive with dry, cracking ex.
plosions, and in the same Instant the
electric lamps went out. The room,
O moment ago brilliantly lighted. was
black as a.yault save for glirnmer
from the street that shone through the
window. Then, as every one jumped
up. oyerturnlng chairs or breaking
glasses in their hurry and the shrIeks
OF the Italian women mingled with
the strange cracking sounds. there
came from somewhere at the back a
loud defamation. followed by a hoarse
roaring Ike a blast furnace. Men
cried out In amazed alarm. and the
dark room liz up ominously with a
crimson glare that turned the curtain
through which II leaked the color Of
blood.
In rushed Black Dick and his assist
ant. with Biinkcy. who had been busy
in the kitchen. and all three shouted
wildly. Sire. firee
The restaurant WIS in state Of
chaos. A long jet OF fame sweeping
out from the kitchen and across the
narrow passage caught the curtain In
the doorway. up which little serpcnts
OF fire began TO crawl. Every woman
was screaming now In panic OF fear
whipped TO horror by the red DARK
ness and the cracking explosions which
snapped and splultered on every side.
The excitable Italians chartered and
struggled with one another in the dark.
the new Polish waiter nn here and
there Ike a frightened chicken that
secs the *. the two negroes were al.
most in commissions. and Tony Kidd
called valnIy on the Hungarian broth.
crs and De Rocheverte for help In
bringing order ont Of confusion.
At the time OF the first explosion
Lovciand had been quietly setting a
splnis 4of fried. chicken befsre 1onys
and as the journalist leape-l from his
seat the two youag men were close to
eether.
''Short circulting: escape from fused
gas piper Loveland yelled through the
noise.
ayes. that's itr' the reporter shouted
back mechanically as II 10 friend.
Then for o few seconds Tony was
overwhelmed by a Wild rush OF fright
cned women. In the red light that
streamcd through the burning curtain
he saw a crowd fighting 10 reach the
window and the closed front door Of
the restaurant.
Upon bis incrsdulous eyes flashed a
horrld tnblcsal of lie RGcheverte throw
Ing on Elinor Coolidge. who chung TO
him. crying. Save me, save me.' As
the Frenchman blInlIy flung her away
aud dashed toward the door the girl
would have fallen On her knees. TO be
frampled undeFfoot by the two Hun
garians. had not LDyeiand pushed the
men violently aside and caught Elinor
In bis arms.
Keep hcr-kcep all ITO ladies In this
corner out Of tho crush!" he cried 70
Tony. I'm going to turn on the gus
at tho main" Then lee gave ElInor.
half fainilng. 10 Tony Kidd. who firm.
iy called Mrs. Milton. Miss Turner and
Miss Wood by name. The sound Of
the two calm voices IN the midst Of
shouts. smashing glass, falling chairs
and foreign ordinations rallied the
womcn's courage. AZ Tony held EIlnot
tho three others passed near him. de
serted by the foreigners OF their party.
and IN the bloodshot blnze all saw
Loveland's tall figure apparently plunge
into the fame lie mnde dash
through 'he doorway. his arms thrown
across his eyes 10 shield them from the
FIRE. aud ten seconds later the loud
roaring ceased "A suddenly AZ II had
begun The crackllugs had ceased. too.
fur the short clrcultlng was over. aud
the stream Of gas burnt Itself out IN
instant after I.oseiand seized the han.
die Of the main. hut the curtain still
bIazcd; the stairway IN the passage.
the door frames IN the kitchen and
restaurant were on fire. and the panic
rugged ns wildly as ever among the
fallen chairs and tnblts.
Tho door handle had boon broken by
feo Cohen as he flerceiy disputed with
Milton the right 10 get out iimi. and
none could now escape that way. NJ
though men battered the panels and
strove 20 break them In. Some one
had smashed hole In the thick plate
glass window big enough 10 create a
dangerous draft. but not large enough
10 give means Of retreat for any Of
the men and women who. with cut aud
bleeding hands. struggled 20 squeeze
through the Jagged opening.
One hand badly burned. face and hair
sinred. I.oveIand was back IN min
ute from his crrand at the gas main.
lie Ind snatclied up n huge kettle 81
water from the store and dashed Il |
on 70 the stairs. q,ienchIng the small |
flames which had begun 10 curl and |
writhe. Then. tearing down the cur.
tain, he trampled out The Gre. and ns
the flames died into shooting sparks
and fecbly puf5Iag smoke be urged I
Tony 70 bring fin ladies that way. |
1 - $1,000 81