Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-01-19
was on his feet. A moment later. he
was equipped and Harvesting the

"
was equipped and Harvesting the
horses.
Big Jim was born fireman. There
was nothing so delightful to his ear
as the clang OF the alarm. The mo-
ment he heard it his spirits rose. the
blood coursed more rapidly through
his veins. and all else was forgotten.
So 1t happened that, strapped to his
seat on the engine. the big driver dash
ed down the street without a single
thought Of the small piece of black hui
manity he had bundled up so carefully
a few hours before.
s.No. 20. was the first engine to
reach the Are A large manufacturing
building was blazing furlously and
threatening to consume everything in
the block. Crowds Of people were
fiocklng from all directions.
Jim had just refined in the foaming.
quiverlng horses beside water plug,
and was hastily dismounting from hfs
perch, when little. barefooted figure
came painting up.
as got awful bowed, boss, but dun
keep behind the ingine's well as I
could" And not till then did Jim rec
ollect the adiniring little friend he had
left In the engine-house.
Before he could say anything there
was q great shout from the multitude.
and looking up Jim beheld three men
standing at one of the upper windows,
surrounded by the raging flames and
cut on from all means Of escape. An
exclamation Of horror fell from his lips
as he realized the peril Of the unfortu-
nate men.
They are lost!" he muttered. In
voluntarily. THE ladders have not
vet arrived, and nothing ON earth can
save them now"
with mouth and eyes wide open, and
horror expressed in every feature, Pete
eazed in CONSERVATION at the appall-
ing situation Of the poor wretches.
Then an Inspiration seemed suddenly
to seize him, and, quick as thought, he
snatched small az from truck near
by. and darted on through the crowd.
For several minutes Jim continued
to gaze pityingly upon the imperiled
men. At last he turned sadly away.
and then he beheld Pete scrambling
nimbly but laboriously up a high tele-
graph pole on the opposite side Of the
street. Even at that distance the heat
was intense, and Pete had all he could
do to retain his desperate clutch and
work himself up.
He reached the cross pieces, and
perching himself securely raised his ak
in both hands and struck furious
blow, which was followed Immediately
by scraping buzz, as the wire he had
severed slid over to the beams and
fell to the ground.
Then 1t was that Jim recognized the
shrewdness and utility of Pete's act,
for the other end Of the wire was fas-
tened to the roof of the burning build.
ing directly above the window at
which the imperiled men stood, and as
soon as 1t was severed 1t fell within
their reach.
A great cry of Joy went up from the
vast throng below as the men grasped
their improvised hre-escape and de.
scended In turn; but above 1t rose a
shrill wall of mortal agony.
Help, boss! help! rs dun goin' to
fall"
The flames had burst through one OF
the windows, and were darting far
across the street and beating upon
poor Pete In his defenceless position
He could not move nor attempt to de
scend. 1t was all he was able to do To
keep his hold upon the hot beams
Realizing that his nerveless fingers
would soon be! powerless to sustain
him. he cried aloud in his anguish ia
the only being In that great crowd up
on whom he could call.
As that desperate. appealing cry
reached his ears. Bib Jim deserted his
beloved mo. 20" and sprang toward
Pete's lofty perch. Right and left the
big fireman elbowed his way through
the crowd, knocking gaping men hith.
Ter and thither like SO many tenpins.
But he was too late! Poor Pete huns
on as long as he could. and then, with
q slight culver Of the body, the scorch,
ed and blistered fingers relaxed thei1
hold, and the little hero fell to the
pavement.
Jim raised the limp form tenderly
In his strong arms.
Pete. Pete, my brave little Are