Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-10-18

places, the high plastered walls; tC
sniff the clean new smell of it. Every
body admitted it to be the finest build
ing in the city. -......t. 80
On Christmas eve we went to bed
strangely enough, very early. All the
rest Of the town was celebrating, but
we had been busy moving furniture
and fixtures, had worked late in order
to finish the job and were very tired.
The first intimation Of trouble come
| to me in my sleep. l dreamed we were
back on the Porcupine and that the
! stream was in flood. I could distinct
ly hear the roar of 1t as it swept by.
and | remember Johnny and myself
We're trying desperately to climb big
pine tree in order to get above the en-
| croaching waters. A wind sprang up
and shook the pine violently | came
| slowly to waking consciousness, the
dream fading into reality. Yank was
standing by my cot, shaking me by
the shoulder. He was fully dressed
and carried his long rifle.
| Get up!'' he told me. There's a
big fire one or two doors away, and
it's headed this way"
Then realized that the roar Of the
flames had induced my dream. -.--,.---
Fifteen or twenty men were trying
to help Warren's place resist the heat
They had blankets and pals of water.
and We're attempting to interpose these
feeble defences at the points most Sc
verely attacked. Each man stood 1t
as long as he could, then rushed out
to cool his REDEEMED face. 7
"Reminds me Of the way used to
pop corn when was a kid" grlnned a
miner. II wouldn't care for that job"
Just the same, they'll save it" OBJ
served Talbot judicially.
Almost coincident with his words a
long drawn "A-ahr' burst from the
crowd. A wandering gust of wind
came in from the ocean. For the brief
est instant the tall straight column of
flame bent gracefully before it. then
came upright again as it passed. In
that instant it licked across the side.
wall of Warren's place and immediate
ly Waren's place burst into flame.
Hard luck!" commented Talbot.
The fire lighters. swarmed out like
bees from a disturbed hive.
"Our hotel next" said Johnny.
That's safe enough. There's a wide
lot between Observed Il n 5
A fresh crew of fire fighters took the
place OF the others-namely those per-
sonally Interested in SAYING the hotel
Lucky the night is so STILL" SAID
Talbot ''@eease .,,s,a,,.' sas75rrs
We watched Warren's place burn
with all the half guilty joy of those
who are sorry. but who are glad to be
there If it has to happen. Suddenly
Talbot threw up his head.
Feel that breeZe?" he cried.
Suction into the fire." suggested
Johnny. ID.
But Talbot shook his bead impatient
~, trying to peer through the glare
into the sky. ,'% ZOE --% @8E
1t was a very gentle breeze from the
feel itaon my cheek: and it was mot
strong enough as yet to affect in the
slightest the upward roaring column
Of flame. For 4 moment l was inclined
to agree with Johnny that 1t WIGS sim:
ply q current of air induced by the
But now an uneasy mo-
ton began to take place in the crowd,
Men elbowed their way here and there.
met, conferred. gathered in knots. In
less than minute Talbot signaled U.S.,
We made our way to where he was
standing with, Sam Brannan. Casey.
Green and a few others. ....J., ..n,....
.'Thank, God the wind is from the
Talbot said feryently.
"The Ward block is safely to wind
ward, and we don't need to worry
about that, anyway. But it is wind. |
and it's freshening. We've got to do
to stop this fire." '''.'s3"
AS though to emphasize the need for
some sort of action, second and
stronger puff of wind sent whirling
aloft a shower of sparks and brands
We started at double quick in the d.
rection of the flimsy small structures
between the old Ell Dorado and the
Parker House. Some men, after a mo-
ment, brought ropes and axes. We
began to tear down the shanties. ..,s-
But before we had been at work five /.
minutes the fire began to run. The
wind from the sea increased. Blazing
pieces OF wood flew through the air
ike arrows. Flames stopped in their
stride and licked up their prey and
vent on rejoicing. Structures one min
lite dark and cold and still burst with
suddenness and completeness
nto rioting contlagration. Our little
beginning of defense was attacked
md captured before we had had time
o perfect it. The half dozen shanties
We had pulled to the ground merely
furnished piled fuel. Somewhat de-
loraliZed, we fell back and tried rath-
r vaguely to draw a second line of de-
ense. The smoke and sparks suffo-
ated and overwhelmed us. and the
GLOWING flames leaped upon us as
rom behind an ambush. Some few
nen continued gropingly to try to do
omething. but the most of us We're