The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-12-19

OF name. For moment was mcllueO
to agree with Johnny that 1t was sim
ply a current of air induced by the
confagration. But now On 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 a minute Talbot signaled us
We made our way to where he was
standing with Sam Brannan, Casey.
Green and few others.
THANK God the wind is from the
northwest" Talbot said fervently.
"rhe Ward block is safely to wind
ward, and we don't need to worry
about that, anyway. But 1t is a wind,
and it's freshening. We've got to do
something TO stop this fire."
AS though to emphasize the need for
some sort of action. second and
stronger puff of wind sent wbirling
aloft shower of sparks and brands.
We started at double quick in the di-
rection of the 6imsy small structures
between the old El Dorado and the
Parker House Some men, after a mo-
ment, brought ropes and axes. We
began to tear down the shanties.
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
like arrows. Flames stopped In their
stride and licked up their prey and
went on rejoicing. Structures one min
ute dark and cold and still burst with
startling suddenness and completeness
into riOtlng confagration. Our little
! beginning of a defense was attacked
| and captured before we had had time
| to perfect It, The half dozen shanties
we had pulled to the ground merely
furnished piled fuel. Somewhat de-
moralized, we fell back and tried rath-
er vaguely to draw second line of de-
fense. The smoke and sparks suffo-
Gated and overwhelmed us, and the
following flames leaped upon us as
from behind an ambush. Some few
men continued groplngly to try to do
something, but the most of us were
only too glad to get out where we
could catch breath.
Almost Immediately, however we
were hurried back by frantic mer-
chants
"Save the goodsv was the cry.
| We labored like slaves, carrying mer-
chandise, fixtures, furniture, anything
and everything from the darkened in
teriors of buildings TO the open spaces.
l worked as ! had never worked be-
fore, and not once did | know whose
property ] thus saved. At first |
groped In the darkness, Selling what
could, then gradually, Ike the glow OF
| a red dawn, strange light grew,
showing dlmly and ruddily the half
guessed features of the place. 1t glow
ed, this light, increasing in power rs
then the flames licked through, and,
dripping with sweat, abandoned that
place to its enemy.
All sense OF time and all sense OF To-
cality were lost The world was a
strange world OF deep, concealing shad
ows and strong, revealing glares and a
mist of smoke and hurrying, shouting
excited multitudes. Sometimes / found
myself in queer little temporary ed
dies of stiffness, where u certain calm
and leisure seemed to have been insu
lated. Then for brief moment or sc
] rested. Occasionally l would find
myself with some stranger, and we
would exchange brief explanatory re
marks.
"Whole city Is goingr
Looks like It,"
"Hear a roof fell in and killed TWEEN
ty men,"
Probably exaggerated"
"Probably. Don't catch me under NJ
falling roofs! When she gets afire
get out"
"Same here"
"Well, | suppose we ought to try Il
do something"
Suppose So"
And we would go at 1t again.
At the end of two or three hours--n,
man can guess time In such situation