Year: 1866

/ ror. But there was people, you see, at the
, other end of the rope, and we loosened as
, the others hauled, and SO they soon had
!, her in at the other window, though the
rope was SO tight that it must have hurt


the poor thing terribly.


Then they loosened the rope again, and


we sent another woman over, and she was
insensible with fear, and we got her over
all right, though she, too, slipped off the
ladder. Then there were two little girls,
one after the other; and it was sad to see
how they trembled and shook-too much
/ frightened to cry, as well they might be,
for the heat was awful; and | knew that
another quarter of an hour would find the
room we were in red hot


We got over another--a young man
and he was dragged over, too, for he dare
not try to crawl across and | suppose to
man who amt used to such things,
as creeping over a place like that, all
those feet over the pavement, and when
you've been frightened to death nearly by
waking out of your sleep to find the next
place on fire, Is rather trying; and now
there was only that chap whose wife was
sent over first, and who had worked all he
could to help me, and another cowardIy
chap whom I'd had quite a set to with to
keep back, so as TO save tbe women and
children first.


And now this chap as I've just spoke
about made rush to get to the ladder
and he was in such horrid fright that
rdon't believe he'd got over safe, and be-
/ sides | knew there was time enough for us
all to get away if things were done quietly !;
so, considering as it wasn't his turn, held
him back for the married man to 90 first
to his wife, when the other one almost,
shrekcd out with rage and fear.
! "Let him go first says the married
man, 'I'Il wait"


"Tain't his turn" | says, rather obsti-
mate like. "Over you go." and at such a
time one can't be interfered with, and
having made my plans so far didn't want
them altered. So, "Oyer you 60" says.


Il think can crawl" he says, and he
got out on tbs ladder; but instead ofcrawl-
ing, he sat astrdo of it and worked him
self along, with the crowd hurrahing and
cheering him tremendous.


And then came the flame and smoke.
and the roar and crackle and falling in of
timber5 was getting terrible. Every place
was light as day, while as to the I declare
it seemed to scorch you fearfulIy.


The sooner you're across and me with
you the better [ shall like it." ! says, and
then | took look round to see how mat
ters We're, when there came a crash and a
puff, and in a moment the flames wreath
ing and twirIiug up from underneath where
| stood, and just as the last chap had his
leg on the window-sill, ,and [ was going to
tie the tope round him, he gave a yell and
fell back, or rather [ pulled him back into
the smoky room, and he tainted dead
away. a..


He must have gone down crash into the
court if l hadn't dragged at him; but
there was no time to lose. I made the
rope fast and got him on to the ladder,
with the flames darting up through the
rounds and burning his hair; and then |
shouted to them to haul, and haul they
did, with me trying to steady him with
my end Of the rope, but before he was
quite across something went snap, and |
staggered back into the room, holding on
by the piece Of urut-through rope, and
with my heart sinking, as | felt that my
own salvation was partly gone. &


Just then the flames We're waited on one
side, and | saw that they were dragging
ia the last Of the seven, and I felt now as
if I'd done good nights work, and it was
time to save myself I'm not ashamed to
own it, did feel frighteneda as | threw down
that piece OF rope, and it must have been
something like cry Of horror gave when
[ get hold Of the ladder and felt it burn
my hands, and then tried to bear up on
it and felt it crumbIe away, and that was
without a way to escape.


Far above the noise of the fire and wa
ter came the shrieks Of the crowd as the
burnt ladder fell away and hung blazing
by one end against the opposite house,
while there came up such a rush Of flame
past the window that | could not look out.
but directly after heard the fierce rush
of the water and could see that four branches
were de!uging the window and all beneath,
for my mates knew what danger was
in.


I ran to the window, and was beaten
back by the water while the smoke that
came up was quite binding Then I tried
through the hot vapor in the room to see
if could get out Of the door and reach
the roof; but jus. at that moment there
came dull flash through the smoke and
] could see that the back Of the house was
all on fire, while from the way the flames
rushed up again and filled the court, l
knew there was no help to be had from the
opposite, for they must be beaten from the
window.