Year: 1876

getting, with much trouble. At the
second landing there was window,
this I burst open and gasped for air
1t was for a mouthful only that
struggled, when I had that, l made
another effort, and, although I found
that everything I touched was as hot
as if just taken out of an oven, ]
struggled on. I don't suppose
could have been more than a minute
in the house up to this time, but it re
ally seemed to have been at least a
full half hour; and as no water had,
as yet, been thrown in the direction
Of the stairs, l concluded that the
assistant engineer thought l was Q
fool, and had made up his mind to
let me perish in the flames for my
presumption. This made me fee
awful, l tell you. But there was nc
turning back, the little girl should be
saved or l perish with her.


"When I made up my mind to this
l became as cool as cucumber;
had no more fear, I rushed up the
next flight, and just as I was turning
to mount the last one, a piece Of raf
ter fell upon me. It was all aflame
It struck me on the head and then
dropped on the floor. I knew, then
that cold water had been poured up
on it. / kicked the stick out of the
way, and the next minute l was al
the door where / felt sure the child
was, 1 burst it open and was again
struck in the face by dense volume
of smoke. 1 felt as it the girl must
have been smothered.


"Just as l again crawled forward
to find the bed whereon l had sup
posed the little one had been lying,
l caught hold of little foot. l drew
it toward me, drew it and the body
attached to it out on the landing. 1t
was that of the chile, Lottle Wilson.
l was quite certain she was dead; but
l took her in my arms and attempted
the descent. Now, if the assistant
engineer had not ordered the pipes
to be turned on the stairs, 1 do be.
lieve it would have been better for
US both-Lottie and l.


"The water, as it struck in great
volumes upon the stairs and into the
passage, had the effect of driving the
smoke toward u.s."


81 had to stand on the upper land
ing, with the flames constantly and
persistently undermining me, until
the clouds of smoke had been driven
past me.


"When at last l saw my way down
the terrible passage, l involuntarily
offered prayer for safety. AT al:
most every step the flames would
start up, and once or twice, as de.
scended, the steps broke IN two, be-
cause they were nearly burnt apart
by the licking, eating fire. 1t seem
ed an eternity to me before finally
reached the last stairway. 1t was
trembling and would presently fall!
That 1 saw at glance. Then, after
SO much was l to perish where l was
stood, with Lottie Wilson's body in
my arms?


"Suddenly there was crash.


81 looked to see the stairs fall-for
when they went l thought my doom
was forever sealed. telt l was be-
cominr oxhoucfod


"But there was something else gave
way at that moment.


The upper part of q tall ladder
was driven through window within
a foot of where l was standing; and
then, just as 1 felt my consciousness
going from me, I heard in hoarse
voice the single word:


"Saved!"


"Then there was great roar, and
l knew nothing more, except that l
thought I was falling into a deep,
dark pit.


"They told me week LATER" con-
tinued Franklin, Sat the hospital, that
l had been seen with little Lottie
standing at the head of the stairs,
and that there was only one way-as
the stairs were succumbing to the
flames, and would presently fall-to
save me, and that was by putting up
ladder, and fireman rushed up it,
and seizing and bodily lifting me out
Of the building, which it also was
thought was about to fall, and which
did tumble down a minute or two
later.


"Then that must have been the
roar l heard. 1t sounded like the
breaking of the tide upon the shore
at Sandy Hook.


"No, no. 1 was replied, 'it was the
mighty and delighted cheer of the
people who were relieved of their
terrible excitement when they saw
you and the rescued girl. Why,
Franklin, you are the hero of the
day?


"'Well,' l asked, desirous of turn
ing the conversation from myself, lis
the little CIR! dead!


"sNo, indeed was the answer of
my friend; she is as sound and lively
as cricket. She is here to thank
you tor saving her.


ga sweet-faced child, with pretty
mouth and dark-blue eyes, and auburn
hair, here approached my pallet, and
putting her lips to NINE, gave me a
hearty kiss.


"sI love you ever SO much,' she
said, in her artless way.


"'What am l in this place for?"
continued.


"'Why you had your skull crack
ed,' was the answer, 'and the doctors
wonder how it was done, and who
you managed to retain consciousness
under 1t for any time. They think it
must have been caused by the falling
of a beam, as the bones were crushed
in quite flat!


"Then l recollectcd the accident
which happened to me in the third
story, when I felt the strange sensa-
ton of water being suddenly thrown
over me, producing so peculiar a
shock. In month l was discharged
convalescent, but it was a year be-
fore the soreness really got out of my
head.


uWell. wears have come and gone