A PERILOUS CLIMB.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3381, 4 July 1927, Page 7

A PERILOUS CLIMB.

Residents in a twenty-roomed mansion at Marylebone, London, had an exciting experience in the early hours of one morning a few weeks ago, when a fire broke out in the drawing-room on the second floor and rendered escape by the stairs impossible. The house was occupied by Mrs Argenti and her son and five maid-servants. The discovery was made by Miss Halls, the head housemaid, who was aroused by a sound of cackling, and on going on to the landing found the house full of dense choking smoke. She at once ran to the rooms of Mrs Argenti and her son and warned them, and then roused the other maids, who were on the top floor When the members of the household had all gathered together, clad in hastily donned garments, they realised that it was quite impracticable to .make any attempt to go down the stairs, and the only method of escape was by means of the roof. They got out of one of the windows on the fifth floor and clambered along the parapet. When the firemen arrived they were astonished to see seven people creeping along the parapet high above the street. In a few moments —even before they could be reached by a fire escape—the fugitives had reached a window of the next house, through which they crawled with the assistance of Miss Le Couble, tho maid of Lady Lorainc Broke, who resides in the house. Miss McKnight, one of the maids, in a description of their experience, said they owed much to the bravery of Miss Halls, who, after giving them warning, telephoned for the fire brigade. They Fall thought, however, that it was better not to wait, and so they gathered in v one of the rooms on the top floor, and unscrewed bars in front of the window. No one had time completely to dress, and they made their way carefully along tho ledge, not daring to look down to the street. Miss Le Couble said she was awakened by the noise in the street, and on opening her window to look out saw the maids leaning out of their window. They told her they were going to try to get along tho ledge, and she stood by her window and helped them into her room. They were very plucky in spite of their natural nervousness, and each one walked toward her window without a moment’s hesitation. The brigade rescued two terriers which were in danger of suffocation, and quickly subdued the fire, which caused serious damage to the drawing-room and burned through the floor to the din-ing-room beneath.