FIRE AS A SOCIETY EVENT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 226, 24 September 1907, Page 3

FIRE AS A SOCIETY EVENT.

The regular reporter was taking a vacation, according to the Neodesha, Kan., Sun, and the editor was busy in the office, when it was learned that on the previous evening there had been a tire in a remote part of tile city, the young lady who writes the society news was sent to bring in a report of it for the paper. She came into the office an hour later with the following very interesting account:—

"Quite a number of people in this part of the city attended a fire last night at the residence of Mr and Sirs Blank in Thirteenth Street. Some I went in carriages and buggies, but the majority walked. The alarm was sounded about 9.30, and many who attended the fire had just returned from church, consequently they were already dressed for the occasion. "Mr Blank was not at home, being out of the city on business; hence the affair will be quite a surprise to him when he returns. Mrs Blank wore a light percale kimono and had her hair done up in kid curls. "The firemen responded readily and worked heroically to subdue the seething flames. Most of them were young and fairly good looking. They were dressed in oilcloth suits, cut short, with trousers to match. Their—hat rims were narrow in' front and broad behind, and sagged down in the rear. The chief's hat was ornamented with an octagonal brass spike, which stuck up above his head like a.horn, giving him the appearance of a unicorn. •"When the flames broke out through the second storey and cast a lurid hue over the surrounding buildings, the view was one never to be forgotten. ...At a late hour the sightseers went home, and all felt that they had passed an evening of interest and excitement."