THE HEROISM OF FIREMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10623, 11 December 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE HEROISM OF FIREMEN.

A conflagration occurred during the early hoars of a roconb Sunday morning at 349, Old Kent) Road, London. These premises consisted of a confectioner's shop, tenanted by 1 a Mr. A. James, and a house of twelve rooms, occupied by families of lodgers. The fire, which broke out in the shop, had obtained a very strong hold before the people who were sleeping above were aroused to a sense of their danger, Then they found that escapeby the ordinary means was practically impossible. Several persons thereupon rushed to the upper windows and screamed and shouted loudly for help. Engineer Tozer and bis men were soon on the scene. Theyatonceburstopen andrushing up the staircase succeeded in bringing two of the inmates—Richard William Thomas, aged 56, and Edward Rico, aged safely into the streot. The firemon essayed to return, but the staircase was then in flames, and ascent was impossible. Some of the lodgers who had got out safely excitedly explained that thero were little children sleeping in the upper rooms. The escapo haying by this time arrived, the firemen hastily adjusted the ladders and entered the upper windows of the burning building in order to search for the missing ones, a great crowd whioh had assembled vociferously cheering the men as they disappeared through tho windows, from* which smoke was densely pouring, while the shop was blazing furiously. There was a painful interval of suspense, although it was a brief one, and then there was a great burst of applause" when the brass-helmeted men reappeared, bearing between them two little children in their nightdresses. These were Ethel Elizabeth Merchant, aged seven, and Harry George Marchant, aged six. Amidst''a scene of tumultuous excitement the '• little ones were brought down the ladders sAfely to the street, and were found to be uninjured. The firemen then ' turned their attention to extinguishing the fire, and did so after half an hour's work, but riot until the premises had been very badly damaged.