CHARLIE McKENNA'S HEROISM.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VIII, Issue 414, 18 March 1881, Page 5

CHARLIE McKENNA'S HEROISM.

The New York Star gives the following graphic picture of a scene at the recent disastrous fire in a New York ten« ment house. Charlie McKenna was the little boy who, at the risk of his own life, saved his three small brothers from the burning building, by a display of heroism and courage that is rarely exhibited in grown men. The following is the Star's account of the heroic deed :—": — " The McKenna family occupied an humble room on the third floor of the burned tenement house when the fire broke out. The parents -were temporarily absent. There was Charlie MqKenna, H years old, in charge of his little brothers, one 4 years old, another only 2, and the third a sleeping babe in its cradle. School time bad come, and Charlie, after kissing the little fellows good-bye, opened the door — and in, rushed the smoke and fire. " In another moment the whole neighbourhood was aroused ; the adjoining windows were hlack with people ; the screams of the dying and the shouts of the firemen made bedlam through the building. Charlie looked out at the window and saw that the flames were mounting the fire-escape. " Now, gentle reader, you are doubtless as brave as most men or women. What would you have done in such a situation? How would you have contrived to save those three little ones a,nd yourself? Try to think of a plan that would not take too much time — for the fierce fire is crackling at the door and the d adly smoke is creeping under it — and that would not risk the lives and limbs of the children. " Charlie went to the window, and the people outside called upon him to jump. To jump down two stories and leave his brothers to perish ? Charlie shook his bead. He knew better than that. '< But, in looking out, he saw a number of people on a seed near at hand, and he called to them to catch what he should throw them. They answered and encouraged him. In an instant lie caught up the tiny two-year old ; held him out of the window ; swung him backwark and forward, as you have seen athletes do at a circus, and threw him towards the shed. The people caught the child. One was saved. " Try to think whether you could have done this. "Would you have had the nerve, the pluck, the cool courage, the quick eye to measure the distance, tie calm strength to throw the child far enough and yet not too far, as this boy of fourteen did ? Let each reader answer for himself, and may Heaven grant that none of us ever be placed in such peril that he will be compelled to make the test! 11 The four-year-old child was frightened, and would not allow Charlie to lift him out of the window. He cried, kicked, struggled with his preserver. Charlie felt that time and strength were being wasted in the struggle. Then he iel eased the child ; went to the further end of the room, took a brisk run to gain force and impetus, and out went the second brother, thrown clear across to the shed and caught by the ready hands of the crowd. What instinct and what calculation there were in this sudden run and rush that both overpowered the child's remstence and sent him flying through the air ! Would you have thought of that ? Would you have dared to venture it ? Charlie did, and two were saved. " The baby remained. Should he throw out the baby as he had the others ? No ; that sublime something, grander than reason, which had controlled the little hero thus far, now taught him that the tender infant might be hurt or killed by the fall or the rough handling of the crowd. The flames were burning through the door ; the smoke made breathing almost impossible ; but Chariie completed his preparations to save the baby as methodically as if he had been safely playing on a summer afternoon at Central Park. " First he put on a great coat ; then bundled up the baby and stowed it away inside the coat, where the stout buttons would support its weight, while his hands were left free. Then he got out upon the fire-escape, waited for a lull in the fire, and climbed down, band over hand, with the baby bundled to his breast. The fire gnawed at his fingers ; but he would not let go his hold. Arrived at the lowest stage of the escape, and afraid to drop lest he shold jar the baby, he took off the great coat, put the infant in it, as in a hammock, and gently lowered it to the people below. .After that he dropped down himself, and all were saved. His first anxious question was, 'Is the baby hurt V Another second and the four children were enfolded in their mother's arms, while a great cheer went up from the crowd."