A Complete Story

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLVIII, Issue 45, 15 November 1923, Page 9

A Complete Story

“ The Third Alarm It was on the way home from the , monthly meeting of the Commonwealth Club, and Barrett ■ and . Spalding were discussing the night’s talk. With the calm assurance of one who' from lofty position gratuitously helps' the enlightenment of those less learned than himself, the speaker had, let it. be known that the Church to-day -was not completely fulfilling its mission, and ; that if men were to listen, it must meet their daily needs. - “I think he’s right,” said Barrett, ~* ■- ///■ f “He’s wrong in—” a gust of wind took the words out of Spalding’s mouth and he shrugged his shoulders and turned up the storm collar of his overcoat after the example of his companion before continuing—“wrong in making so general a statement. How about the Catholic Church? That seems to hold the crowds. The men go as well as the women.” “Somewhat a matter of habit, maybe,” was the answer, “or perhaps of training. But is there the deep, personal touch spoken of? Is its influence real?” ;■/;- v , ' The men had the street to themselves as they walked along. The window electrics, lighting up displays that there was no one else to see, made the thoroughfare after they had passed seem more quiet and deserted by contrast with the illumination. ' “I have no doubt of it,” returned Spalding. “It’s not the first time I’ve heard speakers ignore the Catholic Church as though it did not exist, and it always makes - me tired. I hold no brief for that faith, but why not be fair? The Catholic Church does have a hold on its members. It seems to give them something—that the- Church I belong to does not give, and that I don’t pretend to understand.” “Who’s been talking religion to you?” “No onel know some Catholics well — with them but I’ve never been so much as even asked to a service.” “Well, don’t worry about tlxeir having anything on you. It isn’t that I’m jealous on account of belonging to some other Church. You know Igo to none. But are the fellows you speak of any better off to-night because they are Catholics?” -. ’ . ; There was no answer, for the air was pierced at that moment by the shrill sound that never fails to arrest attention. . “What’s that?” Spalding answered himself. “A fire!” '7 Nearer came the screech of the siren on the big piece of apparatus from the Central Fire Station. It was only a few steps to the corner now. On reaching it Barrett and Spalding stood waiting, for the appearance of the truck on the street running parallel one block away. What is it that makes the rush of fire fighting equipment, especially at night, draw one? Whatever it is," it made the two men quicken .their pace, and, with interest particularly keen because it was in the business section,, go up and turn in the direction- taken by the truck. With no comment other than that it was a cold night for a fire, both speculated on the source of the alarm. They had not far to go before learning. » T Heavy volumes of smoke were pouring, from windows in the block on the corner of Capitol and Merrivale Streets, and there was every, evidence that the firemen had before them a stiff fight. , L - “Hurley’s paint store! Full of oils and stuff like that. .Gasoline there, too!” "" Crash ! , './ , Two of the big plate glass window panes were shattered and fell in a hundred pieces. V - ' There was no need for police lines at that, hour, so Spalding ; and Barrett had little difficulty in reaching a point where they could witness at close range the battle: in which leaping flames made'powerless as summer rain the streams that' from three directions were soon pouring tons of water into the great; seething furnace/ /• •/ ' It was a scene to be remembered. With} Chief ; Kelly putting up one of the gamest fights against ' the biggest ' odds in 'his career, the combat waged fast and -furious.

Judgment was shown in his sending in of the second alarm and the bringing up of reserves. V ' - But, they were not enough. The advantage gained was but temporary. Beaten back at one point, the flames broke out at another, and at last worked their way to the place that it had been feared they might reach, the upper stories of the block next door, containing a print shop on the upper floors and a shoe store on the first. It was a critical 'moment. . , v... v The long white coat of the Chief, and his swinging lantern were seen more than once by Barrett and Spalding as he moved in and out of precarious situations, for the Chief was never known to send a man where he would not lead the way. But active and able as he was, the present job was apparently getting the best of him, and every resource at his command was now needed. There was one more move. - j The third alarm ! With every piece of apparatus in the city on the scene and every man in the department doing his level best, under the watchful eye and inspiring direction of the jChief — What, by the way, had become of the Chief since his sending of the third alarm ? At first some slightly added excitement, a little more running about by firemen in the road, then the vague rumor of the kind that one wants to close the ears against in the hope that it may not be true, followed soon by a straight stetement frofcn lip to lip. Chilling to the bone was the horrifying truth. N Down in the cellar, down where the lower portions of the two buildings met, imprisoned in a narrow space by falling portions of the floor above and other material, were Chief Kelly and Charlie Fassler. They could be seen and approached but could not be released, at least not for some time. It would be too late. Death, an awful death, all but had them in its grasp. It was but a question of minutes. - - The cold was forgotten by Barrett and Spalding and the fire itself took a backward second place in their thoughts. There was not much to be said. But they watched every move. They saw the roadster of the Deputy Chief disappear up the street and heard the words, “Gone for a priest.” . . ■ In the briefest possible time it had whirled back again and a youthful figure was springing from the seat beside the driver. Then they heard his name. “Father Duffy.” The young assistant at St. Francis de Sales, whose presence seemed actually to have a quieting effect in the stressful situation, was hustled into a rubber coat by willing hands, which, when he had placed on his head the helmet given him, gave a friendly, God-speeding pat on the back as he hurried in, with a smile and a little wave of the hand intended to convey his thanks. ; In through the shoe store went the priest, the deputy accompanying him to the place in the cellar from which he could get nearest to the men in peril. 4 What a compelling, living . sermon it was Nor was it lost on two members of' the Commonwealth Club who had so lately listened to a criticism of the Church, for its alleged failure to meet the needs of men to-day. This swiftly-moving act in the mighty drama of life and death being enacted while the city slept, how it held one It was an experience new to Barrett and Spalding. Here only a few feet away, were two men—three men— a few minutes ago in the vigor of health, face to face with eternity. Undaunted they would meet what would be the end of the world for them, should it come now. For, however sceptical he may have been before, there was no doubt in the mind of Barrett that Father Duffy, even if he could get out in time, would stay until his last breath, if need be, to care for the souls of the firemen. Non-churchgoer as he proclaimed himself, there yet flashed back to his mind a text in a missionary sermon he had once seen reported and that at the time must have made some impression, to come back to him now : v . “Death comes like a thief in the night.” Spalding also remembered something, and he turned to Barrett to repeat it: v “I read once that five Catholic priests went down on the Titanic. All of them could have saved their lives by

leaving in boats. But they, stayed to take care of the people who couldn’t get off.” ;: .V* . ■ Barrett only bowed. But there was in the act a tribute to the other “heroes all.” > ” • • ’ ‘,l; /{> A lot can happen .in a comparatively - short space of time. And to tell it all many words might be needed. But it is unnecessary to describe in detail the accomplishment of the real task that had-confronted the fire fighters from the time of the third alarm, the rescuing of Chief Kelly and Fireman Fassler. It was by efforts almost superhuman that relays of men at length chopped their way into the place of confinement of the two victims while hose streams played about them. Both men had then been overcome. The Chief was in a better condition of the two and after being a little in the air he revived. Fassler was carried out on a stretcher to be taken away in the ambulance. But word came back from the hospital that, barring the unforeseen, he would be out again in a day or two. ; - - Father Duffy went back to the rectory, one duty performed, ready for any other that might develop. And the fire was controlled after it had partly consumed the second block, though the department’s flooding process would be continued. Icicles were alerady forming on portions of the ruins that would have a complete coating of white before the hour of dawn, when Barrett and Spalding started home-, ward. They had walked forty rods or more when Spalding spoke. “Well, what about the Catholic Church now, Ed? What about it meeting the needs ——” Barrett raised a hand to cut short the argument. “You, win,” he said. “I. think what Father Duffy did there to-night was the pluckiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life, but I’ll bet there isn’t a Catholic who wouldn’t say it’s the expected thing and tell you any priest" would do the same.” After a silence Spalding spoke again. “I’ve something in my mind that you may think funny. But I’m going to make it a point to see Father Duffy and tell him just what I think of his heroism—and also the answer it gives to the speaker at the Commonwealth.” Barrett’s reply was prompt. “Let me know "when you’re going. I’d like to go along.”— George Henry Waldron, in the Magnificat.