McCormick messenger. (McCormick, S.C.) 1902-current, December 17, 1936, Image 3
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McCORMICK MESSENGER, McCORMICK, S. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1936
m
m
Adventurers’
Club
“Red Death and Black Panic
By FLOYD GIBBONS
Famous Headline Hunter
M ILTON AUERBACH of Atlantic City, N. J., brings us today’s
thrill, and it happened to him on his first day back at work
after being mustered out of service after the war. The war didn’t
give Milt much of anything to write home about, but the min
ute he got home things began to happen to him. That’s the way
it always is. Adventures happen most often right in your own
back yard.
This one started with a cry and a roar. On January 7, 1919, shortly
before five o’clock in the afternoon, a woman thrust her head out of a win
dow on the fourth floor of the Sauer building on Penn avenue, Pitts
burgh and screamed one word, “Fire.” There was a moment of quiet.
A fireman standing on the sidewalk turned and started to rim toward
his engine house. He had taken two steps when Hell burst its boun
daries and began roaring in the streets of Pittsburgh.
Celluloid Films Exploded.
There was a loud, shattering BOOM! A gush of smoke from
a first floor window and a bright red flash streaked out from
somewhere between the first and second stories. A man’s body
shot out of a window as though it had come from a cannon—head
first. A man standing in front of the building was thrown halfway
across the street.
Flame ran through the whole edifice—blazed fifty feet from the top
of the roof. Highly inflammable celluloid films stored in the building had
exploded and turned the whole place into a funeral pyre in which nine
people eventually lost their lives.
Milt Auerbach was in an office on the sixth floor. There were eight
of them there altogether—salesmen and stenographers busy at their
respective desks making out reports and finishing up for the day. They
heard the terrific report and made a dash for the door. “When we
opened the door,” says Milt, “were were enveloped in A SHEET OF
FLAME. We turned, then and ran to the windows facing the street. By
the time we reached them the flames were at our heels.”
They Were Jumping to Death.
Milt saw one of the girl stenographers escape through the window.
Another one followed her. It was Milt’s first day in the office. He thought
there must be a fire escape down which the girls were fleeing. The porter
Mfift
Holding the Girl, He Stood on a Narrow Ledge.
was climbing out of the window now, and Milt told him to hurry so he could
follow. Then the porter was gone and Milt started out the window after
him. He pushed out his head and recoiled in horror.
There was NO FIRE ESCAPE there! Down below on the side
walk he saw the bodies of the two girls and the porter.
Another girl tried to push by him. Milt caught her and she fainted.
Still holding the unconscious girl in his arms he climbed out of the win
dow and stood on a narrow ledge. With his free hand he clung to the window
sill.
Inside the office the remaining salesmen were huddled in a corner
the flames had not yet reached, shaking hands and saying good-bye to
one another. Fire engines began to arrive in the street below. They
spread a net, but from the sixth floor it appeared to be about the size of
a dime. No one dared jump, Milt says, because it would have been im
possible to gauge the distance to that net correctly. Other trucks were
unreeling hose lines. Still others were raising ladders. But the hose
lines didn’t hold out much hope. Water would be of little help to the people
trapped in the building. The ladders were their only hope.
He Couldn’t Get to the Ladder.
They were hoisting a ladder right under the ledge to which
Milt was clinging, but to Milt’s dismay they had it on the wrong
side of the trolley wires and could not lean it against the building.
The unconscious girl was getting heavy in his arms. His other
hand, still clinging to the sill, was tired and Just about ready to
lose its hold.
Milt looked inside and noticed that the flames didn’t seem to be com
ing any farther into the office. There was a little space in there that
they did not cover. He bundled the unconscious girl back in through the
window and followed, himself.
In other parts of the building, dense fumes were driving people to
the upper floors. Fire began to spread to the building next door. Every
where in the burning structure people were clinging to the windows as
Milt Auerbach had, and the streets were filled with people shouting over
and over again the monotonous warning refrain, “DON’T JUMP!”
On the sidewalk, dozens of limp, motionless bodies testified to
the soundness of that advice. Few of those who jumped had landed
in the nets. Now firemen were fighting their way inside the build
ing. Two men, their clothes ablaze, but still alive, were carried
out. A little farther in they found the body of a woman, her hair
gone and her clothing in ashes, just a few feet from a stairway that
would have led her to safety.
Milt Was Almost Electrocuted.
Meanwhile, up on the sixth floor, Milt Auerbach waited impatiently
for the firemen to raise their ladder again. “At last,” he says, “a ladder
did reach our floor. A fireman came up and relieved me of the girl in
my arms. He carried her down to safety, and then the men followed.”
That trip down the ladder was almost as bad as the suspense of
waiting for it. It swayed alarmingly as Milt started down it. The rungs
were far apart. Every step Milt took made him feel as if he were
missing his foothold. Down he went. The bottom of the ladder was
set in the top of the fire truck, and in order to get down from it Milt had
to rest his hand on the back of one of the horses that drew it. That's
where Milt got one final thrill. For as he put his hand on the horse’s
back an overhead electric wire broke. It fell, hit the horse, and sparks
flew. Just as Mitt landed on the ground, the horse fell beside him—
STONE DEAD—ELECTROCUTED!
Nine people died in that fire, and many more were injured. The girl
Milt had held on the window ledge was in a coma for months as a result
of her ordeal. But Milt was lucky. He came out without a scratch.
©—WNU Service.
First Engineers
The engineer on the first steam
locomotive in the United States was
Horatio Allen, who agreed tc make
the trial trip of the “Stourbridge
Lion,” August 8, 1829. The second
was Peter Cooper, builder of the
“Tom Thumb,” on its trial trip on
the Baltimore & Ohio, August 28,
1830. The third engineer was Nich
olas W. Darrell, who ran the “Best
Friend of Charleston” on its trial
trip, November 2, 1830.
Beginning of Labor Day
The first proclamation authorizing
the setting aside of a new holiday
to be known as Labor Day was is
sued by Gov. Lyman U. Humphreys
of Kansas, a native Ohioan, says a
writer in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
In his proclamation he recom
mended that Monday, Sept. 1, 1890,
be observed in the Prairie state by
a suspension of ousiness so that all
who so desired could take part in a
public celebration.
Ckristmas Eve in the
Al.arket Place
By Louise Abney in Christian Advocate
THE market place on Christmas Eve .
Things and things for sale . •
Tinsel baubles, gilded toys
Along the Christmas trail!
Jostling crowds of shoppers; \
Trees of fragrant pine
And Douglas fir and silver spruce;
A never-ending line
Of eager, noisy vendors
Crying out their wares:
M Whoever buys on Christmas Eve
The Christmas blessing shares.”
Southern smilax, holly wreaths.
Sprigs of mistletoe . . .
Everywhere the falling flakes
Of starry Christmas snow;
Throngs of harried shoppers.
Children’s eyes aglow.
Reminiscent of a Light
That shone-dong ago.
Vendors in the market place
Bid you come and buy ...
There was once a Gift that came.
Priceless, from the sky l
A
Manly
Christmas
Husband
(^jert^rud^H .Wal'ton.
“A
BORESOME holiday! If
only I had invited Fred to
come here with me,”
Manly jerked his hat from a rack
when Julia, his sister, rushed into
the hall:
“Manly, please come with me to
night to the dinner party at Judge
Thompson’s. Horace has just tele
phoned he can not get here until
too late. Roads
blocked with
snow and cars
because of the
blizzard yester
day. Our first
big spread in
this burg. We’re
so new and this
is our first oppor
tunity to meet
many prominent
citizens of Palas
City. Judge
Thompson's din
ners are annual
affairs and h®
gives special in
vitations to new
comers of the
city.”
“I don’t care much about the
party. But so much in the papers
about the Willis Graham's family
who will be at the Judge’s. Gra
ham is the big shot who made mil
lions from his washing machine
patents. He’s sort of a god in
these parts. He has no son—but
some daughters. Maybe, when I’m
through college old Graham might
remember a Manly boy, for an
engineer or in his office.” Manly,
after assuring his sister, Mrs. Hor
ace Linn, that he would accompa
ny her, mused on his way down to
the city.
Manly’s parents had gone South
for the winter and Julia had urged
her brother to spend the holidays
with them because she and Horace
would be a bit lonely since recently
settling in the thriving factory mu
nicipality of Palas City. At first
Manly reasoned that Horace and
Julia wouldn’t enjoy his peddling
around, since they were newly
weds, and thought to decline the
urgent invitation. But remember
ing the loneliness of -a home, with
out parents, he found himself in his
sister’s comfortable home, for at
least two weeks “en-duration” as
he thought.
In evening clothes Manly was
nearest satisfied with himself as
being “well groomed,” than in any
other attire. Somehow, the black
dinner coat, light vest, brilliant
studs in the spotless shirt front,
illuminated the sparkle of his
brown eyes and enhanced the man
liness of his form. Upon arriving
at the ancestral estate of Judge
Thompson, Manly was bewildered
when the Judge, with unusual cere
mony, introduced them as “Mr.
and Mrs. Horace Linn, new resi
dents of Palas City!”
“Sh! They think you are my hus
band. Don’t make them any wis
er. Horace and I are strangers,
you know, here,” Julia motioned.
Not knowing whether Julia had
planned to pass her brother off as
her husband, or whether it was a
surprise to Julia, as well as to
himself, Manly
played “hus
bandly faithful”
beside Julia. But
it seemed that
every place
Manly stood or
sat, Patricia, one
of the Graham
daughters, was
near, kindly gra
cious, but aloof.
When he asked
her to dance she
quickly assented,
as though she
feared he might
never ask for an
other dance.
“She thinks I
am married.
Huh! A Manly Christmas husband,
indeed! Dum it all! Why did Julia
get me into this jam? She will
have to un-jam me,” he snorted to
himself.
Julia seemed satisfied with the
evening’s pleasures. But Manly
felt for the first time, that his sis
ter was selfish.
“Of course,” he reasoned,” sis
ter doesn’t suspect that I wanted
rriore dances with Patricia, and a
chat on the mezzanine in one of
those brilliantly Christmas decorat
ed booths up there. If Julia sus-
picioned such a thing, she is clev
er at hiding it.”
The next morning’s mail brought
Manly an invitation to a party at
Willis Graham’s for the Graham
daughters!
“How do they know my name is
not Horace Linn and that I am not
the husband of my sister?” Manly
asked, almost provoked at the
smile on the face of his sister who
was at that moment darning her
brother’s hose.
“Of course, you’ll go. A secret!
No, not a secret any longer be
cause the secret has been long
enough,” she teased. “I whispered
to Patricia, at the party, that you
were my brother and to introduce
you to others of the younger
groups, and to Mr. Graham. She,
however, promised secrecy to all
but Mr. Graham. Since she did
not introduce you to others, not
even to her father, I believe she
enjoyed the brother-husband affair
and planned a party to reveal the
se’cret to her father and guests.
No, her interest in you began be
fore I told her you were not my
husband. She was raving about
my husband’s eyes, and hair, and
form, and clothes and—”
“Huh, jealousy, more than kind
ness for your brother prompted you
to tell the truth,” Manly teased.
“You made a Manly Christmas
husband, anyway. I’m sure Patri
cia would agree with me,” Julia
answered.
After the party at Patricia’s, the
Christmas holiday failed to be
boresome. For with Patricia’s pep,
and promises, Manly looked for
ward to the days after college, of
becoming a Manly husband, in
truth.
© Western Newspaper Union.
It's Princess Lines Again
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1828
A GAIN princess lines are riding
the crest of the fashiou wave.
Good news for members of The
Sewing Circle, for princess lines
have always been favored by
those who sew at home. And for
morning wear, the timeless shirt-
maker, a perennial choice for
busy housewives. Check your
wardrobe. It’s time to start sew
ing again, and here are three top-
notch selections.
The smart shirtwaister (Pattern
1976) is a utility frock distin
guished for its trim lines and as
easy to make as it is to wear.
Suitable in any of a wide range
of fabrics for a wide variety of
needs from sun-up to sun-down,
this extremely wearable number
is available in a wide range of
sizes. The notched collar is
pert and youthful, there is ful
ness at the yoke, md the set-in
sleeves fit well and wear forever.
Send for Pattern 1976 in size 32,
34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, and
50. Size 36 requires 4% yards of
35 inch gingham or percale or
shantung.
The slick little princess model
(Pattern 1828) needs little com
ment for the picture tells the
story. An utterly simple little af
fair which buttons all the way
down the front, it will make an
instant hit with your growing
daughter and you can slide it
through your machine with the
greatest of ease. Just seven
pieces to the pattern, including the
collar and sleeve band, it is avail
able in sizes 4, 6, 8, and 10 years.
Size 8 requires 2% yards of 35
inch fabric plus % yard contrast.
The lovely daytime princess
frock (Pattern 1983) is a model
which can be made and worn suc
cessfully by 36’s as well as 50’s
There is a choice of long or short
sleeves and there is just enough
contrast in the graceful collar to
give the frock a smart touch of
h * * + +
JEWEL CHERRY PIE
Mrs. N. A. Jones. Atlanta, Go.
Jewel Crumble Crust: Sift to
gether IVz cups flour ana Vs tea
spoon salt. Cut in Vz cup Jewel
Special-Blend Shortening. Add
about 4 tablespoons cold water, or
just enough to hold ingredients to
gether. Roll out half of dough at a
time and line pie plate.
Filling: Combine 1 cup sugar,
Va teaspoon salt and 3 tablespoons
flour. Add 4 cups cherries, Vz tea
spoon almond flavoring and Vz tea
spoon grated lemon rind. Fill pan
with mixture, then cover with
dough. Bake in hot over (425 de
grees F.) 15 minutes, lower tem
perature to 350 degrees F. and
bake 30 to 40 minutes.—Adv.
distinction. Likewise simple —
just eight pieces including the
collar and cuff—this pattern is
designed for sizes 36, 38, 40, 42,
44, 46, 48, and 50. Make it in
satin, silk, crepe, sheer wool,
broadcloth, challis, or linen. Size
38 requires 5% yards of 39 inch
or 3% yards of 54 inch fabric.
Less with short sleeves.
Don’t miss these grand num
bers. A detailed sewing chart ac
companies each pattern to guide
you every step of the way.
Send for the Barbara Bell Fall
and Winter Pattern Book contain
ing 100 well-planned, easy-to-make
patterns. Exclusive fashions for
children, young women, and ma
trons. Send fifteen cents in coins
for your copy.
Send your order to The Sew
ing Circle Pattern Dept., 367 W.
Adams St., Chicago, 111. Price of
patterns, 15 cents (in coins) each.
© Bell Syndicate.—WNU Service.
CHECK THAT COUGH
BEFORE IT GETS
WORSE
r , ~ . -V- it before it gets you down. Cheek It
betore others, maybe the children, catch it.
Check it with FOLEY’S HONEY * TAR.
This double-acting compound gives quick relief
and speeds recovery. Soothes raw, irritated
tissues: quickly allays tickling, hacking. Spoon
ful on retiring makes for a eough-free sleep No
habit-forming, stomach-upsetting drags. Ideal
for children, too. Don’t let that cough due to •
cold hang onl For quick relief and speeded
recovery insist on FOLEY’S HONEY dc TAR.
SMALL SIZE
60c
*A recognized Remedy for Rheumatic'
end Neeritli sufferer*. A perfect Blood
Periflcr. Makes tkte Blood Rick and
Healthy. Builds Strength and Vigor.
Always Effective . . . Why suffer?
AT ALL GOOD DRUG STORES
Character Attributes
Dignity and courage are th*
royal attributes of character.
muscular
RHEUMATIC
PAIN
l&sS
SORES, BOILS
ATHLETE'S FOOT, BURNS,
CUTS and ITCHING SKIN
M row toou. MUO STOM
i« rotrrAA •.OT**.!,*.
KjSKr BO'VSON Chkmkai Ptooucn Ca
y lACKSQwvuti... rtosiDA
BOWSON S BALSAM
CLASSIFIED
DEPARTMENT
PLANTS
Speaial Olft Collactten, native plants,
$1.00; 3 Orchids. 3 Ferns, 8 Perennials.
UKBECCA H. CAUSEY, LIBERTY, N. C.