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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1905)
we uses; Qimmw A MS iT Cascude. on the Colorado river, in wtstern Texan, a few days ago the elements combined to produce one of the most appalling wmpi ever witnessed by a crowd of aman d and frightened people. A vast forest of cedar, cov ering the mountain for miles, had taken fire and a hurricane was approaching from the uthwest. A cedar bnk burns as If the trees were saturated with "II Wh..n the fire spreads a little It ""on grows beyond human control. The people of Cascade saw the skies cloud ed with sm .ke. through which they could see atreaka ot red, and. realizing what had happened, they collected on tha ahore f the riv-r to look on In fear and amazement. It waa known that a party of wood choppers with families and aeveral hunters were encamped In the mountains, and when tha peo ple saw mi-n. women, and children running along the trails the excitement became Intense. Cedar Area mova faster than a man can run. and It waa feared many people would be caustht In the flames and burned alive. Alice Myron, a young woman well known to every one In the terror stricken crowd, dashed to the river bank mounted on a fine horse. " Mas any ona news of tha fire?" sha asked. There was no reply. Tha trembling girl looked towards tha bridge, half a mile away, and then turning bar whits faca towards tha fire struck her horse with her whip and plunged Into the river. To Rescue Crippled Sweetheart. " That la dangerous," said an old fisherman. " What does) It mean?" " I car tell you," was the reply of one who seemed eager to talk. " Her sweetheart, Keenan Bpldron, la lying In hunter's camp over there, suffering with a sprained ankle. Hut don't you fear; she is as brave us her old daddy and She la riding Moonbeam, the fastest racehorse In all Texas." The powerfully muscled horse swam high, and the vent uresome girl, with her feet drawn up In the saddle, escaped getting wet. A wild cheer echoed through the hills when Moonbeam clambered up on the solid rocks on the opposite shore. Riding as the crow flies straight up the mountain aide, the brave girl sought the main read over which she knew those who were imperiled would seek to escape, before she reached the vicinity of the tire hot winds burned her cheeks and she heard cries of distress. The crowd on the shore were witnessing a scene that made strong men turn pale and women fall In a swoon from fright. Tongue of flame were licking the skies and the wind had in creased In violence until It looked as if the elements were convulsed by a cyclone. There was a great whirlwind of twisting, roaring flames, with which were mixed dust, logs, and trees that had been torn up by the roots. On the road Alice Myron met men, women, and children running for their lives. They were senseless In their fright. The wall of Are was not far behind. Meeting a hunter whose per paused In his flight to warn her of the peril she was In Vlting. " Tou may get there," he said. " but the flames will cloee In behind you and thre will be m way to escape." " I will ride through the flame if I can find poor Keenan who has been abandoned b a pack of cowards!" On sped the black horse, sparks cracking under his feet and foam flying from his nostrils. A strong man who pos sessed the (rail In his flight, thinking the girl mad. seized the hore by the bridle. " Turn quick." he said. ' The camp is on fl-e. Spldron Is lost; he can't run. Turn and let me on behind you!" he shouted. " You miserable coward, take that," shrieked the enraged girl as she brought her quirt down over the man's head and urgd Moonbeam over his b'ly. The hot wind scorched her face and the horse was snorting from terror when Alice c-ame In sight of the camp of the hunters. II- r heart ached. There waa not a mortal In sight. The big tent was on Are. and a pack of wolves were pass ing, foam and blood dripping from their chops. " Keenan. Keenan, dear boy, where are you?" shouted the faithful girl. " Here. I am here. O. Alice. I beg of you turn and fly for jour life." Finds Lover Surrounded by Flames. The wounded man had crawled from the burning tent and waa making an effort to reach a gorge. With heart throbbing with jjy the feurleas' girl, urging Moonbeam forward, leaned over, and. catching her lover's outstretched hands, drew him up on the suddle behind her. " Which way shall I ri.ie?" she cried as she obs-'ved a wall of aeethlng flames closing around her. 8 lie felt the beat ing of Spidion'a heart. " We are loet," he said quietly. ' Then we will die together, dear boy," whispered his courageous sweetheart. The hurricane increased In violence. Whirlwinds of twist ing flames loaded with trees that were being torn to splinters face she recognised she Inquired for the one for whom she waa risking her life. The terrorized man hardly looked up, shouting aa he ran In a choking voice, " If you mean Spldron, he is crippled; he can't run; be la loet." Plunges In While Others Fly. Put sho was familiar with the mountain trails, and, know ing the hunters had camped at Panther springs, she de termined to teach that place ahead of the fire. A oedar chop- approached on every side. The roaring was of a hundred trains creesslr.g bridges and crashing each other to fragments. The bleating of wild unimals, mingled with the howls of wolves, toitured to madness, thrilled the souls of the Im periled lovers. Yet Alice Myron, possessed of the soul of ona born to defy danger, did not despair. The water from Panther springa followed a caflon to the Colorado river, 600 yards away. Looking In that direction, the girl's quick wits noticed that the smoke and flames ap peared less dense. Both were choking, the skin on their hands - ) TIeroirve of fKe Gedai? fire.. tnd faces waa being scorched, and sparks falling on Moon beam had set blm plunging with rage and pain. Alice's long tresses caught fire, but her lover extinguished the flame with his lips. No seconds had been lust in the camp, and the brave girl had no sooner grasp'l her lover and decided on the only chance for an opening than she touched Moonbeam with her wtolp and dashed forward. a 1s Courageous Dash Through Wall of Fire. " Nerve; nerve!" she whispered, the words coming be tween gasps for breath. He heard and clasped her closer to his bosom. OAeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeMeeeeeeeeeeen The noble hore sprang forward Into smoke i.nd M.mie so dense Alice had not seen e vt r thine, (or the flie had Jumped across the narrow canon, and the cedars on both sides were a roaring mass clear to the bluff that everlooked the river. lc was too late to 1 , k for another route. There was a wall of fir- .n either sale n.l a cloud of flame overhead settling down upon the li v. rs. from which sparks, tliid ts. and hissing brands wire raining upon them. Noble Moonbeam! Another horse would have become mad. Alice U-nt forward and slapped the fly Ini: horse with the palm of her hand. " Save us. Moonbeam, and you shU eat sugar fori ver." " Bpidron s clothing was on fire, and the girl seemed to be shaking flames and a shower of srarks from hire long hair when they gained the hUh bluff overlooking the river, und the crowd on the opposite shore shouteel until the echo rose above the roar ef wind and raging waters. Plunges Madly Over Precipice. "Again we are lost." said Spldron. looking at the river In front and the flames em every side. "Only thewe who hesitate are lost." exclaimed the heroic girl. Men threw lip their hands In warning and stopped breath ing while women closed their eyes or turned away. The bluff Is forty f . e t nlmvc water sixty feet dfp. Mooi beam ne ve r halted. From the edge eif the precipice he shot forward through the air. striking the tloeul eif water with his mwc between hia fore fee t. " Tie y are gone farewell, brave girl; good-hy gentle Spld ron. ' groaned the only man who could master his emotions, IVopW' oei'sed to bre-athe. Ages seomi-d to pass. " l.oeik. look!" cried a boy, pointing his hand at an object oo feet below the bluff Then there was u shout of Joy; men and women threw themselves Into each other's nrms weeping. Moonbeam waa swimming straiEl" to the shore and the lovers were clinging to his back Men waded into the water to grasp the heroine and bear her to the land in triumph. " Brave Moembeam." said Alb-e when she had recovered. " you shall have sugar and clover all the balance of your life." Careless Lover Gels Lite Sentence. " Fool that I am." said Spldron. " I caused you to risk your llfee, and the boys euight to throw me into the river." ' O, no,' said the Joyful spokesman eif the crowd. "We will allow your rescuer to pass sentence on you for causing her so much trouble. What shall we do with him?" he added, turning to the happy girl. The applause nearly drowned tae reply, but Hpldron's heart, throbbing fast, throhhe-d faster when he heard the words, " I will take him." SSSSSJSSSSSS7SSSSSSSSS9S What Will Be ike Huture of Versatile Srandcidd of a famous JicL tJfiis UOOD will tell," so runs the old adage. B ' Early Influences mean much." Tula IS I (he dictum of modxrn child science. I E. D. Waters, an artist photographer ol Hyde Park, phicago, has had recent reason to believe both statements true. Always on the lookout for picturesque sub jects, Mr. Waters, who especially delights In artistic studies of children, not long since invited to visit the photographic studio maintained In his residence an at tractive small boy whom he had noticed playing about the neighborhood. No technical " posing " of the handsome little fellow proved necessary for the artistic pictures desired and presently attained by his dellgltted admirer; every movement and attitude assumed and made by the diminutive sitter waa grace Itself. The same diminutive sitter also offered prompt evidence of a rarely philosophic, turn of mind and conver sation, a wll quaint charm at manner. Aa " Charlie Modjeskl " ha gave hia name. When, a little later, Mr. Waters discovered the email sitter to be Master Karolek Modjeskl, grandson of the great Polish actress, Helena Modjeaka, and godson of Mme. Calve and Jean de Resske, he could better understand the little lads evident though unconscious gift of dramatic Intelli gence and representation. Karolek Charlie only to his schoolmates, never to members or Intimate friends of the family undoubtedly possesses potential genius scarcely as tonishing In view of hla lineage and early associations, but not usually observed In a laughing, eager, normal boy of 8 years old. Merrily superstitious friends and relatives are sometimes Inclined to attribute this potential genius to a' pretty Incident occurring shortly after the boy's birth, Well-Wished by Famous Singers. Calve, his godmother, was missing from the social gath ering In the Modjeska drawing room toward the cloee of the festivities attendant upon the christening of the Infant Karolek. The baby's mother, Mrs. Ralph Modjeska, slipped away after the distinguished guest and godmother, away to the upper room where the baby lay sleeping. Here Calve was discovered bending tenderly above the unconscious dreamer, softly singing to him a quaint fairy folk song of her own far country a aort of fairy benediction. Invoking for Its subject the gifts of poesy, sensibility, and music, and the good fortune to be always happy and well. So charming waa the picture thus presented to the surprised mother that she hurried back to summon Jean de Resske, the child's godfather, to share Its beauties with her. " I must sing him something also," cried the great tenor, catching the spirit of Calve's impulse on the Instant " What have you been wishing the Infant, Calve? I will wish for him that he shall be a true man and a patriot, through and tnrough," In laughter and merriment was the pretty scene speedily forgotten (or the time being. But again and again baa It since recu'red to the memory of those who witnessed It, and who are acquainted with the quaint and unuaual ways and gifts of the small grandson of Mme. Modjeska. " 1 should not at all wonder," smiled Jean de Keszke, during his last visit to Chicago, " If Mme. Calve's fairy song came true." And Mote. Calve, who adores her small godson, and who has several times sat for pictures with htm, la sure that a great future lies "out In the years" awaiting the quaintly graceful chill, whose truly boyish aim Just now embraces a wish dear to the heart of all but universal childhood. I want to be a policeman or a railway engineer when I grow up," represents the boy's latest ambition. The gentle .my J. I Inw rC -rnr-vMIIIf, . mm mi jp ycrvsBw -y j sk. m m m . -v- .- . ? . . . . n uut' MM SW A -W--SeSSSSSaBBJBsWaBBBBBBBBBBBBBBm M VMS a. - ' IT l.'Ct.'m. tifG&'rW v'WA- .v-jR vesv . ::t-A I III'." ; . sT Bt B sV -w-.-v M M ae II."': : SV M sbV M aT T au - TeaT M - M .. 2 recent suggestion of Mrs. Modjeska that the work of a rail way engineer or police officer might be successfully per formed with a less comprehensive education that would prob ably be supplied him was met by the calmly thoughtful reply thai prominent railway officials are great and influen tial cltlsens. while an older brother had Informed him that many of the most notable had begun as engineers. Always the child has been distinguished for clever remarks, most childishly delivered but decidedly unchildllke In character and scope. Plays Piano Duet with Paderewski " If I do not run a railway engine by and by, I will become an electrician," is the present determination of the boy, who, at 8 years old, played a piano duet with Paderew ski, and who composed music good music of Its kind at an even earlier period. Just now, however, school life and dutiea, with the necesaary play Intervals, absorb nearly all the attention of the small Karolek, and the piano, at which he waa once wont to spend whole days when the mood seized him, ts badly neglected. The unquenchable dramatis fervor expressed and satisfied by play duels and scenes with hla sinter serves as sole satisfaction for his arllsUe lust us and inclinations. Karolek Modjeska The novels of Henry Bienklewlcs, read aloud by his mother, represent the chosen literary pabulum of the third grade student, who only entered public school last year, and he himself is each of the famous characters In turn. Any passage or chapter dealing with war or conflict must be read and reread to him, and anything of a Slavonic interest or nature he regards with absolute devotion. Whereby the small Karolek, being yet a devoted, enthusiastic American, bangs one of the most perplexing problems so far en countered by his childish brain and heart. Has Inherent Love for Poland. America seems to the small lover of liberty the greatest, the most wonderful, the only ' worth while " country In ex istence, while his youthful comrades frequently remind him that geographically Poland, the land of his hereditary affec tion, has no place or existence. And yet there are times when It seems as though Jean de Reszke's chanted christen ing wish that his small godson might become a true patriot may yet work out in astonishing manner, that the little Karolek may by and by turn his American love of freedom to channels and use-s not presently suspected. Even the lit tle musical rhythms that occur to and haunt the child in such seasons are characteristically Slavonic In character, and. at all times, though knn'nj nothing of the dlfllcult Polish grammar from the sehnlusilc iispeet. he sjieaks beau tiful Polish, purely by ear. If Calve's baptismal benediction should yet be fulfilled In Its entirety there Is small doubt as te the character ot the music he will render or produce. For the present small Karolek Modjeskl Is a natural, normal 8 year old urchin during most of his waking mo ments, normally intent upon school work and play diver sions, his love for all things military and Polish, together with his passion for " acting out " the most Interesting parts of his favorite Slavonic stories and the power and ability with which he represents each admired character or per sonage In turn alone se tting him apart from other and less favored children. Even the music he naturally adores la usually furgotten now for lessons and the more natural recreations of boyhood. Gives Promise of a Great Future. But let the little lad, simple, unconscious, and Innocent of nature as he is gifted and clever, drop for a moment Into one oX the unthinkingly artistic and graceful poses that would alone proclaim him endowed with the much dis cussed "artistic temperament," If not with real genius, and the thoughtful mouth and dreamy eyes have gnat and mys-t- lions things to predict for the unknown future. To no balked or Impotent purposu were the fairy be stowers of the gifts of music, poesy, and patriotism Invoked for handsome, childish, quick tongued, quick witted Karolek Modjeskl by the earthly sponsors themselves beloved oi the high powers that rule the Song world and those who Joyously devote tin ir lives to the serving of otiecra-wtio rejoiced at his christening f cstlvkle-s. Nor were they empty, unanswered petitions that Mmo. Calve and Jean de IleSike sang softly Into the tiny ears of the sleeping child. p" t