Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 116, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1912 — BOY SCOUTS FIGHT FLAMES [ARTICLE]

BOY SCOUTS FIGHT FLAMES

Bravery and Training of Youths Bave County Almshouse and * Asylum. Mew Lisbon, N. J. —Fighting the blaze until the local fire department arrived, two Boy Scouts saved the Burlington comity almshouse and barns on the county farm from de-l a traction, after lightning had ignited the big sheep barn during a terrific electrical shower. The young scouts, to whose bravery and knowledge of firefighting as taught in their organization, the highest praise Is given today by Superintendent Charles A. Bowse, axe Robert Taylor, leader, and S. Roger Oliver of the Fax patrol of the First Burlington Troop. -7 - A hundred inmates of the almshouse, most of them aged and enfeebled, and patients in the asylum adjoining were thrown into panic by the flames that followed the lightning. The biaxe seemed to menace the entire institution. The burning sheep barn, filled with hay, was joined by a row of sheds to other frame structure* sad within 30 yards was- the new $3,000 barn, one of the finest ta the county.' The scouts, while on a cycling trip, had stopped to spend the night with Superintendent Bowne, a relative of one of the lads. Taught the science of firefighting in their scout work, both boys.got into action at the first alarm. While many of the inmates stood about too dazed to act, the scoots aided the superintendent In unreeling the fire hose, an<f Oliver, with one line, scaled the roof of an adjoining barn and directed a stream on the 1 flames from shove, while Taylor, with

another stream, fought them from below. The two streams checked the flames on the side adjoining the nearest barns until the arrival of the local department from the nearby village. Taylor then gave up his place to a regular fireman and calling together a few volunteers to aid him, worked his 1 way into the blazing barn, where the bleating of the imprisoned and suffocating sheep could be heard above-.the crackle of the flames. Creeping on hands and knees, the courageous lad seized sheep after sheep, dragged it to the door and passed it to the line of men behind him. So close were the flames that the wool was singed from the hacks eT several of the rescued sheep. Only six were left to perish In the fire, when the heat forced Taylor to retreat. ' '• “It was one of the finest acts of Jssroism I have ever wUmgmed,” said Superintendent Bowse. “Those boy scouts seemed to know Just what to do and they did it Their work undoubtedly saved the, county great loss.” Medal After 37 Years,. Teppealsh, Wash.—After tMrty-seV-en years of search the state of New Jersey located Frederick W. Schaeffer Ip Toppenlah during the past week and presented to him a beautiful bronze medal, ordered Issued to him shortly after the Civil war as a mark of splendid service In the state’s volunteers. The medal arrived by registered mall and to the pride of the rid -