Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1916 — Tales of GOTHAM and other CITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Tales of GOTHAM and other CITIES

St Louis Society Women Are Good Fire Fighters CT. LOUlS.—Signal Hill, the exclusive residence suburb between East St. M Louis and Belleville, produced a feminine fire brigade of society women os a moment’s notice when a blaze was discovered in the home of A. E. Hall.

Signal Hill during the middle of the day is an Adamless Eden. The resident men all leave in the morning for their offices and do not return until late in the afternoon. The only man in the rescue party was George Wainright, chauffeur. Three lines of garden hose were I played on the fire, which was on the ropf. The women formed a bucket brigade, carrying water into the building and up a ladder to throw on the roof. The heroine of the occasion

was Miss Cora Brethl, who climbed the ladder and handled the hose. One of the women of Signal Hill who was among those present says it was real thrilling. “We get into careless habits up here,” she said, because It is strictly a woman’s settlement during the mornings and afternoons, so when the fire alarm sounded the costumes that were placed on view were ■very striking.” ' - “We all ran to the fire,” said one Smart Set belle, her nbse smutty and hair tousled, “without caring a hoot what we looked like, and got busy. I could tell you what some of the women wore without taking up much of your time, but what’s the use? We were out to fight fire and save a home, not on a fashion parade. ~~ ; '• “When we finished we were all drenched to the skin, but proud of our work and thankful it was not a windy day, for with such as gale as we had two. days ago the fire would have spread to other homes, and possibly have destroyed every house on the hill.”