Jerome heard the alarm, and hastily dressing himself, he went forth and hastened toward the burning building.
"There,--there in that room in the second story, is my child!" exclaimed a woman, wringing her hands, and imploring some one to go to the rescue of her little one.
The broad sheets of fire were flying in the direction of the chamber in which the child was sleeping, and all hope of its being saved seemed gone.

Occasionally the wind would life the pall of smoke, and show that the work of destruction was not yet complete.

At last a long ladder was brought, and one end placed under the window of the room.

A moment more and a bystander mounted the ladder and ascended in haste to the window.
The smoke met him as he raised the sash, and he cried out, "All is lost!" and returned to the ground without entering the room.
Another sweep of the wind showed that the destroying element had not yet made its final visit to that part of the doomed building.

The mother, seeing that all hope of again meeting her child in this world was gone, wrung her hands and seemed inconsolable with grief.
At this juncture, a man was seen to mount the ladder, and ascend with great rapidity.