Show A PRIESTS NOBLE WORK nit nis Glo glorious elous solf self in the tb win necota forest fire the exploit of the brave engineer who piloted his tram train through the tornado of flame in the minnesota forest fires fire s and rescued swarms of terror str stricken icken refugees has made him famous but the self sacrifice of a poor parish p priest st in binckley has hardly been mentioned although there was in it much of the finest quality of heroism says bays the youths companion from the moment when the destruction of the town was menaced by the rapidly advancing wave of flame he ceased to think of himself and devoted an all his energies of mind and body to the protection and rescue of others he went from house to house warning the inmates of their peril and begging them to take refuge in sand pits whore therewa there was water swater while panic stricken men were harnessing horses and frantically seel seeking ring to escape into the burning woods ho he was wa calm and collected rea reassuring everyone whom he met yet pointing out the only chance of safety ile he led one group after another to the sandpits sand pits when they were beside themselves from fear and excitement when one place of refuge was overcrowded he found another and begged the stragglers to follow him the woods were flaming on every side and the refugees standing in the water v felt in their fac faces esthe the scorching brea breath of the storm of fire fim the good priest had words of encouragement for all lie he held children in his arms he supported fainting women when they were falling from fright and fatigue he put the stoutest hearted man to shame sham by his coolness cheerfulness and energy with his hat he poured water on the heads of women and children in that fiery furnace he took the coat from his back and tore it in half one fragment he dipped in water and bandaged the forehead of a woman with a child t clinging to her the other half he won wound nd around the heads of two helpless children whose faces were scorched with the heat of the burning forest bareheaded and in shirt sleeves he stood among the dying and ministered to them while he had strength to stand eyes to see and a voice to utter words of comfort and hope ilia waa W the spirit of self sacrifice and of ministry to the needy and whether shown in catholic Cath licor or in protestant it is worthy of high commendation the flight of the train through the burning forest was the more in stirring story in print but what could have been nobler or more heroic t than hali this thi devoted mans work among his flocke there were deeds of valor and chivalry before the walls of zutphen in flanders but one act of self sacrifice alone is remembered sir philip sidney y wounded dying and burning with tah thirst st put away from his own lips the bottle of water which bad been brought to him in lus his agony and gave it to a common soldier co covered vered with gore who had gl glanced aneed at him wistfully |