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Show BOOK AGENT'S PRESENCE OP HIND SAVES TEACHER PROM DEATH IN fLAPIES Coolness, daring and presence of mind on the part of one man probably saved a young woman In Poplar Grove public school from a horrible death by fire Friday afternoon. Quick wits and the ability to do and do quickly probably prob-ably saved another woman from horrible hor-rible torture by flames. The presence of a strong, active, forceful man averted what might have been a horrible hor-rible tragedy. It was after the children had been dismissed from the school Friday afternoon after-noon about 4 o'clock that Miss Mita Gerber, of 242 "West Third North street, a teacher, with Miss Gertrude Clayton, Miss Clara Kenner and other instructors, instruc-tors, together with a traveling school-book school-book agent, gathered in the teachers' room for luncheon. An alcohol lamp was lighted and Miss Gerber proceeded to make ehocolate, With a blinding flash the lamp exploded. ex-ploded. Fire flew in streams over the young woman, and in an instant ber clothes were ignited. What had been a peaceful, happy gathering became a maddened, frightened, fright-ened, panic-stricken mass of women. One person alone remained calm. He waa the book agent. JDnbeeding the shrieks and the cries and the excited actions of the others, he quickly shed his coat, and with lowered head, trying to shield his face and hands from the greedy flames, hexlasped the struggling, groveling young woman in his arms, and holding her tight, succeeded after what seemed an enternity to the others, in subduing the flames. Suffering extreme agony, prostrate, her clothes burned to a crisp, her legs seared in a horrible manner. Miss Gerber Ger-ber was succored by her friends, who, although almost in a 6tate of collapse, did all in their power to relieve her of pain. Shortly afterward she was removed re-moved to St. Mark's hospital, where she now lies. Reports from the hospital this morning morn-ing indicate that while the young woman wom-an is still enduring great pain, hopes are held out for her ultimate recovery, Burns, it was said, are hard to treat, and it will be some time before she will be able to resume her school work. In the excitement following the explosion. ex-plosion. Miss Clayton and Miss Kenner Ken-ner were "also burned. The former's hair and eyebrows were singed. Miss Kenner 's arms were severely burned. Both were on duty, however, this morning. |