PRESENCE OF MIND.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1139, 22 March 1872, Page 4

PRESENCE OF MIND.

The following incident that occurred during the Chicago fire, is worth recording, as showing how far a little presence of mind goes, and also how desirable it is that people should get into the habit of keeping to one side in walking, a habit much neglected in many towns. It is taken from the Cliicago Journal of October 18:— "While the conflagatiou was raging in the South Division, the bridges being on fire, a tunnel was resorted to by thousands of people who desired to pass from one division into the other. Those going into the South Divison were mostly persons who had offices and places of business ' down town.' Those, going the other way were terrified residents of the south side, rushing into the "West Division for safety. At a moment when the passage way was filled with pedestrains, rushing wildly in either direction the gas suddenly gave out, and all were left in total darkness. A terrible panic, a collision, and the trampling to death of the weaker by the stronger, seemed evitable, ; but, strange as it may seem, everybody in that dark recess seemed at once to comprehend the necessity for coolness and courage. Not ■ a man lost his presence of mind, but all, as with one accord, bore to the right, each calmly enjoining upon others to be cool and steady, and to march steadily on till the end of the tunnel could be; reached. • Rapidly, but without confusion, the" two columns moved on through the thick darkness with almost military precision, the silence being broken, only.,by-fre-quent shouts of '?ight,'' 'right.' There was no collision, and no one was harmed, but all reached the end of the tunnel in Bafety, and then, for the first- time -foi* almost ten minutes, breathed freely."