The Placer Herald

Fiery Incident.

We have heard a good story of Ned Connor, the popular actor, and his talented little wife, which occurred at the late sad fire at Nevada. Apprehending no danger to himself at first, like an old fireman, and as he is, he went to help others; but soon the flames crept up to his own place of residence and he 'broke' to try and save something. Well, he did—he saved his little wife and a carpet bag, just escaped by the 'skin of his teeth,' or the length of his shadow, from a red hot building, leaving behind him one of the most beautiful wardrobes ever brought to this country. While picking up the carpet bag, Mrs. C. said to him—'Don't take that dear take that bundle.' bless her little heart, she was rather more desirous of saving her lace frilled petticoats than having him save his clean shirts, which with her own needle she could easily reproduce. 'It's no time now, love,' said Ned, 'to swap horses' and he commenced travelling up hill. 'The fact is, my dear:' says Ned. 'I want to tell you that anecdote about swapping horses.' 'Oh,' said his spouse, 'this is no time to tell anecdotes.' 'Well,' said Ned, 'I just think this is the very time to brush up a man's wits, and I must tell you this, for it is a great example of presence of mind. You see (God bless me what a blast that was of a hot air). well, you see my dear, a man was upon the Mississippi in a flat boat, and among the passengers were a mare and a fine colt, and as they progressed the boat struck a snag, and down it went. (Run, dear, I'll swear, by Shakspeare, the fire is gaining on us now we are ahead of it again).' Well as I was saying, my love, about the mare and the colt, one of the passengers caught the colt by the tail, and as the mother was making for the shore of course the colt followed.' A man on the shore shouted to the passenger by the colt to let go of it and seize the mare. 'Oh you be d—d, said he, this is no time to swap horses.' By this time Ned had reached the house of an acquaintance on the hill and thought he was out of the reach of the fire: he therefore sat down to blow a little when presently he was startled by a man at the door who quietly informed him that the roof under which he sought shelter was on fire He looked around for something to save, and he saw two large framed and colored lithographs of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, and although Ned is a great Democrat, he said those two old fellows should not go through an auto de fe, and so picking them up he again started with Mrs. C. up the hill to a spot out of danger. On arriving there Mrs. C, said, 'give me a handkerchief out of that valise, my dear;' 'God bless me.' said Ned 'I forgot that in the last building.' 'Yes,' said Ned, fondly. 'I always think more of others than I do about myself, and that is the reason I love, and am so happy that from the wreck and ruin I have saved you.'