Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-02-09


Kaskaskia river, and ST Louis, when |
observed very thick smoke issuing
from small belt Of wood, on the edge
Of the Prairie, about two miles ahead of
me, and just where the road entered the
forest The wind was blowing towards
me very violently, and in minute or
two the flames dashed out Of the. wood
into the long grass Of the Prairie. That
on the right hand of the road had been
burnt before, and accordingly | rode a
little off in that direction. The flames
advanced very rapidly, continued to
spread, and before they had arrived
opposite to the place where stood,
formed blaze of fire nearly mile in
length.
"How shall I describe the sublime
spectacle that then presented itself?
have seen The old Atlantic in his fury,
a thunderstorm ia the Alps and the
Cataracts of Niagara; but nothing could
be compared to what saw at this mo-
ment.
"The line of fame rushed through
the long grass with tremendous vio-
lence and noise like thunder; while
over the fire there lowered dense
cloud smoke. The wind, which even
previously had been high, was increas-
ed by the blaze which it famed and
with such Vehemence did it drive along
the flames, that large masses of them
appeared actually to leap forward and
dart into the grass, several yards in ad-
vance of the line. 1t passed me like a
whirlwind, and with fury shall never
forget.
~ afterwards saw several Prairies on
fire, but was not within two or three
miles of them. They produce beauti-
tiful effect during the nights, the clouds
Immediately over them rejecting the
light, and appearing almost on fire them
selves. When, during a dark night,
there are two or three of these mead
ows on fire alta time, the effect is of
course very much heightened; and the
whole heaveps are then tinged with
deep anu sullen red
81 was always forcibly struck by the
melancholy appearance Of burnt Prai-
RE. As far as the eye could reach, no.
thing was to be seen but one uniform
black surface, looking like vast plain
Of charcoal. Here and there, by the
roadside, we're the bones of some hor-
SEES or cattle, which had died in passing
through, or the horns Of some deer
which had been killed. These. bleach
ed by the alternate action of fire and
rain, formed, by their extraordinary
whlteness, most remarkable contrast
to the black burnt ground on which they
lay"
A merchant being in the pit of of for
eign opera-house, felt movement about
his sides, which led him to suspect his
gold sDuf-bVx wa, III come JEOPARDY, and
Immediately taking measures for ascer-
tanning whether it was safe, he found
il was gone. Seeing an ill-looking fell
low very near him, he did Lot hesitate
to fix upon him as the thief: immediate
iy seizing him by the arm, he whispered
in his ear, not wishing 10 occasion any
tumult, and disturb the performance
" You have taken ny snuf-box restore
it this moment, or will give you over
to he police officers "Sir," replied
the thief, "pray do not give an alarm,
or | am undone; it is true have your
box, but am an unfortunate man, 10
great distress, and humbIy threat of you
to take your property out of my pocket,
and the persons around US will know
nothing Of what has occurred" The
aerchaDt kindly acceded to this propo-
sal-when the fellow yociferated "pick-
pocket!'' calling on those near him to
observe the hand of the merchant, which
he held fast, was in his pocket. The
guard came 10 the spot, and apprehend-
ed the accused party, who of course pro-
tested his innocence, ard ultimately ex-
planned the nature of the trick which
had been practlsed upon him but while
he was engaged IN doing this, the thief
glided through the crowd, carrying the
gold snuf-box with him.
London Paper.