Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-06-28
LAKE TRAVERSE, 1886.
A PRAIRIE ON FIRE!

LAKE Traverse, 1850.
A PRAIRIE ON FIRE!
f. About an hocr before sunset we spIed a
cloud of vapor in the direction we wore
travelling, rising gradually from the earth,
and spreading itself to the right and left as
far Is the eye coald seach.
Itresembled at first a fog | had seen rise
from that great waste, the Pontlne marsh
es, and pass off over the Mediterranean in
ght columns of feathery form, until it
was lest in higher altitude of light. After
a half ,our's progress it acquired greater
density and, like London smoke, extend
cd itself over the whole heavens. Sudden.
ly the SIN, which had partially illuminated
me sky, sank below the horizon over the
rolling prairie country, in which we were
travelling, and all the light became instan.
taneously transferred to the east, in those
clouds which became brighter, and were
driving before the wind towards US.
Untn then had regarded it as pheno-
menon Of the atmosphere; but the G gare OF
light Increased fast, and the air became
heated ard suffocating, as the wind bore it
directly upon us. The Indians who we're
far in advance, fell back and announced the
prairie on fire, and that it was fast approach.
ne rs. At first there was general con.
is errntion among the whole party. | was
al armed, and demanded through a half
hr eed. who spoke few words Of Canadian
French. what was to be done.
Our pioneer, the old chief "WhirlIng
Thunder.," gave instant orders for the
whole party to form line, which every one
obeyed, galoping away to the right and left,
and dismoun,ing some ten or fifteen rods
depart. In five minutes every one had
struct fire, and applied a torch to the tall
dry grass of Of the prairie, which was soon
bore before the wind with terrific fury, IN
the direction we had come from, snapping
| and f1ying into the ar like small ROCKIES.
The 81 larc and heat ofthe first advancing
i, the other direction increased every mo-
nent; our horses became restive, snortng,
and exhibiting the greatesttcrror, as It came
cracking and streaming in the air before the
wind, which had increased to a perfect
hurricane.
At this moment the fire we had kindled
advanced slowly against the wind, and from
which we were re,reating to avoid the flames
and heat. The prairie over which 1t had
passed, being but sheet OF flames, gradu.
ally diminished, however, in brightness.
Here we were between two fires, and both
advancing towards US, though tina. against
the wind was slower and less intense, but
Iboth extended to the right and left to an
Immense distance. The one before the
wind we since ascertaned to have been
about lorty.two miles wide, and to have run
a distance of one hundred and seventy
miles, crossing the streams BY the force OF
the wind.
This scene, in connection with the peril.
Gus situation in which we were placed, was
grand bevond the power of description.
Thousands of buffalo, deer, and wild fowl,
were bounding and flying in every direction
around US, which, added TO the noise OF the
elements, sounded like the clashing encoun.
| ter of hostile armies. have stood within
the convulsed crater of Vesuvius during a
night eruption, and seen thousand travel
lers and visitors flying with lighted torch.
es cleaning in the distance, before the fiery
waves of a torrent oflava. | have seen the
deep food OF the Niagara leap from its
rocky height into the feaming abyss below; !;
and the rushing avalanche tumfle from the
glaciers of the Alps, carrying desolatlon
and dislnay TO the inhabitants OF the 'a'ley
below ; but to witness a vast prairie In the
far, far west, on fire is scene more grand
and thrilling. 49,. :,
IT'S vain to draw picture of this night
| in the prairie, when earth and air were one
complete blaze oflight-a perfect whrlwlnd
of fire and flames, and the wild beasts were
driven en- nayse' from their hiding.places.
The heat becoming intense, the old chief
gave the signal for retreat by a wild whoop'
which was echoed by the whole of the ln-
di ms, though half lost amid the noise OF the !,
elements. 1t was instantly obeyed by all,
forcing with much difficulty our horses
through the couhagration we had kndled,
and Continuing to ride for about three miles
at full speed. until we reached a high ridge
where the grass had been light, and was
soon cons,,med.-Phila. U. S. Gazette.