Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-06-15
merican Fur Com7any's old trading

mind to describe it to you. Pliny di.
, not more gioriouSly in the crater OF We
: suvIus, than your humble servant NIGH
hare done in Prairie Fire! 1t is weIti
travelling ten thousand miles to be an ac
, tor I'm scene so sublime.
About an hour before sunset, we spi,
ed cloud of vapor in the direction we
were travelling, rising gradually from
me earth and spreading itself to the
right and left as far as the eye could
reach.
1t resembled at first fog have seen
rise from that great waste the Pontine
marshes, and pass over the Mediterrane-
an in light columns, of feathery form,
until it was lost in higher altitude OF
light. After half hours progress, it
acquired greater density, and like a
London smoke extended itself over the
whole heavens. Suddenly the sun, which
had partially illumined the sky, sank
below the horizon over the Rolling Prai-
rie country. in which we were travelling,
and all the light became instantaneously
transferred to the east, in these clouds,
which became brighter and were driv-
ing before the wind towards us.
Until then had regarded it as phe-
nomenon of the atmosphere, but the
glare OF light increased fast, the air be-
came heated and suffocating. as the wind
bore it directly upon us. The Indians,
WHO were far in advance. fell back and
announced the Prairie on Fire, and that
it was fast approaching us. At first there
was general CONSERVATION among the
| whole party. l was alarmed, and de-
manded through half breed, who spoke
few words of Canadian French, what
was TO be done.
Our Pioneer. the old Chief "Whirl-
ing Thunder" gave instant orders for the
whole party to form line, which every
one obeyed, gallopping away TO the
right and left, and dismounting some 10
or 10 rods apart. 10 5 minutes every
one had struck fire, and applied d
torch TO the tall dry grass OF the Prairie,
which was soon borne before the wind
with terrific fury in the direction we had
come from. swapping and flying into the
air like small rockets. The glare and
heat of the fire advancing in the other
direction increased every moment; our
horses became FESTIVE, snorting and ex
hibiting the greatest terror, as it came
cracking and streaming in the air before
the wind, which had increased to a per-
feet hurricane.
At this moment the fire we had kim
died advanced slowly against the wind,
and from which we were retreating TO
avoid the flames and heat. The Prairie
over which it had passed, being but
sheet of flames. gradually diminishing,
! hn, in krso
between two fires, and both advancing
towards US, though that against the
| wind was slower and less intense. but
both extended to the right and left to an
immense distance. The one before the
wind we have since Rscertained to have
been about I'D miles wide, and to have
run distance of 40 miles. crossing the
streams by the force of the wind. This
scene, in connection with the perious si>
tuation in which we were placed, was
grand beyond the power OF description.
Thousands Of buffalo. deer and wild fowl
! were bounding and flying in every d.
rection around us, which added to the
noise Of the elements, sounded like the
clashIng encounter of hostile armies
have stood within the coDvulsed crater
OF Vesuvius during night eruption, and
seen thousand travellers and visitors
flying, with lighted torches cleaning in
the distance, before the fiery waves Of a
torrent of lava. l have seen the deep
flood Of the Niagara leap from its rocky
height into the foaming abyss below
and the rushing avalanche tumble from
the glaciers Of the Alps, carrying desc
lation and dismay to the inhabitants Of
the valleys below-but to witness vast
Prairie in the Far, Far West on fire, is
A scene more grand and thrilling.
IT'S vain to draw picture of this
| night on the Prairie, when earth and
air were one continual blaze Of light
a perfect whirlwiud of fire and flames,
and the wild beasts were driven enmasse
from their hiding places.
The heat becoming intense, the old
Chief gave the signal for retreat by
wild whoop which was echoed by the
whole Of the Indians, though half lost
amid the noise Of the elements. 1t was
instantly obeyed by all, forcing with
much difficulty our horses through the
coDhagration we had kindled, and con-
tiauiug to ride for about three miles at
full speed, until we reached a high ridge
where the grass had been light and was
soon consumed. In other places it was
often from four to ten feet in height.
Here we encamped for the night a
midst clouds Of smokek Nearly ssfocat'
ing, and which rose so thick as to shut