Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-02-09

tnS trees was euecIeO uy ln0 lnSeSts
cutting the leaves, and you must know,
that although other trees are not killed
BY the loss Of their leaves, the eveTgreens
always are. Some few years after this
destruction Ofthe iaFch, ths'same Insects
attacked the spruces, pines, aud other
frs, in such q manner, that before halfa
dozen years were over, they began 10 fell,
apd, tumbling ia all directions, they COW
cred the whole county with matted mass.
es. You may suppose that, when PsrIial'
y dried or seasoned, they would prove
capital fuel. az we'll as supplies for the
devOuring flames which accidentally, or
perhaps by intention, afterwards ragged
over the county, and continued burning
at intervals for years, in many places
stopping all communication by the roads,
the resinOus nature Of the 6rs being Of
course best fitted 10 ensure and keep up
the burning Of The deep beds Ofdry leaves
or Of the other trees" Here begged
him 10 give me some idea Of the form Of
the insects which had caused sue havoc.
"The insects" said he, "were, in the
caterpillar form, about three quarters of
an inch in length, aud as green as the
leaves of the tees they fed on, when
they committed their raVages. must
tell you aIsO, that in most Of the places
over which the FIRE passed, new growth
Of wood has already sprung up, Of what
we lumberers call bard who'd, which con-
sisis of all other sorts but pine or f. and
have always remarked that wherever
the first natGrBl growth Of a forest is de-
slroyed, either by the axe, the hurricane.
or the FIRE, there springs up spontaneously
another Of quite a different kind" |
| again stopped my host to inquire If he
knew The method M nature Of the first
klndIing Of the 6res. .ra.
| "Wny, sir" said he, "ihere are differ
ent opnions upon this. Many believe
that tho Indians did it,eiher 10 be the bet.
ier able to kill the game, or to punish
their enemies the pale.Gaces. My Opin-
ion, however, is different; and ! derive il
| from my experience in The woods az a
lumberer. I have always thought that the
fires began by the accidental fall Of enc
dry trunk against another, when their
rubbing together, especially Ss many Of
them are covered with resin, would pro.
duce FIRE. The dry leaves ON the ground
are at once kindled: next the twigs and
branches, when nothing hut the inlerven'
tion Of the Almighty could stop the pro-
| gress Of the fire. ssa7 i sj ',e.s,l IL
'.In some instances; owing 10 the
wind, the destructive element approach-
ed the dwelling oflhe inhabitants Of The
woods so rapidly u that il was difficult fol
lhem to escape.7 In some parts, indeed
hundreds Of families were obliged to flee
! i DIN their homss, leaving all they had
benind them, and here and there some. d
the affii hled Iugitlves were burned
alive" .a, '.@>
Il At this moment rush Of wind came
down tue chimney, blow NJ the blazs al
The fire t0ward The room, Tue wife AM
daugh or, Im ,gining for moment iha
; line " ,ods were again On 6,e, made 70
the door, bu, the husband, explaining The
Cause Of Their terr"r, they resumed lisi
WOIk- II sse.I %
'.P,Or things," said the lumberer, g
dare say that what have told yon bring
sad recullec,0ns 70 the minds Of my wifi
/. aud daughter, who, with myself, mad Il
, fly from our h0Me, at The time Ut thu
great fires" felt SO Interested IN hi
relation Oflhe causes uf The 6urnings, tha
| asked him 10 describe 10 me the par
ticulars Of his msiortnnes al the time
III Prudence and Poly," SAID he, ''l0Ok
no toward his wife and daughter, vii
) pnIn,se to sit still, should another pul
: or snp,ke come down The chimney, vii
do so." The good nalured smile VT
which he accompanied this lTemalk, ellC
!. tied arelurn from the wOlnIn, and he pTu
= ceeded.
: ait is 4 difficult thing, sir, To deScFiht
), hut Twill do my hest Ia make your Tim
pass pleasantly. We were sound aslee
!, one night, 10 cabin about . hlHdre
y niles from. this, when abQnt two hour
. before day, the sDOriing Of the horse
: and lowing ofihs catlis which had EanI
, ing in the woods suddenly awakened u
= |, | took yon rife and went TO the door
. see what beast had caused the hubbHl
?; when was struck BY the glare Of ligl
J, refiecled on all the trees beE0,e me,
n fac as | could see through the w0Ods.-
y Nv horses were leaPing about. snOriin
70 loudly, and the cattle ran among theI
ng with their tails raised straight oyer the
y. backs. On going to the back Of u
re house plainly heard the cracking mad
~ by the burning brlshwood, and saw 4
es flames coming toward Us 10 far exten
be ed line. ran to Tie house, told q
wife 10 dress herself and the child
eh ouickly as possible. and take The liIt
IN money We had, while ! managed 70 cat
iat and saddle The two best horses. All q
Of was done 10 very short time, for ! gueii
ie, "a ,ha: every mnmenl was precious to Y
~ i ~. stfF Fra