Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-09-23
''fhere is nothing to do but 10 push on,'
said the brother, tive will yet clear the road

before the fire reaches it,"
And if remember" said the husband,
''ihere is a road branching off to the right,
scarce half mile ahead We can gain thai ca
silly, When We shall be safe. Cheer up, Ellen,
there is no danger. This is our wedding
morn-lei me not see you sad"
The horses were now urged forward al a
brisk pace, and in few minutes the bridal
party reached the cross-road. Their progress
was now directly from the FIRE, al! peril seem
ed al an end and the spirit Of the group rose
in proportion to their late depression. Once
more the merry laug! was heard, and the song
reese up gaiy on the morning air. The conaa-
grafton still ragged behind. bn. at distance
that placed all fear at defiance, while in front
the FIRE, although edging down towards them,
approached at apace SO slow that they knew
IL would not reach the road until perhaps hours
alter they had attained their journeys end.
Al length the party subsidized again into silence,
Occupying themselves in gazing on the mag
niiicen' spectacle presented by the urid flames,
as, rolling their huge volumes Of smoke above
them, they roared down towards thetravellers.
"ihe forest is as dry as POWDER" said the
hest and-"l never saw a confagraton travel
SO rapidly. The fire canno; have been kindled
many hou.s, and it has already spread for
miles. Liule did you think. Elem he said,
turning fondIy to his bride. "when we started
this morning, lla. you should so narrowly es-
cape such peri.'
"Aad, as live, the peril is not yet over"
suddenly exclaimed the brother, ''see--see-a
fire has broke out on our right, and is coming
down on us like wtirwind,. God have mer-
cy on u.s.
lie spoke with an energy that would have
n A
words he uttered. But when they followed
the direction Of his quivering finger. a shrek
burst from the two females, while the unusn-
ally collected husband turned ashy pale, not
for himself, but for her who was dearer to him
than his own life. A fire. during the last few
minutes, had started TO life in the forest to their
right. and, as the wind was from that quarter,
The flames were seen ahead shooting down to-
wards the road which the bridal party were
,raversing. roaring, Kissing and laundering as
they drew near.
Drive fast, fer heavens sake--on the gal
lop!" exclaimed the husband. as he compre-
headed the impinency of their danger.
The brother made no answer, for ne well
knew their fearful situation but whipped the
horses into run. The cllaise flew along the
narrow forest road with rapidi,y that neither
of The party had ever before Witnessed; for
even the animals themselves seemed aware
of their peril, and strained every sinew TO es-
cape from the fiery death which threatened
lhen.
Their situation was indeed terrible, and mo-
mentarliy became more precarious. The fire,
when first seen was nearly a mile off, but
nearly equidstant from point in the road the
bridal party was traversing; and as the con-
fagra'ion swept down towards the road with
velocity equal 10 the travellers, it soon be-
came evident tina, they would have barely
time to pass The fire ere it swept across the
road, thus cutting off all escape. Each saw
this, but tie females were now paralyzed with
fear. Only the husband spoke.
Faster, for Gods sake, faster he hoarse-
'y cried, see you not that the fire is making
for yonder tall pine-we shall not be able to
reach the tree first unless we 20 faster
y will do my BEST said the brother, lash
ing still more turonsIy the foaming horses
'Oh, God that had turned back when Ell
len wished me!'
On came the roaring fre-on IN one mass
or fame-cn with velocity that seemed only
equa|led by the flying hurricane. Now the
flames caught the lower lin BIS Of a tall tree.
and in an instant had Kissed to its top-now
they shot on, their forty tongues from enc
date space-and now the whirIng fire whist
led along the dry grass and moss Of The swamp
with rapidly which, the eye could scarcely
follow. Already the fierce heat OF the coniia-
grafton began 10 he telt by the travellers,
while the horses, feeling the increase OF
warmth, grew FESTIVE and terrified. The per-
| il momeniarly increased. Hope grew faint
err. Behind on the other side the confagra-
ton roared in pursuit, while the advancing
flame in front was cutting off :he;r only ave-
nue to escape. They WERE GIRpLED BY FIRE.
Faster and quicker roared the flames towards
the devoted party, until at length despair selz-
| ed on the hearts of the travellers. Pale. par
alyzed, silent, inanimate as statues, sat the fe-
males while the husband and brother, lean
ing forward in the carriage and urging the
horses to their utmost speed, gazec speech
lessly on the approaching flames. Already
The fire was within hundred yalds OF the
road ahead. and i, seemed beyond human pro-
liability that the travellers could pass it IN
time. The husband gave one last agonizing
glance at his nanmaie wife. When he a.
gain looked at the approaching flames, he
saw tina, during that momentary glimpse they
had iessened their distance one half lie
could already feel the hot breath OF the fire on
his cheek. The wind, too, suddenly whrled
| down with fiercer fury, and in an Instant the
| iorky tongues Of the advancing confasratton
had shot across the road, and en,wined them
selves around the tall pine which had been
the goal of the travellers hope. He sank back
with eroan. But The brothers eye CLEANED
wildly a. the sight, and gathering the relns
| tighter around his hand, he made one !asl des-
pera,e eiTor, to force the horses onward; and
with one mad leap. they lifted the carriage
from the ground as If it had been a p'ayhing
plunged into The fiery furnace, and the next
instant had shot through The pass.