Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-07-26

rendering assistance to our compan-
ions, but before we could reach the
base of the steep and ragged hill the
fire was dashing down with frightful
raPidity, leaping and flashing across
the gullies and roaring in the deep
and yawning cbasms with iIig wild and
appalling tones Of tornado. Ever
and anon, as the flames would strike
the dry and scraggy tops Of the cedars,
report as Of a musket would be heard
and in such quick succession did these
reports follow each other that l can
liken them to nothing save the irrcgu-
lar discharge of infantry. 81,
The wind was blowing fresh from
The west when the prairie first caught
carrying the flames with a raPidity alb
solutely astounding over the very
ground on which we travelled during
the day. The wind lulIed with the
sun and now the fire began to spread
slowly in the other direction. The
passage by which, wk had descended
was cut off by the flames, and night
found US still in the valley unable to
find any other route to the table land
above. Our situation was dangerous
one, TOO; for had the wind sprung up
and veefed into the east, with such We
locity did the flames spread, we should
have found much difficulty in esck-
ping.
About nine o'clock | was fortunate
enough TO meet with some Of our men
who directed me to a passage up the
ascent. 1t should be remarked here
tnat our party whoIhad started from the
river by this time were scattered in ev-
cry direction, each man endeqvoring
to find his way TO our camp by his own
road. Fortunately the fire had been
checked in western direction by the
peculiar formation of the ground and
by the wind.
Worn down with fatigue, hungry,
and almost choked with thirst, | laid
down upon the blackened ground that
night, but it was long before sleep visi-
ted my eye-lids' A broad sheet some
miles in width could still be seen in the
east, lighting up the heavens with a
glow, while the subdued y4t deep roar
ofthe element was plainly heard as il
sped on with The wings of lightning
across the prairies. In The valley far
below US the flames were flashing and
leaping about among the dry cedars,
resembling a magnificent display of
freworks-the combination forming a
scene Of grandeur and sublimity it is
impossible to describe.
Farther account ofthe Prairie Fire
APPEARANCE Of Falconer-Our Los
;es- The Journey Resumed-- Doubts
as tt tie Honesty of.Carlos nnaniiEs.-
no Wdter!-CartOs missing inthe
morning, &C., DC. =.
Daylight next morning brought with
it a melancholy, scene Of desolation.-
North, south, and east as fer as the eye
could reach. the rough and broken
country was blackened by the fire, and
the removal of the rough covering Of
cedars and tall coarse grass but brought
out in bolder'relieftte chasms and rents
in the steep declivity before US, as well
as the valley spreading far and wide
below. Afar off, in the distance,a dense
black smoke was iseen rising, denoting
that the course Of the devastating ele-
ments was still onward.
Two of our wagons only had been
entirely consumed, but nearly all had
suffered. A part Of the baggage in the
commissioners wagon had been saved
Ely the extraordinary exertions of
some Of the men, and just as they had
relinquished their work the explosion
Of cartridges which had first alarmed
the party in the valley scattered the
burning fragments of the Wagon in ev-.
cry direction. My friend Falconer
was So dis6gured | did not know him.
His hair and eye SrOws we're burnt
off, bis face was in a perfect blister,
his clothes burnt from his back, and
without hat he Hooked as. though
some insurance office had met with
heavy. loss. More an object of pity
than any thing else, I still could not
help laughing at the sad figure he cut.
i. Among the few trunks saved for
tunateIy found mine, containing nearly
all my money, clothing, watch and 9TH
er valuables. The loss of a carpet
bag with my boots and the rough ar
ticles wore upon the road was, all l
had 10 mourn for in the way of private
property. Not so with the mess TO
which was attached. The remnant
of coffee we had was burnt entirely too
much, our pots, pans and kettles, knives
aud forks, were converted into old iron
every thing was gone. We. ha9
nothing to eat, however, except small
rations of beef, and the necessity offtf-
ling Back upon first principles; or in
other, words eating With our fingers
Eannoyed US but little.
! The Wagon of the commissioners
IcOntained hosidos o,,r rr;,,o,o - -