Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1845-08-15


the horses into a run. The chaise few a.
long the narrow forest road with rnpldIty
that neither of the party had before Wit
messed, for even The animals themselves
seemed aware of their peril, and strained
every sinew 10 escape from the fiery death
which threatened them.
Their situation was terrible indeed, and
momentarly became more precanous.--
The fire when first seen, was nearly annie
off, bat nearly equ-distant from point in
the road the Iridal party was uaversinFp
and rs the conhagrstion swept down the
road with a velocity equal to that of the
travellers, it soon became evident that they
would haveIarely time to pass the fire ere
II swept across the road, thus cutting oil
al esgpe.
Faster, for Godssake, faster" he hoars-
" cried, "see you not that tie fire is ma
king for yonder tall pine--we shall not be
able to reach tue tree first unless re 60 las
ter"
81 will domy best, said the fro'ber lash
ing still more furiousIy the foaming horses.
"Oh God! that had turned back when EI-
len wished mel"
On came the roaring ire-on in one mass
Of lame-on with velocity that seemed
only equaIed by the flying hurricane. Now
the flames caught the lower limbs Of tall
tree, in an instant had Kissed to its-top-
now they shot out their iolky tongues from
one huge pine to another, tar across their
Intermediate space; and now the whrling
fire whisted along the dry grass and moss
of the swamp " with rapidity which they
could scarcely follow. Already tue fierce
heat Of the confagraton began to he felt
by the travellers, while the horses, feeling
the increase of warmth grew restless and
terrified Iope grew fainter. Behind and
on either side the confagration roared in
pursuit. while the advancing flame in front
was cutting off their only avenue Of es-
cape, They Were girdled By fire. Faster
and quicker roarcd the flames towards the
devoted party, until at length desf air seiz-
ed on the hearts of the travellers. Pale,
parayzed, silent, inanimate as statues. sat
the female while her husband and brother
leaning forward in the carriage and urging
their horses 10 their utmost speed, gaZed
speechlessly on the approaching fire. Al
ready the flames were within a hundred
wards of the road ahead, and il seemed be-
yond human probability that the travellers
could pass it in time. The husband gave
one last agoni2ing glance at his inanimate
wife. When he Ugain looked at the alI-
preaching flames, he saw that during that
momentary glimpse they had lessened their
distance one half. He could already feel
the hot breath of the fire upon his cheek.
The wind, too, suddenly whirled down
with fercer fury, and in an Instant the for
ky tongues of the advancing conhsgration
| had shot across the road. and eniwned
themselves around the tall pine which had
! heen the goal of the travellers hope. He
sank back with a groan, but the brothers.
| eye cleaned wildly at the sight, and gath
erng the rcins 'ighteraround his hand, he
made one last desperate effort to force the
horses onward, and with one mad leap they
lifted the carriage from the ground as if it
had been playthiug, plunged INTO the fe-
ry furnace, and the next instant had shot
through the pass,
Charly gave one look backwards as if to
assure himself that they had indeed esca-
ped---he saw the lurid mass Of fire roaring
and whiting across the spot which they
had darled but a moment before, and over
come with mingled gratitude and awe, he
lowered his head on his breast and poured
out an overhowing soul in thanksgiving to
the power which had saved them from the
most dreadful of dea,hs. And long after
wards men who travelled through that
charred and blackened forest pointed to
the memorable scene where these events
occurred and reh5arscd the thrilling feel
ings of ;hose who had been encompassed
by THE GIRpLE OF FIRE.