The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-02-19

ment's recollection, however, cx-
planned the reason. have stated
that the pond had been visited be-
fore, by me, for the purpose Of fish
ing. knew, consequently, that a
stream put into the pond little be-
low where the bough house was
built, after running parallel course
with the head of the oval, and "a
thwart the path in which the fire was
advancing. Its parallel length was
quite broad, diminishing rapidly
however upward. The flames had
doubtless reached the border Of the
spacious part Of the stream, and had
there been arrested, while the upper
wing had crossed the narrow chan
mel above, and was rioting in its free
course along the side of the pond,
the lower wing, having met with no
obstruction whatever, sweeping
somewhat in advance along the OPP
posite border. On moved these fear
ful wings, the forest melting as it
were, within them like snow in wa
ter. They had just completed the
circuit of the pond downward, their
ends blending with each other, when
the line in front, having completely
overleaped the watery barrier, rush
ed up TO the narrow margin. The
bough house was shrivellcG, and the
little grassy spot swallowed, in the
twinhlng of aneye; while the flames
Kissed along the edge of the water
as if in rage at being thus stopped in
their career. The whole scene had
now reached its climax of sublirnity
and magnificence. The shores rising
into slopes, as before stated, wherev-
er the eye turned was one mighty
amphitheatre of blazing fire. The
roaring and cracking were tremcn-
dous, drowning even the tumult OF
the wind. The sky was a dome OF
crimson, the tossing waters flashed
the same deep hue so that our skiff
seemed rocking in blood, and abroad
was shed an almost scorching heat
and binding light. Great mountains
of smoke continually rolled up and
were hurried tumultuously off by the
rushing and rioting wind. Birds
were darting in every dire ctioe ut
tering the most plaintivc cries, and
frequently dropping in the waters,
sutfocated by the smokes, while now
and then agonizing bowls and pier
cling screams rang from the burning
forest proclaiming the torments Of
the wild animals, deer, wolf, bear
and panther, that had been caught
in their dens and recesses, and were
consuming in the flames.
The greatest variety was apparent
in the blazing spectacle. Here
great CULTS and caverns opened OF
such keen splendor as to be almost
white, there rolled immense pillows
dasliing up fiery spray, resembling
what we may suppose of He'll surging
in its horrors.
Fiery serpents seemed darling
through the smoke from tree to tree,
twining and flashing around stem
and branch and licking them as the
Anaconda ticks its prey previous to
swallowing it. Red banners gleam-
ed from out the smoke--long pen
mons tluttered, and sun-like streaks
fell and glanced, like the sights of a
furious battlefield.
Visions ofthc most exquisite beau
ty and grace were also everywhere
perceptible. Graceful arches would
form for moment and then sink
lestoons of flashing beauty arranged
themselves from trunk to trunk like
the vines of Lombardy-rich spark
ling lacework ran among the leaves
blazing columns would support a
blazing dome with deep vistas open
ing to them--a gorgeous temple
flowers and wreaths and diadems
and thrones glittered for instant
all appearing like the phantasmago-
ria of some wizard summoned pur-
posely by him to amaze and charm
the senses of the beholders.
But the last scene in the magnifi-
cent drama was the browning one of
the whole. Happening to cast my
eye toward the conical hill before
mentioned, plumed with its lofty pine
tree, near which we had now float
ed, | discovered that the fire had
not only reached its base, but was
rapidly ascending its sides. Up,
up, 1t swept its cleaning way, seiz-
ing upon the smaller trees and de-
vouring them in an instant, and rag
ing among the oaks and hemlocls,
until there was perfect chaos a.
mong them--each falling from--in
company with-and against the 9th
er, as if host OF demons was there
- Gn,,n ,t..r- Al