Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-09-04
EVENING STAR.

EVENING. STAR.
" re- From the Albany Express, Aug. 81. ,ns
PICNIC PARTY sURReUEDKp BIZ, FIRE
r- IN THE WOODS, :. ...,T~g :
On last Friday, gay and thoushtless
party of males and females, some thirty
in number, provided themselves with
pals and baskets of all capacities, cigars.
ginger-pop, and luncheon, and jumping
~ a railroad car, rode to station on
nv nv t,,,,, md Boston railroad that was
in the immediate ed 'y,5rr.'inity Of one Of the
tallest OF one of the Berksnl.s range OF
mountains. This hin was said to De
covered with countless bushels Of black
berries, all &c dead ripe" and all Of the
high bush variety, which are the largest
and the sweetest. --tE 81 al ''.--'7 'fr
They left the station in high spirits,
and in a few minutes were buried IN a
wilderness of that fine and beautiful fruit
that they went out to seek. O.. raai-s J.
An hour of persevering picking resulted
in filling every vessel they had carried
with them, and as they gathered at the
spot appointed for lunching-a secluded
nook in a place covered with verdure,
watered by a little brook of pure cold wa
ter, and surrounded on all sides but one
by beetling cliffs-they found themselves
fatigued, and wofully lacerated by the
prickers and thorns, the dresses torn
badly, and hands and face deeply dyed
with blackberry juice, but with keen ap-
petites, and paifs and baskets all heaped
up and running over with fine, ripe fruit.
Down they sat and deveured their am
pie lunch, lighted their cigars, drank
their pop, and ildulged for two or three
hours in songs, tales, dances, and other
pastimes. ...s-ss.,a-. s - yad dos
It was known to them when they first
started for the mountain that portion
of it was on fire, but of the confaga-
ton they thought nothing, being entirely
absorbed in their picking and amnse-
ments. But the smoke grew dense, the
air became hot and sitting, the winds
were up, and the fall of an immense burn
ing cinder into their very midst reused
the thoughtless party to a realizing idea
of what was in progress above and
around them. Looking up, Judge of their
CONSERVATION when they saw themselves
almost begirt by tremendous con1agra-
ton, which had spread with nearly the
speed of the wind that famed the flames,
and urged forward the destruction !!
Their only way Of escape was. through
the narrow gorge down which the little
brook plunged, and the flames were
rapidly approaching both sides of even
tn at chance for exit ~ ' 80.
Not moment was to be lost All
rushed instinctively for the narrow open.
ing before them, leaving behind them
more than half of the berries they had
picked, But they found the little brook
could run where they could not, and that
precipices, underbrush, no path, and the
sitting smoke that blew hot in their
| faces and blinded their eyes, rendered
their progress slow. And it was slow.
| The ladies had to be helped at every step
almost. Overhead, and nearly all around,
was a world of fire. Before them was
just narrow way Of escape get, and that
might atany moment be crossed and they
completely surrounded by belt of fire
Eagerly they pressed forward, the
stoutest leading the way, and all encour-
aging each other as well as they could.
The air grew thicker and darker. The
heat was dreadful. Sparks and cinders
fell like rain around them. ThHir clothing
was repeatedly ON fire. Tie roar and
crackle of the flames was almost deafen-
ing, and occasionally the fall of a burn.
ing tree crashed upon their ears and add.
ed to their terrors. -
At last, when some were growing too
weak to 60 further, two had tainted and
had to be carried, and their condition
was momentaIily becoming more and
more desperate and hdpelessy suddenly
the wind chopped around and blew a
fierce blast up the narrow ravine the
party were travelling! All were instant.
ly invigorated, relieved of the smoke il
front, and heartily encouraged. With 8
shout they pressed forward again, and il
about fifteen minutes succeeded in gaining
| point beyond immediate danger, and il
an hour more were on their way home il
the railway car 80 r.. 40 sa5--.soi:.
Their escape was a narrow one indeed
Not half an hour had elapsed after theil
escape ere the trees and brush of the "a
vine were in blaze, and their trystinf
place was lost in deluge of fire. -
One Of the rescued party told us tn,
story of his adventure with the rest, ant
fairly shuddered when he came to wha
he termed the, "tightest spot.''t wher,
there was ga smart chance for barbacu
of Beeketolks. ,e.eg.g ..s ID y--.