Thibodaux minerva., 1854-09-16
A Picnic Party Surrounded by Fire in
the Woods.


Last week, on Friday, gay and thoughtles
party Of males and females some thirty in mum
Der, provided themselves with pals and baskets
of all capacities, cigars, ginger pop and lunch
con, and jumping into a-railroad car, rode to q
station on the Albany and Boston railroad thai
wasiin the immediate vicinity of one of the tall
est OF the Berkshire range of mountains. The
hill was said to be covered with countless bush
els of blackberries, all "dead ripe," and all OF
the high bush variety, which are the largest and
the sweetest.
They left the station in high spirits, and in a
few minutes were buried in wilderness of that
fine and beautiful fsuit that they went out to
seek.
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 place covered
with verdure, watered by little brook of pure
cold water, and surrounded on all sides but one
by beetling cliffs-they found themselves fa-
tlgued, wofully lacerated by the prickers and
thorns, their dresses torn badly, and hands and
face dyed with blackberry juice, but with keen
appetites, and pals and baskets all heaped up
and running over with fine, ripe fruit.
Down they sat and devoured their ample
lunch. lighted their cigars, drank their pop and
indulged two or three hours in songs, tales,
uoHSSo duu otncT pdSuucs
1t was known to them when they first started
for the mountains that portion of it was on
fire, but of the condagration they thought moth
ing being entirely absorbed in their picking and
amusements. But the smoke grew dense, the
air became hot and sitting, the winds were up,
and the fall Of an immense burning cinder into
their very midst reused the thoughtless party to
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 confagration, which had
spread with nearly the speed Of the wind that
famed the flames and urged forward the de-
struction. Their only way of escape was through
the narrow gorge down which the little brook
plunged and the flames we're ragpid!yy iyy approach
Not a moment was to be lost! All rushed
instinctively for the narrow opening before them
leaving behind them more than half of the ber-
ries they had picked But they found the little |
brook could run where they could not. and that
precipces, under brush, 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 world of fire. Before them was |
just q narrow way Of escape yet, and that might |
at any moment be crossed, and they completely |
surrounded by belt Of fire.
Eagerly they pressed forward, the stoutest
leading the way, and al encouraging each other
as well as they could.
The air grew thickerand darker. The heat
was dreadful. Sparks and cinders fell like rain
around them. Their dothing was repeatedly
on fire. The roar and srackle of the flames was
almost defening, and occasionally the fall of
burning tree crashed upon their ears and added
to their terrors.
At last, when some wre growing too weak to
60 further, two had fairted and had to be car
ried, and their condition was momentarily be-
coming more and more desperate and hopeless,
suddenly the wind choppd around and blew .
fierce blast up the narroT ravine which the
party were travelling Allwere instantly invig-
grated, relieved of the moke in 'front.' and
heartily encouraged. Wiz shout they pressed
forward again, and in about fifteen minutes
succeeded in gaining poit beyond immediate !.
danger, and in an hour mfe were on their way
home in the railway car.
Their escape was q narpw one indeed. Not
half an hour had elapsed 4ter their escape ere
the trees and brush of til ravine were in q .
blaze, and the trysting plce was lost in del
uge Of fire.
One Of the rescued partNold us the story of
his adventure with the restind fairly shuddered
when he came to what he timed the "tightest
spot" where there was essmart chance for q
barbecue of Beckett folks
AID1y Ehpress A,sg g. 8