Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-06-06

ners Gov. Shannon had been requested by the CHI,
zens to interfere 10 prevent outrage put mad oeeneu
interference The mob had shot AN Indian near Law
renee in mere wantonness The Delawares threaten
revenge.
Further from Kansas.
ST. LOUIS, May 3O.-The correspondent of the
Republican of this city says, that eight pro-savery
settlers at Potawatomie Creek had been killed by an
organized band of Free State men. The other sett
ers had asked Gov Shannon for aid. All was quiet at
Lawrence Lecompton. and Franklin
Every spring we jewellers in the wilderness expect
a fire campaign few days ago horseman dashed
into our clearing and reported line of fire. two or
three miles long, sweeping rapidly down towards
some distant settlements jeopardlzng the property,
sc. The &C fire summons" must not he discarded
Mutual protection is backwoods law in every con-
tingency The fiery cross of the Highland chieftain
was not more Imperative The withered foliage of
the last season end branches torn down by the tenn
pests of winter annually supply sufficient substance
for hazardous fire; but when The wastes OF three or
four years accumrl late the confagration fearful
The devastating lines of fire sweep thro the woods,
tumbling many an old forest monarch from the pc
destal on which he has bid the storms of centuries
defiance. Preceding fires had scorched and with
cred it's body as the tempess of passion sap the
gies of the human texture, till the whole is prostra
ted by sweeping calamity and mingled its ashes with
those beneath. 1t is theory we'll supported by
son that the prairies Of the West were forest
lands, the timber OF which has been destroyed BY
oft-recuring fires.
Selling our hoes and rakes-the most formidable
weapons for the contestwe struck out for the scene
of war. The first movement is to make trench some
rods in advance of the fire, extending the whole
Length of the line then set back fires to widen
it, and as the main element comes aging down, sta
ton ourselves along the trench to prevent it's crossing
or to extinguish any wandering spark which reaches
tie disputed ground by aerial Slight
Then comes the tug of strife. Raging before the
wind, cracking and seething in its onset, down come
the pillows of fire, driving before them heavy clouds
of binding smoke that roll murkiIy through the wild
while the grim sentinel is prostrated in the trench 10
escape the suffocating gasses yet watching with an
eagle eye the advancing fire lest it get beyond him
and the long trench be made in vain. But it is
quite probable that it will get over the bark of some
ieless tree will be blown all blazing from lis burn
ing branches off through the smoke beyond the
tnel's ken, passing high above his head, and in
minute or two he is surrounded by fire; but, with
little scorching in his transit, he escapes the hot en-
virons, and the fire. getting new foothold, sweeps
on till checked again Fighting fire is the most IA
tiguing work that we ale obliged to do on the from
tier An Indian skirmsh is not so tedious. The
intense heat and intense exertion brings out the per-
spiration in rvulels, and the thick smoke blinds and
suffocates.
All night we labored on. Trench alter trench was
opened without the desired effect, although main
tanned desperate conflict with whitening foe at
every one ; our most strenuous exertions only
rested It's progress for brief moment, when it
swept forward again with untiring vigor 1t had
driven us nearly five miles when abandoned all
hope of stopping it in the usual way. All hands
were called off, and marched road that lay thro'
the forest half mile ahead Of the fire, running at
right angles with the direction it advancing
Here all rubbish carefully removed, the leaves
raked back on each side and backfres set on the
windward and vigiIanty watched.
/ Things looked we'll after paying our devOlrs to
an ancient demijohn things looked better. Our men
dispersed along the road stationed themselves at in
tervals, and waited the charge. The fire was de.
scending the opposite hillside, burning fercely, and
reminded me of how the heroes of Fingal "swept on
to battle like ridge of fire. although could no pre-
csely appreciate the similarity of advancing squadons
and burning brush. Soon it was close to last
Defence for if it crossedthe road aIhope of checking
ii would be lost and thousands of of timber land
badly damaged.
Far back as the eye could reach on the destroyer's
path were scattered here and there trees blazing tc
the top casting ftu glare over the dreary desolate
waste, revealing lis blackened and smouIdering ruins
RI while occasionally in the distance could hear ar
old tree tumble from it's charred stem, and clouC
of sparks rising above the woods told how it fell
For days after fire the old trees are hourly falling
some burning down in an hour and others requiring
weeks time.
The fire came down upon us with rush, but w,
pitched into the typical sembance of heroes eff
fectuaIly and {" fout it so obstinatey that we tri
umphed, and belligerents on bloodier field wer
never more willing to forego contest than we
After placing sentinels to guard against outbrea
we left the contested ground. Every fire kills NOR
less of the forest trees in proportion to its int
sity, and in few years. these become dry and yer
readily burn down. Undoubtedly the coax open
ings" of the West were formed in this manner.
1 [Wcstern correspondence.