The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-07-24
sPARTANBURG, s. c., THURSDAY JULY a. 1856

" IN thc creek ana lay IL on his lace TO
keep the air from it and turned his horse,
saying he would look for the family.
lie soon found the place where the hut
had stood. 1t was burnt to ashes. On the
ground, not far from it, lay the body of the
dead little boy. Patterson FASTENED along
the track Of the old road to the MaxwelIs'
station, tracing it as well as he could in
the fire and the flaming branches. lie felt
sure .hat the flying family would take ,ha.
way. In few minutes it brought him
agaaln upon the creek by which the poor
man sat, but lower down.
There stood a hut in a damp spot, which
had been used years ago for the sheep
washing, but had long been deserted. 1t
was surrounded By thick wallles, still burn,
! ing The hut WAS on fire, but its rotten
tlinbers forcing out far more smoke ;lan
flame. As he approached, he heard low
cries and lamentations. Tho family is
fled thither," he said to himself, land are
perishing of sutiocatiou." lie sprang TO
the ground, and dashed forward through
| columns of heavy smoke. 1t was hopeless
TO breathe in it, for lis pungent and sting
ing strength seemed to close his lungs, and
water rushed from his eyes in torrents.
But pushing in, he seized the first living
thing that he laid his hands on, and bore
1t away. 1t was child. Again ho made
the desperate essay, and succeeded in bring
out no less than four children and the
mother, who was sunk on the floor as dead.
but who soon gave signs OF life and return
! ing consciousness.
| The young man was now in the utmost
! perpleXity with his charge, Ii was heart
/ rending sight. The whole group were
more or less hurt, but, as il seemed to him,
| not SO much hurt as TO affect their lives.
! Their station was three miles distant. and
he had no alternative but 10 leave them
there till he rode and sent cart for
them. With much labor, carrying the
children one after another ia his arms, he
conveyed the weiul group,to the father.
As the young man stood bewildered ty
the cries and lamentations of the family on
meeting the father, horse, ridden bv n
lady, approached at gaIop. This appari,
tion contrasteI strangely with the larnenta.
ble group of sufferers. The young lady
was tall and ola most beautiful figure, and
WAS mounted on 4 fine bay horse. a light
skirt and broad felt hat were all the deyia.
| tions from her home costume thai haste
! hal Ia her TO assume. Her face. fresh
and ro,ca;c, full Of youth, loyeline,s and
feeling, Was at the same tim. grave and
anXous. rs She cazcd in spcoeblcss wonJo,
on the group.
Miss Maxwrlln Patterson ny,loir,.l
''in the name OF Heaven. what new,' How
Is all Il: lie Mount: Yet on this dreadful
! day. wAs, bn, in can hanpenr
Nothing is amiss, that know Of" said
the youno lady "NVo al. Lo,,o
The irc has nv, come near us"
"Ihaull God.' said Robert. 81 was 90.
ing to your house, when fell in with tIis
unfortunate family. VIII you ride back
and send us cart"
"Bu, beg YOU will come with me, for |.
too, was gong to YOU"
10 mel! erred The young man, in the
utmost a'tomShment Then all is no!
r'ght. Is George welI!'
Il hope So" replied Miss Maxwell; but
ihe tears started INTO her eyes at the same
Mo"e"t. ana hohert Patterson gave a
gFoa" ot apprehension.
u hope So added the young lady, re
covering her sell possession; but that Is
tle Po'ht l want 10 ascertain. yesterday.
nc went ~,th lurcen into the hills 10 bring
III Tue cattle, and tins morning the ti'e sur
! pnsed them when they had taken two diff
:ore"t sweeps along the sides OF range.
iurceh could not hnd George again, but
mare MS way nome hoping his master
Nad done 'he same: George has not yet
come ana the IRE Is raging so fiercely IN
me HiiIs, That could think OF nothing
o"l coming toyou Tor your advice and as.
s'Stamee'
h"uk you' Ellen. sad Robert with a
Hao enotIoh' i VIII md HIM II lie be
"'ire' lie sVra"g upon his horse; and
'e''nS 'ie unhappy lainiiy mat he would
s1uu S ,'nneGi"'e assistance both he and
NUS N"A"e" g"''opped away
We will not attempt 10 diyuIgc their
conversation on lhe way; but vail let the
NM