The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-05-01
THE WONDERFUL FIRE OF MIRIAM
ICHI.

THE WONDERFUL FIRE OF MIRIAM
ICHI.
A correspondent Of the kdependent. now en-
gagged in geological explorations in the British
Provinces Of North America, communicates the
following description Of the great fire Of Mirami-
chi. in the British Province of New Brunswick,
the recital of which causes the narrator and sur
wing beholder to tremble with dsmay. To
form some idea Of the horrors attending this Az
full catastrophe, the reader must imagine . vast
primeval forest, covering tract Of country esti
mated to contain six thousand square miles, and
shis forest densely crowded with evergreen trees.
such a. pine, hemlock, spruce, and fir, abound
ing in pitch and rosin.
From the lst to the l4th OF October, an un.
natural heat prevailed. consequent on the pro-
protracted drought of summer. On October
9Th, the cracking sound Of the FIRE and falling Of
trees in the distant forest announced the ap-
proach Of the devouring element The mildness
Of the weather, thus far, permitted the whole
forest not only TO be parched and dried. but even
heated nearly TO ignition in advance Of the fame.
Blazes now began to shoot up in the rear Of
Newcastle, DouglastOwn, and Bartibog, with q
hoarse, rumbling noise like distant thunder.
October 7th, about noon, pale, sicky mist,
tinged With purple as it emerged from the forest,
spread over the horizon. An irresistible lass.
tude settled upon the people, succeeded BY a
heavy, dark cloud, which wrapped the land in
the deepest gloom. At o'clock P. NJ. the heat
was nearly rnsupportable. The air was still,
while the distant forest shook with ineessant
thrilling succeeded with rapid explosions, utter
ing loud anu bOisterOus sounds. Soon the whole
country appeared encirclcd by fiery zone, adj
vancng with rapid and lost awful devastation.
About O'clock black sn.oke clothed the sky in
l,sL 81, lii
columns Of smoke qn'c,!. mounted to the sky,
and q strong br..k, aprar up. Soon came
showers OF flaming brands, ashes and cinders.
The nov terror stricken inhabitants had before
hand been warned by Mr. Wright and others,
but gave no heed. Night came on with its ter
rife forebodings. BY and by loud rOsrs of thun-
der we're heard, and about o'clock it was as
eertained that an awful tornado was about to
mingle its fury with the fame. Immediately
peal on peal, crash on crash, believing dsstruc-
ZION, came rushing with awful violence, and
earth, cir, water, aud sky, seemed mingled in .
hurricane Of all devouring fame. The river.
foaming in rage, threw its boiling spray on the
burning land. Amid this awful thunder storm
there Was nov . momentary silence. then sui
len roar doomed through the forest, and New.
castle, Douglsstown, and the whole northern
side Of the river, for over one hundred miles,
09S0m0
which swept swift destruction on the Gulf of ST.
Lawrence, and Is said to have spread over an
area Of six thousand square miles. Lumhermen
sucamped in the woods, suddenly envelopsd in
the conAigaiion, ran to the rivers and streams,
plunged into the waters. but sooa, alas! found
themselves in . boiling cauldrOn.
The picture especially presented in the min
eled horrors Of this awful night is large river,
settled on both sides for one hundred miles or
more, with thriving towns, wooden houses, barus
filed with crops, stores filed with provisions,
gun powder, ect., with wild and tame animals
driven before the fame, the bowling Of the
storm, dashins Of the broken, burning trees, the
boiling surges Of the river. the confusion on
board one hundred and fifty vessels, many Of
them on fire and some burned-the shrieks of
the dying inhabitants while flying from their
houses, mingling their cries Of anguish with the
roaring and beIlowing Of Wild beasts and domes-
tic anmals simultaneously perishing in the flames
men women, and children, running, half naked,
in Wild disorder-and mothers, with their infants,
rushing through the fame.
A daylight dAwned ON this night Of horrors,
. most heart.rending scene was presented-hu-
nan bodies burned to cinders; Others, With Aesh
al consumed, blackened and still smoking skel-
tons, headless trunks, and severed limbs Others
bloated and swollen, and lying in every position
Of convulsve sgony. Thousands Of wild beasts
perished in the woods, and myriads Of fish, such
- trout bass, and salmon, With unnumbered
waterfowl we're found dead in the streams
Such was the Great Fire Of Miramichi, sup
posed BY some to have been kinded BY light
ming, aud believed By most Of the surviving eve.
witnesses to have been destruction of the al.
mighty, sent upon the wicked inhabitants a. .
punishment for their sins. A an instance of
the rapidity Of the flames, lumbernan says that
he drove his team into the forest, where be
found his comrades in camp playing cards He
gave the alarm, eprang into the river near by.
only in time to save his life, while his coupan-
ions. With the team, persisted in the flames. Isl
was noted that cattle and geese, OF their own
aceord, left their pastures and places of resort
On the northern side Of the river, aad swan over
TO Chatham, . distance Of three quartets of 4 |
nile, some hours before the approach of the FIRE.
The ashes Of the conAagation were waited far |
westward into the State Of Maine.
II 10 now thrty.6ve years since this fearful
eonhagration occurred, lin October, 1881 The
writer recently visited the scene Of khe devassa-
ton, where, instead Of dense thickets Of sturdy
evergreen trees. be found . young virgin forest
With large proportion Of birch and poplar. the
streams aboundng With the finest trout. the
oanks Of the beautiful river Miramichi resound-
ing With the hum Of enterprising industry, great
y enlvened With beautiful hocks and herds.
FAIL OF RorALrY-Francis IL, late King of