The Portland daily press., 1868-05-20
Miscellany.


A-CFAOus
A SURVEYING PARTY IN NEVADA RUNNING
A GAUNTLET OF FIRE.
A Virginia City (Nevada) paper says !:
From a report to Surveyor General Stafford,
from A. Hatch, now surveying in the Hum
boldt country, we Gull the following excit-
ing acc punt of forced march on ice, through
tules, with body of fame marching hard
upon the party, leaping through the dry tops
of the tule forest. The communication is
dated LUveock's Station, Big Meadows,
Humboldt county, March Sd:
While crossing the tule, Oh my way to the
standard corner to the guide meridian, an in
cident occurred which | shall never forget
At the point where l crossed the tule is
about three miles wide, and the ice was about
fourteen inches thick - rendering a safe
bridge for me and my party to pass over. L
had entered this tule perhaps mile, when
two OF my men, who were short distance
behind, very fooshly set fire to the tule and
canebrake-the latter being some twelve or
fifteen feet high. In few moments vast
sheet Of flame was loaring, high in the air
directly in our rear, the wind at the time be-
ing from the west. Thinking to outfank the
fire tiend, L directed my driver TO 90 north.
We had not gone far in that direction when
the wind changed from west to South-W est.
l then directed him TO go southeasterly
By this time matters began to look serious
The fire had extended ITS front considerably
and seemed to be gaining upon us rapidly.
The flames appeared almost overhead and
the coal and sparks fell around upon us.
shower of fire. A fire in advance was sug-
gested tor the purpose of obtaining
burnt district to stop upon; but this, on ac-
count OF the chanSable nature of the wind |
concluded to be in udicious, and liable to in
cur new danger. | considered the flank
movement the only one practicable. L
climbed upon the high loa of camp fixtures
and bedding, when, by standing up, l could
see over the cane-brake, and kept the driver
on the right course. Every man now SEEM
ed to realize his perilous position, and in
stinctively put his shoulder to the wagon,
which was fairly showed upon the horses;
but the faithful animals could go no faster
than a walk through the thick matted tule
and tall, stubborn canebrake. Upon the
horses depended our safety. They were our
Moses" our only means of escape from
terrible death; Tor no man could make any
progress through that internal jungle, except
in the trail of the horses and wagon
The few words spoken were as hollow as
from the grave, and scarcely audible above
the roaring of the flames and the cracking
tule and canebrake, as they were beaten
down by the horses and wagon. The express
sion upon each countenance was that of per-
feet terror; but when the hope of escape had
nearly expired in each bosom, we suddenly
and Unexpectedly emerged from the tuIe into
an open and clear field Of ice, perfectly free
and secure from danger, the red flames
sweeping across onr track at the time about
one hundred and eighty feet in The rear
This sudden TRANSITION from danger so i'm
minent and terrible, to perfect safety, had a
singular and amusing effect upon some of the
party. Men, who few seconds before had
been almost weeping with fear, now gave way
to the widest and most extravaeant express
sions of joy. Bright tears gistened upon the
cheeks of one; loud laugh from one; hur-
rah from another; and one sanguine indivd-
ual performed evolutions that would do hon
or to professional gymnast. As for myself
l was glad we had got out of the bulIrushes..
/ crossed the Humboldt range about five
miles south of the fifth standard line, and
where no wagon ever crossed before. know
had very rough time of il for about ten
days.