Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-06-26

oIOIm WOlO piOPoimS' nhiO SUNNI
of the explosions made the earth
tremble, and ratified every window
for miles around. Then came a deep
and awful quiet-the quiet which pre-
cedes the bursting of the storm. All
at once a deep prolonged roar issued
from the forests. driving whirlwind
of vast fame before it. And now
Newcastle, Douglasstown,and the en-
tire northern side of the Miramichi,
extending from Baritog to the Mash
waak, hundred miles in length, be-
came wrapped in one immense con-
aagration.
No pen can adequately describe
the terribly sublime scene. When it
is remembered that the Miramichi is
a goodiy sized river, with four thriv-
ing towns, two on either side Of the
river, while, for the extent of hun
dred miles, the settlers cabins dotted
tic UanKs, ana that aII Jnese build
ings, including the town and scatter
ed houses, were composed of dry
wood almost as ready to ignite as
touch wood-when all this is remem-
bered, perhaps a faint idea of the
scene may be gathered. In addition
to this, the barns and stables were
filled with crops, which had just been
gathered, while in the warehouses
were stored large quantities of gun
powder, and the most combustible
commodities, and the necessary sup
plies for the coming winter.
The settlements q n d dwellings,
too, were merely a fringe along the
river, none OF them extending more
than a quarter of a mile back from
the shores, while for miles and miles
beyond them stretched the immense
tract OF dry, parched forests, only
waiting for the torch to burst out into
one deyouring flame. The ground
was thickly Strewn with the feather
like leaves almost as combustible as
a lucifer match, so that, in fact, the
people had been slumbering on the
edge of a volcano.
Then it must be remembered, that
these woods SWarmed with droyes of
terrified animals, while dependent on
the settlements were hundreds of do
mesticS ones, and through the interior
were scattered thousands of men,
who received no warning Of the true
nature Of their great danger, until,
like the Alpine avalanche, it burst
upon them.
SO great was the fury of the hur-
ricane which accompanied the sweep
OF this tremendous conhagration, that
immense chunks of blazing wood
were driven like bombs through the
air, while others, which weighed sew
eral pounds, went sailing on high like
SO many wisps OF straw. By this
than the swiftest race horse, and cut
off the retreat OF many a hapless
man and beast. Numerous gangs
of men at work in the woods were
suddenly caught in inextricable death.
Those who lived along the Miriam
ichi, deserting all property, made tor
the river as the only means of safe
ty. In the rush and attempt at cross
ing, many were drowned. One wo-
man who could not swim, seized the
tail Of a terrified steer, which towed
her to the other side. Those who
did not dare to make the attempt,
waded out until up to their necks,
when, by constantly dipping their
heads during the white heat Of the
fire, they succeeded in saving them
| selves.
What could be more gloomy and
heart depressing than to walk III the
wake OF the conhagration Had we
passed along the Miramichi, on that
October day in 1925 What should we
have seen? Newcastle but yeSter.
day a fourishing town Of a thousand
inhabitants, Hds now mass Of
smouldering, charred, and almost un-
distinguishable ruins while Douglass
town, not quite half the size, was
reduced to the same hapless condi-
ton. OF the two hundred and fifty
houses which made up the latter, only
a dozen remained, while the ratio in
the latter place was about the same.
In the Miramichi were about hun.
dred and fifty vessels, the majority
Of which were burned to the water s
edge, while others were severely
scorched and badly injured. Along
the banks of the river wandered
groups of half starved, houSelesS be-
ingS lamenting the loss Of friends and
property, and vainly seeking for some
suitable place Of refuge. Every
where were seen the smoking skele
tons Of human beings and of wild
domestic animals. Hundreds Of
beasts lay in the woods, their carcas
ses giving forth poisonous effluvium
while myriads Of salmon, trout, bass
and other fish, poisoned by the alkal
formed by the precipitation Of ashes
lay dead along the parched shores Of
the river. and added tO the cOntaUi
Gus poison which filled the air.
Such is faint picture of one of
the terrible fires which ragged in thil
country during the memorable dry
hot year of 1925.
The VIRTUE OF THE SPANISH PEAS
ANTRY.-A beautiful trait of charac
ter and lovely custom of the Span
ish peasantry appear in their love 10
parents. They yield to them obedi
anco racpact yanara ti0n aDd lOvo at