Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-13
| PERILOUS ADVENTURE IN
TIE FAR WEST.
A Surveying Party Running Gaunt-
Ief of Fire.

Ict of Fire.
A Virginia City Nevada paper says:
From a report to Surveyor General SAT-
ford, from A. J. Hatch, now surveying in
the Humboldt country, we Gull the follow
ing exciting account Of forced march on
ice, through iules, with body of flame
marching hard upon the party, leaping
through the dry tops of the tule forest.
The communication is dated Loyelock's
Station, Big Meadows, Humboldt county,
March 3
"While crossing the tule, on my way to
the standard corner 20 the guide meridian,
an accident occurred which i shall never
forget. At the point where / crossed, the
tule ia about three miles wide, and the Ice
was about fourteen inches thick-render-
ing a safe bridge foI me and my party TO
cross over 1 had entered this tule per-
haps a mile, when two of my men, who
we're short distance behind, very
foolishly get fire to the tule and cane
brake-the latter being some twelve
or fifteen feet high. In few mo-
ments a vast sheet Of flame was roaring,
high in the air, directly in our rear, the
wind at the time being from the west.
Thinking 10 outlank the fire-fiend, di-
recied my driver 10 go north. We had
not gone far in that direction, when the
wind changed from west TO southwest. /
then directed the driver to 60 southeast
erly. 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 Goals and sparks fell
around and upon us, a shower of fire.
fire in advance was suggested, FOR the pur-
pose Of obtaining a burnt district 10 stop
upon; but this, on account of the change
able nature Of the wind, ] concluded 10 lie
iniudicious, and liable TO incur a new dan
ger.
81 considered the flank movement the
only one practicable. ] climbed upon the
high load of camp fixtures and bedding,
when, by standing up, l could see over the
canebrake, and kept the driver on the right
course. Every man now seemed to realize
his perilous position, and instinctively put
his shoulder TO the wagon, which was
fairly showed upon the horses but the
faithful animals could go no faster than
walk through that thick, matted tule,
and tall, stubborn canebrake. Upon
the horses depended our safety. They
were our "Moses," orr only means of es-
cape from a terrible death for no man could
make any progress through that internal
Jungle except in the trail of the horses and
wagon. The few words spoken were IS
hollow as from the grave, and were scarcely
audible above the roaring of the flames
L.. I'm fvpln oF,I oopal,rah Ia 90
they were beaten down by the horses and
wagon. The expression upon each coun-
tenance was that Of perfect terror; but
when the hope of escape had nearly eN-
pired in each bosom, we suddenly and I'M
expectedly emerged from the tule into an
open and clear field of ice, perfectly free
and secure from danger, the red flames
sweeping across our track at that time
about one hundred and eighty feet in our
rear.
"Ths sudden transition from danger so
imminent and terrible, to perfect safety,
had n singular and amusing effect upon
some Of the party. Men, who a few se-
conds before had been almost weeping with
fear, now gave way to the widest and most
extravagant expressions of Joy. Bright
tears glistening upon the cheeks of one,
loud laugh from one, hurrah from an
other, and one sanguine individual per
formed evolutions that would do honor TO
professional gymnast. As for myself
was glad we had got out Of the bulrushes
81 crossed the Humboldt range about
five miles south of the fifth standard line,
and where no wagon ever crossed before.
/ know | had a very rough time Of IL for
about ten days I spent two days in look
ing for the corner being about nine miles
from camp; but found it all right"