Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1868-05-02
Senti atjeeklp Hnrld.
THRILLING ADVENTURE.


In his report to Surveyor Genera
Stafford, of.Nevada, of asurvey in Hum
boldt county in that State, Mr.. A.
Hatch narrated the following perilous
and thrilling adventure, which occurred
ON the way to Lo1elocks station, Big
Meadows: .s...a.ss.
While crossing the tule, ON my way
to the standard corner on the guide nae
ridian, an incident occurred which
shall never forget. At the point where
| crossed, the tule is about three miles
wide and the ice was about fourteen
inches thick-rendering safe bridge
for me and my party to pass over.
had entered the tule perhaps Q mile,
when. two of my men, who were short
distance behind, very foolishly set hre
to the tule and canebreak--the latter
being some ten or twelve feet high. In
a few moments vast sheet of flames
was roaring high in the air, directly in
our rear, the wind at the time being
from the west. Thinking to outfank
the fire fiend | directed the driver to go
north. We had not gone far in that
direction when the wind changed from
west to southwest. then directed the
driver to go soatheasterly. By this
time matters began to look serious.
The fire had extended its front consid-
erably and seemed to be gaining spon
us rapidly. The flames appeared almost
overhead, and the Goals and sparks fell
around and upon us, shower of fire.
\ fire in advance was suggested, for
the purpose of obtaining burnt dis
trict to stop upon; bat this, on account
of the changeable nature of the wind,
concluded to be iHjudicious, and liable
to incur new danger | considered
the flank movement the only one prac-
ticable. i climbed upon the high load
of camp fixtures and bedding, when, by
standing up, l could scarcely see over
the canebreak, and kept the driver on
the right course. Every man now seem
cd to realize his perilous position, and
instinctively put his shoulder to the
wagon, whic! was fairly showed upon
the horses; but the faithful animals
could go no faster than ak through
that thick, matted tule, and tall stub
born canebreak Upon the horses de-
pended our safety. They were our
Noses" our only means of escape
from q terrible death; for no man could
make any progress through that infer
nal Jungle, except in the trails OF the
horses and wagon. The few words
spoken were as hollow as from the
grave, and were scarcely audible above
the roaring of the flames and cracking
tule and canebreak, as they were beat
en- down by the horses and wagon.
The expression upon. each countenance
was that of perfect terror; but when
the hope of escape bad nearly expired
iii each bosom, we suddenly and unex-
pectedly 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 the
time about $50 feet in our rear This
sudden transition from danger so i'm
minent and terrible to perfect safety,
had singular and amusing effect upon
some of the party. Men who a few
seconds before had been almost weep
ing with fear now gave way to the
most extravaganza expressions of JOY.
Bright tears glistened upon the cheeks
Of one; a loud laugh from one; a hurrah
from another; and one individual per-
formed evolutions that would do honor
to a professional gymnast. As for my
self, | was glad we had got out Of the
bulrushcs. 80
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 it for about ten days. | spent
two days in looking for the corner, be-
ing nine miles from camp, but found it
all right
n -