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

year was unusually hot and dry In
both hemispheres. This was especi-
ally true of America, where the year
became remarkable for an extraOr-
dinary prevalence Of epidemic dis
orders. During July and August
nature languished, and disease ran
riot through the land; while the ex-
tended drought rendered the woods
as dry and combustible as tinder. AS
a natural consequence there was an
unusual number of fires, and thou
sands of acres were swept over by
the flames with a fierceness eGnalled
only by that seen upon the Western
Prairies when the periodical contia-
grations carry death and destruction
over an arna Of thon0andS of acres
Towards the close Of the summer
it became known in the eastern part
of the peninsula Of Nova Scotia, that
fire was at work in the forests,
which threatened the most direful con-
sequences; and a month or more
later, the inhabitants Of Newcastle
were startled by rumOr that 1t was
approaching the town. A day or two
afterward, ftful flashes Of flame were
observed to shoot up from different
parts of the wood, particularly from
the northwest, at the rear Of New
castle, in the vicinity Of Douglass
town and MoorHelds, and along the
banks of the Baritog. Soon after the
cracking OF falling trees and shrivel-
ed branches could be heard, while an
appalling sound, like the roar of the
ocean, or more properly the c0ntinu-
al booming discharge of ordinance,
filled the air. The heat increased
until on the morning Of October 7th
it became so oppressive that many
complained OF its eneryatiug effects.
At noon, a pale thin mist filtered
up through the tree tops, and settled
like a cloud over the woods. This
remained but 2 short time, when it
gave way to an immense dark cloud,
which, taking its place, wrapped the
sky in a vast pail, giving it strange
and unearthly appearance. This sin
gular incubus retained its position un-
til about the middle of the afternoon,
when the heat in Newcastle became
so great as seriously to alarm the in
habitants. The air was Sultry, while
not a breath moved it. The shriyel-
ed leaves upon the shade trees were
as still and motionlesS as if cast in
bronze; and the red cross of King
George, when flung to the breeze, lay
limp and dead around the flag staff.
with no more agitation than the oaken
support which held it alOit. A stupe-
IyIfngg lasslJuue Seiz6d upon the pe6-
pie, and many painted for breath, like
the poor beasts that could not com
prehend the cause of all their suffer
ing -Evervthing was dull and life
less, except the woods, and these
trembied and pulsated like volcano.
They were continually shaken by the
booming explosions, which succeeded
each other with the rapidity Of the
shots of a bombarding fleet, and
mingled with a variety of discordant
and indeScribable sounds. Between
four and five o'clock, an immense pill
lar OF smoke rose in a perpendicular
/ direction, at some distance northeast
of Newcastle, until the whole trma.
ment was blackened by the outSpread-
ing vapor; but shortly after, a light
northerly breeze sprang up; it gra.
duaIly extended, and as it did so, cor
respondingly decreased in its den8i
ty, until thoroughly dissipated.
Nothing unusual was discerned by
the apprehensive Nova ScotianS until
about half past five, when great col
umns of black smoke were seen tC
rise from every part Of the wood
while in the center of them could be
distinguished the fiery spires of flame
which ensheathed in this black sur
rounding, shot upward toward the
sky.
A murky, sufocating canopy, ex
tending in every direction as far as
the eye could reach, and made more
impressive by the jets of flame dart
ing through it at the various points
now hung over Newcastle and Dou
glasStown, while showers of blazing
brands, caIcined leaves, cinders, anc
ashes, swept through the woods as if
driven by tornado.
At nine o'clock in the evening, {
succession of booming explosions
Numbered from the forests. Pea
after peal, crash after crash, announc
ed the work of destruction. Eacl
rapidly following shock created fresf
terror; it was like the bursting cracl
of lightning, every explosion of whicl
tells where the terrible bolt has fal
len. Each clap was charged with it,
own destructive power; with fierce
rapidity did the flames advance upol
the withered forest; nothing could
check their progress. They removed
every obstruction in their way b,
their own desolating strength, ant
several hundred miles of smoking
charred woods, marked the broad trai
of the destroyer.
The affrighted inhabitants gazeC
with appalled, looks at the wood
and sky, and they had good cause 70
their alarm, for the dreadful cri8i
was even now upon them. The broaC
Aiiramichic, driven and tortured b.
, the hurricane sweeping for miles alonI
its surface, became angry with wave
and foam, like the sea when the tor