The New York herald., 1868-05-14
A SINGULAR ADVENTURE IN The EAa WEST.
A Surveying Party Running n Gauntlet oi
Fire.

A Virginia City (Nevada) paper says:-From re-
port to surveyor General Saord, from A. j. Hatch,
now surveying IN the humtodt country, we We cui .ae
through tues, with body OF flame marching nara
upon the party leapng through Tue dry tops o. ale
tule forest. The communication IL dated Love-
locks station, Zig Meadows, Humboldt county,
March 81
Cured which shall never forget At the point where
crossed the tule Ia about three mites Wide, and tho
ice was about fourteen inches thick, rendering
safe bridge for me and my party TO cross over. l
had entered this tsle perhaps a mie when two Of
my men, who were q short distance behind, very
fooshy set fire to the tule and brake the latter
beng some twelve or fifteen feet high. In few
moments n vast sheet OF flame was roaring high IN
the air directly In rear, the wind at the time
being from the west. Thinking to outnank the fire.
fcnd directed my driver to 90 north. we had noe
gone far In that direction when the wind changed
from west TO southwest. then directed the driver
TO go souheasterly. by this time matters began 70
look serions The fire had extended Its front con-
siderably ana seemed to be gaining upon rapidly.
The flames appeared almost overhead, and the Goals
and sparks fell around and upon us shower Of ire
IRE in advance was suggested, for the purpose Of
obta ming burnt district 10 stop upon; but this,
account OF the changeab nature oil the wind, con-
cluded to be tnjudlclous and liable tO incur new
danger.
considered the flank movement the only one prac-
ticable. climbed upon the high load OF camp fx-
lures and bedding, wnen by standing up, could see
the canebrake and kept the driver on the rght
course. Every man now seemed TO realize his peril
Gus position aud instinctively put his shoulder TO the
wagon, which was fairly showed upon the horses,
but the faithful snimas could 60 no faster than
walk through that thick, matted tule and tall, stub
born canebrake. Upon the horses depended our
safety. They were our Moses" our only means OF
escape from 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 AZ hollow as from the grave, and were
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 ex-
preston upon each countenance was that Of per-
iect terror; but, when the hope Of escape had
nearly expired In each bosom, we suddenly and un.
expectedly emerged from the tue into an open and
clear field Of Ice perfectly free and secure from dan
ger the red names sweeping across track at that
time about one hundred and eighty feet In our rear.
This sudden transition from danger 80 imminent
and terrible to perfect safety had singular and
amusing eject upon some OF the party. Men who q
few seconds before had been almost weeping with
fear now gave way to the widest and most extrava
giant expressions OF Joy. Bright tears glistenIng
upon the cheeks OF one, a loud laugh from one, o
hurrah from another, and one sangune Individual
performed eyolutlons that would do honor TO pro-
fcssiona gymnast. AS for myself was glad We had
got out Of the bu rlshes
j crossed the humboldt range about five miles
south OF the nth standard line, aud where no wagon
ever crossed DefOre. know had very rough Time
Oft for about ten days. spent two days In looking
Tor tue corner being about niue MES from camp,
but fonnd 1t all right