Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-31

of our native assistants. The day had
been more than usually overcast and
darkened by the seeming cloud of dust
that never cleared away; but when the
deeper darkness of night descended we
discovered by the crimson glare that
lighted all the western heaven with lurid
fame; that the devouring element was in
deed abroad in the withered forests. The
fire, the light of which we saw so plainly,
was raging, so said our attendants, on
the mountains twelve or fifteen miles
west, and between us and Puerto Prin-
cipe, so that there was no immediate
danger from it. But the forest was row
in such condition that the devouring
flames might burst upon us at any mo-
ment, and from any direction.
According to the calculation of our
assistants, we were yet about fourteen
miles from the coast, and every one in
stinctively felt the danger Of every mo.
ment's delay. The road lay through the
heart of q dense jungle, the matted foliage
of which, brown and dead, ratified aud
hissed in the hot wind that penetrated
those depths. The air grew more sitting
as we entered farther into the close
woods, yet there was no pause, no rest
for us.
Before half the night had passed, great
fakes of ashes and dead cinders began to
shower around US, and we trembed with
fear lest still burning brands should fall
in our way, and start the leaping flames
to cut US off from hope. And more than
once we were startled by the sudden
glare of fire before US, aud food of
despair would chill our hearts before we
discovered that sudden curve in the
road had brought our faces toward the
great fire in the west, and that in the di-
rection of our route still hung the black
ness of night.
Three more weary miles were passed,
and the fourth was dragging slowly away,
each precious moment increasing the
danger of being cut off by the rapidly
advancing conhsgration. The road ran
through the center of low valley or strip
of bottom land, and was shut in on either
side by open woods which were rendered
impenetrable by dense and matted
growth of underbrush and trailing vines,
80 that it would have been impossible to
traverse the country anywhere outside
the road we we're following To be inter-
cepted by the extending flames, there.
fore, would have been to perish in the
midst of the forest, with no hope of saliva
ton. Each fully comprehended the peril
of the situation, and every energy was
employed to hasten our escape.
At length we ascesded from the sitting
valley, and scaled the side of low, sb.
rupt ridge, passing thence over into a
narrow ravine that crossed the road at
righ. angle. The character Of the coun-
try had changed, and became much |
broken and irregular, ridge succeeding
ridge, alternating with little valleys of
corresponding width and depth, like the
to the coast from the interior
plains.
In one of these valleys, breathless and
exhausted from tie effects of our recent
powerful exertions, we halted as by one
ACCORD, to breathe moment before
attempting 10 drag opr weary bodies up |
he succeeding slope, vhen Suddenly oEr |
eyes we're directed toward sight which,
though for the moment paralyzing our
senses, banished every thought of present
WEAKNESS or pain. Looking up the mar
row valley toward the right, where it |
seemed to terminate and descend a
receding slope beyond, we beheld
q solid wall of lrrid fame, which
seemed suddenly to mount up and
leap forward as it ascended the brow
Of the hill, and burst at once upon our
sight. The 6ery tongues Tapped the earth
and mopnted to the tops Of the highest |
forest Trees, pssslpg pSt, bgt sweeping |
The ground and lesping from tree totree |
With the speed of feet horse. The roar
of the surgng sea of fire, with the crack
ing of burning trunks and the crash of
falling limbs, we're like the deafeniug, |
voices of the tempest Thick,
hot smoke filed the air like q dense
,loa6, slS csosed the throats Of every !
living thing tbatwAs compelled to breathe
Overcoming at length the pAralyzing
error that for q moment had taken pos.
Iessicn Of Us, We hastily abandoned seYel
al ARTICLES Of baggage that eers nost
and renewed our fight With
eneYsd energy. It had nov apparently
,eeoMe close question Of life or death,
lnder the aost favorable circumstances,
md the care of personal effects was lit
lie thought OF. Over hills and through
ALLEYS we continued our painful march,
lrged on and sustained only by the pres
nee of great peril.
Every moment the cloud Of smoke
,eesme more dense and sitting, and the
all Of ashes and cinders increased to
,erfect shower, by which the ground vas
as BIZ fall Of snow. The
Ieefenlng ycsr Of the conasgrstlon gFeg
oudsr and nearer, and the air became
listsring hot from the direct influence
f the flames, showing that the breeze
sd so changed its direction as to blow
be FIRE toward us. 0nce, as we reached
be brow Of q steep bill, the wind fresh
ned into q sudden gust, and raised the
loud Of smoke so that 70; c IaoEsat We
ad the Hrst clear view OF tie advancing
ne Of lame. We then discovered, 70
ur great joy, that although it had
lready crossed the road where We had
assed but two minutes before. and TsS
-ssidi7 s2on ps nom that
irection, driven before q rising wind,
et there vas no sign OF Gre either 70 the /
ight or leh OF the road.