Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-12-07
Racing for Life on the Prairie.
BY RED JACKET.

we thought it expedicnt to look out for
some good resting place. We rode lazily
through the prairie till we arrived Mt a suit
able place. We soon commenced opera
ticns.
had taken our small tent-poIes and
other utensils Off our horses, while Hender-
son was busy cleaning a space for driving
them into mother earth. Our work went
ON gailv, he whistling " Yankee Doodle. ~
and | singing it. He had driven the second
pole in the ground when he raised his
head and was looking in Il north-wcsterlv
direction. | venturcd TO look i'm his face
anu Oh | never can forget that look
lie was stiff as reed, standing, with his
eyes like glass, scanning the vast prairie.
His face was blanched a. white as the
snow.
" Harry said he, "thc prairie is on
fire!U
What! How do you know" replied
" Do you not see the Fire King, with his
tongue lashing up the blades of grass Z? -
and he pointed to a red spot, which on
closer observation proved to be the flames,
sweeping everything before it,
Now, then, quick, for Gods sake, or
we shall never be able to gain spot where
we can stand without feeling its claws on
u.s.
And we did commence in right good
earnest to get clear of the tall grass, and for
my part, l don't think ever made us quick
move in all my life as l did on that occa-
sion. BY the time you could count twenty
] had everything on our horses, and as we
sprang into our saddles, we had very little
hope of escape; but still we could do no
better than try.
" Hold Nv said Henderson. 1--WE had
better take n good look at the monster
but oh! look, Harry, where it has already
reached; it will surely overtake us. Quick!
Our lives are at risk; take Southeasterly
direction, and we may, perhaps, save our
selves.n
Neither of us needed commands, and
we started Off on rs brisk a cantcr as the
circumstances would allow us. Yes, of
course, reader you must know those cir
cumstanceS.
In the first place, the grass was as high
as our heads, and then in some places it
was so thick as to require some strength to
get through ii on q good run, but our horses
had been captured when they were wild.
We had tanned them with our own hands,
and often and often had they travelled
through Just such prairies with herds of
wild horses, so that they "knew the ropes"
and therein lay our hope. But to resume.
The flames had increased in grandeur, re-
VOlving in the heavens, and as it was lust
dark, looked the very picture of gold; but
away we rode, having one eye on the fire
and the other ahead, trying to pick out our
way.
On, on came the flames, roaring and bel
lowing like so many cannon, and the
smoke rolled up to the heavens in curling
masses.
Press on - said Henderson. "Keep a
little more to the sntheast if you cam"
What is that about a mile and a half
ahead of us ?' said |.
" 1t looks like low grass, and if we can
get into it before the flames reach us we
are saved, because our horses can get
through it without much difficulty
feel the heat ut my back as the wind
drives ii along; the flames are about
scream Of the wild birds, whose notes die
away, while the awful sound of the roaring
flames gives us spirit to urge our horses.
On, on we go! the heat is pressing Us.
"Keep up, don't lag, for mercy sake, or
we are lost! We are within u quarter of
a mile Of it if we can get there we are
safe!n
The heat was now 50 great we could
hardly endure it. | smell something about
me burning; my jacket is scorching
Hush what is that ahead of us? Two IN
dams who are imploring for help, with the
cry of " Ne sev, oh sew Camanchee!"
Hold ON Harry; we WW save them if
we can"
Come quick, one of you, on my horse,n
said !, as the Indian quickly leaped on his
back behind me. Henderson adopted the
same plan, and off we went again. We
We're near place of safety, an oasis in the
prairie. The fire is now within few hum
bred yards of us; the Indians are writhing
in pain they say they can't endure the
heat
Now, then, one hundred yards and we
are SAFE cries Henderson. Oh, dear
my clothes are on fire. quick, Harry
We are safe safe ~ and as our horses
struck the edge Of it with their boots the
Indians leapcd and ram Two feet to our
horses one for about two hundred yards,
while at the same time they were tearing
their clothes from their backs.
We were now standing ON the middle ot
the oasis, looking at the mighty heavens,
and-oh what a sublime sight. J have
seen vessels at sea, and / have seen houses
on fire, but they never could be compared
with a prairie on fire-the flames darling
like snakes with their fiery tongues toward
the skies, while the heavens themselves
seemed to be made of gold from the broad
glare of the flames. ana the smoke rolling
i'm dense, curling wreaths upward, which
seemed more like q battlefield, and the
wild birds flying to and fro through the
air uttering the most piercing screams,and
some Of them having all the feathers COM
pletely burned from their bodies, while
Others would fly over the flames and look
the very picture of gold, and then as sud
denly drop down in the fire and perish.
But see the Indians hugging and kissing
Us. and pointing to the demon from which