The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-09-28
A Sad Story.

An Ottawa, Canada, correspon-
dent Of the New YORK World, wi: 20
has recently been travelling over a
portion ofthe ''burnv district" re-
atessthe following among other
Incidents, Of the great fires, by
which large districts in Canada
have been recently devastated:
Driving on VIC were soon al
most overpowered by the stencil
from the caccasses Of cattle which
had Derished in the flames, their
white bones standing out in bold
relief against the blackc n c d
gronnd. Little mounds by the
roadside marked where other car
cssses had been buried. And
now we come 20 another scene Of
deso!ation, where there bad been,
but few days before, conforta-
ble and happy home. Leaving the
road we drive into ! field toward
two white tents. few hundred
yards distant. On our right vert
the cellar - ..ls on which Il snug
farm house had stood and the re-
mains of o neat little garden,
where flowers had bloomed and
fruit trees blosSomcd and borne
fruit. We halted near the smaller
Of the two tens, and out Of the
larger one came the farmers wife,
n nice looking woman with a
pleasant voice, and with q rosy
little four year old girl cIinging
to her skirts. 1t was Il sad story
she had to tell. the night of the
18th ult., the house, barn, out
buildings, and wood pile were fred,
ss it seemed simultaneously, and
in many places. From the house
afew articles Of clothing and two
feather beds, and from the barn a
road wagon and horse were saved,
and that was all. The barn con-
tanned two years crop Of hay and
grain, having been hauled in that
evening and left upon the CART
Ninety cords of wood ready for
market were consumed. Of eight
COWS, two were burned to death,
and four so badly injured that they
must 60 dry, leaving but two to
furnish milk for the family. Nine
teen sheep perished together, and
were found in a dreadful heap the
next xtmorning. Twoporkers shared
8 similar fate. The money value
of marketable produce alone de-
stroyed here exceeds $1,000. The
scene was described as a terrible
one. Fire rained down from over
head, and 1orkcd tongues Of flame
shot hither and thithcr. The
stumps in the fields were all d
blaze, and the ground strewn with
burning fragments. "We know
not what to do or which way to
turn" said the poor woman.
Finally she harnesscd the horse
70 the wagon (Which had but .
single seat, and placing in it her
uncle and aunt, an aged couple,
shree of her own children, and |
the few clothes and beds saved !
from the house, sho started to !
seek the shelter Of her mothers |
house, a mile or more away. She !
had not gone far before five more
children were added to her load,
and to make room for them this
brave woman stood upon the step
ut the side Of the wagon and drove
the horse down the valley, with
the lire racing and roaring on
either side, and sometimes close
upon her. Indeed, the cotton
dress she wore was burned eff Of
her, as we'll as the hair from her
nead. The clothes and bedding
IN the wagon took fire and had to !;
be thrown out. Then, as the fires
closed IN and the smoke grew
denscr, death came to the old
man, as told in i former letter.
Twice he fell into the road and
was lifted INTO tic wagon again, ;