Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-09-30
Graphic Account OF the Great C0nfla-
grafton In the Canadian Woods.
From the N5su York Times, Sept. 10.

From the NeaD York Times, Sept. ID.
MEssas. James s. Randle and Fl. e.
Dodge, Of this city Gilbert f. Spencer,
Of Chicago, and John W. Dudley, of New
Haven, Conn, have just returned from
Canada-from the vast district which was
recently burnt. They encountered ter
rible ordeal of fire and smoke, and were
almost famished, barely escaping with
their lives. They furnish the following
account of the terrible confagration:
"After having made long journey in
carriages, viewing certain lands in which
we were interested, we drew near to what
seemed to be large village on fire. We
did not dream of the near APPROACH of dam
ger, although the blaze was reflected in
the firnament, and lighted up our road
with an indescribably beautiful radiance
It made the sand and pebbles in the road
look like precious stones. The dark edges
of the woods also seemed surrounded by
huge Pickering shadows. As the night
advanced the glow and glare grew bright
er, until at last its intensity warned US
that an extensive confagration was in
progress We continued on toward it,
however, wholly unconscious of the great
danger into which we were going. AT
length, after an omin0us silence, Mr. Dud-
ley said: "Great God believe the world
is ON fire !" Just then great flash lit up
the road from behind US. We looked back,
and were surprised at the sight. A low
moor between the forests, perhaps ten
miles in width, covered with dry grass,
was in a blaze, and the fire flying sWifter
than locomotive. At the same time the
been growing hot, became almost unbear-
Ii A "a g l. ,<,1A Ill Go >,f
ciEders that dropped about US. The
horses trembled and neighed with fright,
and as the hot cinders touched them, they
became almost ungovernable. The earth
seemed to be vast fiery furnace. and the
heat came putting past our faces like the
glow from forge. Our eyes ached and
smarted with the smoke and ashes. Sew
eral times our clothing caught fire from
the falling Goals Now we were hemned
in on three sides by the ire-fend, and the
only avenue of escape was the road along
side the course of creek, where the
flames had not yet reached. Down this
road our horses plunged at a rapid gait.
The poor animals screamed with terror as
the cinders showered about them, and the
velocity of our progress was 80 terrific
that we had TO hold on with all our
might, as the wagon went whirling and
crashing over stones. At last we came to
bridge, and reined down to the stream,
hoping to gather some relief by plunging
in the water, for our flesh seemed roast
ing. We dashed in the horses, neighing
and paving, up to their backs in the
deepest part. It seemed only mo-
ment before all the country was suddenly
sheeted in flame our road was cut of,
and but a narrow stretch of marsh
land was free from the flames. We aban-
doned the horses to their fate and dashed
over the swamp. Now we would be in
mire up to our knees-Mr. Spencer nearly
sank to his neck-and come out all cover
ed with slime at length, however, we
came to dry ground where the fire had
spent its fury, and left blackened cbarred
wilderness of posts, stumps and sod. At
daylight we came to an opening where a
farmhouse had stood. Here was sad
spectacle, at the sight of which we forgot
our own situation. The embers Of the
fire were yet smouldering, and some of
The blackened timbers lay over the foun-
dation uDconsumed. The barn was en-.
tirely gone, wagcn-tires and iron-work,
with the skeletons of cattle scattered
around. The well was uncovered, and
we looked down upon the body of man
clasping young girl. They had evi-
IDENTIFY been suffocated from the foul gas
while seeking escape from the fire. AS
we moved away from the scene toward
the house, we saw the figure of woman
with babe in her arms Both bodies
were half consumed, Two miles further
on we came to another scene of desola.
ton. A house lay in ruins in the midst
Of charred and blackened waste. A
cow-shed had escaped, and in this were
the family, all but one. The mother
commenced to tell her tale of suf.
fering, but broke down with grief
The husband said they had been
surprised in the night, and hurriedly es
capped through the binding, choking
smoke. There were five children, the
eldest being 16, and the youngest 8
Three times he rushed into the burning
house, each time rescuing a child. The
mother was almost insensible from fright
and he had to drag her out by main force
A little one, years old, the pet of the
family, stood and said take jamie anC
Mollie (the two younger ones) first, pa
pa,' and waited patiently until her turn
By some means, in the confusion of thu
hour, he thought she had been rescued
until her voice, now in tones of alarm
cried out, 'Oh, papa take me, take nat
tool Come, papa! come, papaP TIL
father dashed toward the house, whicl
was now tottering in ths flames, but wa
too late. He had hardly placed his foo
upon the stairs when the roof fell in, ant
the entire structure came crashing down
.Ah | sir, would have gone in and die
with her, but remembered the others
Z But I'll never forgive myself-neyel
never 7
''The names of this family are Tsl
madge; the others were Cornwall"
The narrators of the above saw man