Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-04
Grcled bY Fire.

PARTY OF HUNTERS IN PERIL.
On Thursday, October 8, party OF five Cleve-
laDders started for northern Michigan, for the
purpose of hunting, intending TO 90 about
seyenty-fiye miles north of Saginaw, where
game OF almost every description abounds. One
of their number tells what happened:
Reports reached us that by going into Clare
county we could get nd of the fires In the woods,
and consequently we started for that point. Ar
irving at this point we then went about fifteen
miles still further north, where we found all
kinds of game, and had just settled in camp,
intending to enjoy a good hunt, when we sud
denly became aware Of the fac. that
fires were approaching from the south
east. and that unless we had rain soon we should
be obliged to move. All day Monday dense
direction, and toward night il became evident
TO all that the fires were approaching very rap
idly and over the ground we should be obliged
10 take 10 get out of the wilderness. But one
way for retreat was left open, and that was
through an unbroken wilderness TO Lake HUI
ron, distance OF about seventy-fye miles To
gage and provisions, and trust 70 our slight eT-
perience in hunting and wOodcraft for means OF
subsistence.
About O'Clock on Monday evening the fire
had approached 50 near that sparks and cinders
showered into our camp. About nine O'Clock
falling trees could be distinctly heard in the
distance, and in the course Of half an hour hun
dreds OF those hugh pines could be heard crash
ng TO the ground at once, making q noise re-
sembling the discharge of a thousand cannons
All kinds of game, such as bear, deer, elk, foxes
all trying 10 gain the low land surrounding a
small lake to the north of us, while the air was
completely filled with birds Of every description
that abound in the northern part of Michigan
The darkness so enveloped US that only occa-
sionally could we see this swarm of wild ami
mails as they dashed past us; but the noises made
by the tread OF their feet, mingled with the low,
sulen growl of the bear, the piercing scream of
panther, the hOarse howl OF the wolf the we'll of
The wild cat, the timd bleat of the frightened
deer, the screams OF the thousands of birds and
their WINGS Will he srrff
roar OF the approaching hre and thunder like
crashes of thousands Of huge pines, continually
falling, rendered the scene one at least not 10
be enyied by us.
All night long we watched the approach of
the fiery fend. Guards were appointed 20 watch
while the rest slept, although none felt like sleep
that night. By four O'Clock Thursday morning
the fire had approached within one-half mile OF
ms, and the scene that presented itself TO view
was one OF unsurpassed grandeur. Thousands
Of the tallest pines of Michigan were COMPLETELY
enveloped I'm flames, which shot up MANY feet
above the tree tops. just at daylight three OF
US started north to try and ascertain the exact
, m;Ie W. SG. after going perhaps over halt
was cut on Here, indeed, was a dilemma
In the very heart of an almost unbroken will
derness, surrounded by fire, one of our party
unable 10 be moved, wild animals of every de-
scription dashing by in every direction, Il was
time that something be done, and that with All
possible haste. Hurrying back TO camp, which
decided to dig. Our intentions were TO dig into
The bank place large enough for our sick guide.
hen saturate our own clothes and blankets with
water, and burn back a. rapidly As possible.
This could be done on a prairie, where FIRE
travels rapidly and soon goes out but in the
pine timber, where the ground In some places
turns three feet deep, ii was, to say the least,
rather uncertain.
While thus engaged, one OF the party fairly
screamed, "Rain, rain, raini Boys, il rains,b
For an instant we all suspended operatiops IN
see II this was true, when, sure enough, we felt
sge dfope upon our faces and bare arms In
hfteen minutes IL was raining quite ffeely vhich
o dampened the leaves that the spread OF the
Ore was checked, and in two hourss time mncb
It the ire was extinguished.