Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-10-28
\ Terrible STORY.

Mr.. Hunters story is at once graphic
aud thrilling. He resided at FcshlegO with
his wife and little child seven years of age.
Their house was about three miles from the
town, Just ut tie edge of strip of forest.
There had been fires in the woods and prai-
rirs for Il week previously, and night after
night they had sat ut the windows gazing
upon the gorgeous panorama Of fame,
smoke and sparkling Ciuders rs it moved
along the horizon. Very little if any fear
was entertained, rs the course of the fire
seemed away from the town. On Sunday
night they attended chuIch in the VILLAGE
They and MARITIME, the hired man, retired
to rest early, wholly unsuspecting the fear
iul peril that was soon to evcrwhulm them.
At about midnight they were aroused by
the roar and cracking Of the flames. ~
first they were almost pe;riIicd with amaze
ment and fear. The blazing woods seemed
marching upon them. y brisk breeze was
stirring, but the strong currents of hot air
ragged To aud fro with n horrid bowling
sound. Quickly dressing, they rush To the
yard. The sky was thick with smoke, and
showers of sparks were hurled hther and
thither, assailins their faces, eyes and
clothing. From the barn came Il piteous
chorus Of nciShs, bellowings and screams
from the terrified cattle, horses and other
animals After great difficulty they were
released and compelled to 90 out.
The cattle At once stampcdcd from the
fire, but the horses trembled and seemed
paralyzed, their nostrils expanding, their
eyes dIlating and g!aring, and their mouths
frOthing. With great difficulty and haste
they are harnesscd and attached 10 long
lumber box wagon, into which n few arti-
cles were thrown, and the party mounted
and drove oil. An eighth OF mile had
been trtyersed at rapid rate when II sud
den gust OF wind drove mass of rcd-hOt
cinders upon them, filling the air with sti-
Hing smoke. Where the sparks lcll they
burned into the ilesE, The little girl
screamed with .tar: "Oh Mamma, | am
burning up ~ She cried aud othels gruau-
ed, shook oil tho fire, and covered thcm-
selves with blankets. The air fur Il mo-
meut was black, aud breathing was almost
impossible, The horses staggered, backed
ana reared with furious screams, and then
with u plauge that unseated those In the
wagon, mndiy pushed down the r1ad ut al
most lightning speed. All control ol them
was lost, and the party clung TO the sides
of the vehicle 10 keep in. On they tiew,
the wheels striking ilru agnlusl the stones,
and the wagon sWaying 10 aud fro from
one side of tie road 10 the other. rhcn iur
OF ciadors were carried Ia another direction,
rlley could see that AL the northern part
OF the village Was on iilo, aud the flames
seemed moving with tl.e velocity of cl0ii,s
All tho buildings were ~ wood, much ot ID
being pitch pine, aud a. thoge had been
uu rain tOT a lons time, aud the sun had
baked cycD thing dB the hrs an along
thuln - though they had baon train 0f
guup1wder. ,fhe blaze vams lilo moun-
gslnuus wave with a hnin-m--m snd
foir =, and hlss--sa~s and horrible
souuds " fclashlng ehlpneys aui tlu,hafs.
Iho Villagers rushed through tho streets 90
the river, lnio which thay plunged, Tho
horses had reached lhe head VI lhe puncipal
slrsCt whsn the sea of Hams bad begun 80
sursa through a.
Ia la,ss hffa Nas guTtain drstTuri,pu,
gnd " lhe uiallsafd anlassis c3gll u4l ls
iugned doHa llln cfussFnl.d dealh 2as at
hand lur all Mlh sFrAl edit llss IriAs
were drawn aud llls liAi accom- lslisied, sad
on dashed lhs elanssi lesgl, bagIdiRs aEd
lalillna sksT ihn F4sa, A tara NJ thles
ui,les ,,iplp ulnsl N llale h leaeA lhs Tiy-
fI Hal . ulle u l4ssol ani = shsilpa
egsek geaelsi, luia slisA ile hpfs. pluHEs
"a splle n Ai si0ils ikg lhhs ipNy