Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-10-27
nailv s|rnnrbtt sournal.
UNDER THE FLAMES.

reached DetTOlt from IOGJ huron on W cur
nesday, had narrow and curious escape
from being roasted alive in the north
woods. His story is told in the Detroit
Free Press of Thursday;
weaver is a single man, about illty
years old, and served all through the war
in an Ohio regiment of infantry. Up to
two weeks ago, he was at work Tor man
named Bright, ten miles from Forestville,
as fireman of single mill. Two or
three DAYS before the approach of the
flames, which eventually destroyed that
section, Bright and his family left for For
estville, and the next day all the men en-
ployed about the place either followed his
example or made haste to reach their
homes On leaving, Bright informed his
men that the fire would sweep that way,
and warned them to lose no time in max
ing their escape. Having no property to
lose or family to take care for, Weaver de-
termined, as he says. ito stay and see the
circus OUT meaning that he intended saw
ing the mill if possible. He has a stub
born sort of spirit, and the fact that
everybody else went induced him to stay.
As soon as the men left he set to work
and buried all the provisions left in the
house, and during the day buried the
knives, belts, and other light machinery
of the mill, as well as stove and guam
tity of crockery ware. There was plenty
of water in the vicinity of the mill. and
he filled several barrels full, besides wet
ting down house, mill, stock, and every
thing which would burn, scattering sew
eral hundred pailfuls of water on the
ground around the buildings.
When night came and the fire had not
appeared. he began to jeer his absent
comrades. But his self-conceit soon left
him. About ten clock the heavens were
so light that he could see the smallest OBJ
iects around him. and there was roaring
in the forests which sounded like waves
beating against rocks on the shores. He
began to suspect that he would soon re-
ceiye the visit predicted, and accordingly
made preparations for it. In leveling up
the ground around the shingle mill, earth
had been obtained by digging here and
there, and Weaver went to work and dug
one of these pits deep enough for him to
stand up in.
He then filled it nearly full of water,
and took care to saturate the ground
around it for distance of several rods |
Going to the MILL he dragged out "a four
inch plank, sawed it in two, and saw that |
the parts tightly covered the mouth of the
little WELL 4 kalkerlated it would be tech |
and co. but it was the best could do
At midnight he had everything arranged, |
and the roaring then was awful to hear. |
The clearing was ten or twelve acres in |
extent, and Weaver says that for two |
hours before the fire reached him there |
was constant flight across the ground of |
small animals. As he rested a moment |
from giving the house a wetting down, n |
do iafc fba f,lI
speed and made for the house, where he |
stopped and turned toward the fire.
Weaver could see him tremble aud shake
IN his excitement and terror, and felt
pity for him. After moment the animal
gave utterance to snort of dismay, ran
two or three times round the house, and
then shot off into the woods like rocket.
Not long after this the fire came. Weaver
stood by his well, ready for the emerg-
ency, yet curious to see the breaking in of
the flames The roaring increased in
volume. the air became oppressive, a
cloud of dust and cinders came showering
down, and he could see the flame through
the trees. 1t did not run along the ground,
nor leap from tree to tree, but it came on
like tornado, a sheet of flame reaching
from the earth to the tops of the trees AS
it struck the clearing he jumped into his
well and closed over the planks. He could
no longer see, but he could hear. He says
the flames made no halt whatever, nor
ceased their roaring for an instant, but he
had hardly got the opening closed before
the house and mill were burning like tin
der, and both were down in five minutes.
The smoke came down to him powerfully,
and his den was so hot that he could hard
ly breathe.
He knew that the planks above him.
were on fire, but, remembering their
thickness, he waited till the roaring of the
flames had died away, and then with his
head and hands turned them over and put
out the fire by dashing up water with his
hands. Although it was a cold night, and
the water had at first chilled him, the heat
gradually warmed it up until he says that
he felt very comfortable. He remained
in his den until daylight, frequently turn
ing over the planks and putting out the
fire, and then the worst had passed. The
earth around was on fire in spots, house
and mill gone, leaves, brush and logs were
swept clean away as if shaved off and
swept with a broom, and nothing but SCOT
and ashes We're to be seen.
Alter the fire had somewhat cooled off
Weaver made an investigation of his
caches and found that considerable of the
property buried had been saved, although
he lost all his provisions except piece of
dried beef, which the fire had cooked as
ansoven without spelling it, He had
no other resource than to remain around
the place that day, and during the night,
and a greater part of the next day, when
the ground had cooled enough so that he
could pick his way to the site of the
burned village. He was nearly twelve
hours going the twelve miles, as trees
were falling, logs were burning, and the
fallen timber had in some places heaped
up abreastwork, over which no one could
eli. L.