The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-11-09

but calmly shaking MS leaQ renamed at his
post. AS his strength and sight began to fail
the helpless group at his feet, then glanced
anxiously toward the wood. Whether he saw
that there was the better chance of safety can
never be known; he reeled suddenly and drop
ped like q shot In his track. When help came
to that group the next day. an unscarred
babe lay 10 the arms of Its dead mother, the
fathers arm about both. They were. of course,
all dead, but the father alone, with one arm
burned off, was unacceptable save by his
giant frame. Even the dog that howled,
smothering in the hot air and Kept In an ecsta-
CIV of restless motion to prevent being roasted
on the hot sands, seemed impressed by the
mans devotion. Wagging delirious Inquiry
with his tail, and nterjectiDg sharp barks, he
seemed to plead with bis obdurate master.
Hopeless of recognition, then he would poke
his nose under the wet blankets, and after q
though deprecating the weakness while his
master stood exposed. Sands growing hot
ter and hotter. the forbearlng brute made for
the woods, but In mid career, and almost In
the performance Of a jig-his legs were kept
moving so brlskly to keep his feet from burn
man that this was the way to safety. No heed
was paid him, and with painful lmps and
piteous whlnes he returned, and settling his
feet on the blanket, stared eagerly at his mas
ter. His poor sInged body was found In that
attitude of love and duty.
FIERY PIT.
At the we'll, which stood nearest the house,
a wretched group had taken refuge-not only
at, but In 1t. Six people flung themselves into
this last resort, counting confidently on it as q
place OF security. Finally. when crippled by
the fire, and exhausted by his long efforts, the
young man Merrill threw himself into that
crowded pit also, the place was packed. Even
here his presence of mind was all that saved a
life where life had very little chance. The
frail wooden curbIng above the mouth had
taken fire, and the flames began to run down.
ward fercely. The paralyzed group dared
not put out their heads, lest the flames should
smother them. But Merrill, Without an
instant's hesitation, uprose and flung the dan
gerous thing away, and the barn-master,
lowering about the edge of the woods,
presently refreshed the smothered victims by
q buckettul of water. The well was, notwilh-
standing, q place of death. The flames,
sweeping savagely over the clearing, lurched
and spit down hatefully into the crowded pit,
and soon the steady blaze from within indlca-
ted the fate of the inmates.
THE BLACK GoLGoTHA.
Here the climax comes; the tragedy Ia COM
plete In this one terrific picture; the light of
the new day revealed only the machinery OF
the horrid masterpiece. The red glare of
night had changed into the bleak dawn, and
the dawn had changed into high noon before
helpful hand broke into the black Golgo.
tha The barn. master Bush, when silence had
fallen upon the place an hour or two before
dawn, took horse and attempted to make
his way to Little Sturgeon; as we'll try to ride
through stone wall. Leaving his horse be-
hind, he struggled, by the bright light Ct the
burning pines, and after lncalculable trouble
in the way and out Of the way, some time
about daylight he came upon the ruins OF q
lumberman's cabin, which by the regu-
lar path was not more than two
miles from the mill. He had been hours
In reaching 1t, and, worn out by the labors and
agony of the night, he sat down to rest.
Presently the owner came, and together the
two men started back to the settlement. They
came first to the well. Merrill, apparently
quite dead, was taken out first. Six more
came after, all dead, save child, crowded be-
low Its mother at the bottom. Merrill soon
gave feeble evidence OF life, and was cared for
at once. Bush ran to the stone to aid the old
woman; the blankets were rolled away. The The
stone was bare. and no vestige OF Mrs. Will
Hanson could be found. Then they came upon
the pit. An indlstIngulshable heap Of arms,
legs and bodies, perfectly still and wholly
naked. was all that remained Of the mass that
came therein abundant LIE few hours be-
fore. They were all dead, and lew OF tnem
recognizable. Seven Williamsons perlshed In
the group, among others the young CIR, whose
long black hair was found clutched In masses
In her uncharred hands.
The darkness of new night threw plying
veil over the scene when the first relief from
outside had succeeded In cutting q way
through. The work of burial began next morn
ing, and hlty-nine were accounted for In the
fatal clearing. The venerable mother WINS
found on the road to Big Sturgeon the day
after her terrible exposure, very feeble and
worn out. She was tenderly cared for, and Is
in iair way to regain what she can count but
spared. Her husband laid his gray hairs in
the terrible holocaust; her whole Kindred pass
ed away In the ravages of that deadly night.
To this day the woods are not clear of their
dead. Bodies in every stage OF decay are con.
stantly brought In by the committees. and
until that is ended the grand total can only be
a matter of conjecture.