The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-11-02
Miscellany.
A Night of Terror-The Tornado of Fire
in Michigan-The EXP erience OF a
Man who Staid to See it Out
Taking Refuge in a Well.

from Port Huron on Wednesday, had mar,
row and curious escape from being roasted
alive in the north woods. Weaver is sim
gle man, about 80 years old, and served all
through the war in an Ohio regiment OF In
fantry. Up to two weeks ago he was at
work for man named Bright, ten miles
from Forestville, as fireman for ashingle mill.
Two or three days before the approach OF the
flames, which eventually destroyed that Sec
ton, Bright and his family LETT for Forest
vile, and the next day all the men employed
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 making their escape
Having no property to lose or family to care
for, Weaver determined, as he says, ito stay
and see the circus out" meaning that he in
tended saving the mill if possible. He has
a stubborn 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 also buried the
knives and other light machinery of the mill
as we'll as q stove and quantity OF crockery
ware. There was plenty If water in the
vicinity ofthe mill, and he filled several wells
full. besides wetting down house, mill, stock,
and everything which would burn: scattering
several hundred pailfuls Of water on the
ground around the buildings.
When night came, and the fire had not
appeared, he began to jest his absent COM
rades. But his sclf.conceit soon LETT him.
About 10 o'clock the heavens were so light
that he could see the smallest objects around
him, and there was a roaring in the forests,
which sounded like the waves beating against
rocks on the shore. He began to suspect
that he would soon receive the visit predlc-
ted, and accordingly made preparations tor
it. In lcveling up the ground around the
shinglc 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 filed 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 four-inch plank, sawed
it in two, and saw that the parts tightly COW
cred the mouth of the little well 81 cal
Related it would be tech and 60" said he,
"but it was the best l could do" At mid
night be had everything arranged, and the
roaring then was awful to hear. The clear
ing 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 moment from giving the house ano-
ther wetting down, horse dashed into the
opening at full speed, and made for the
house, when he stopped and turned towards
the fire. Weaver could see him tremble and
shake in his excitement and terror. and felt
. pity for him. After moment the AMI
NAL gave utterance to snort of dismay, ran
two or three times around the house, and
then shot off into the woods like rocket.
Not long after this the fire came. Wea-
yer stood by his well, ready for the emergen-
ey, vet curious to see the breaking in Of the
flames. The roaring increased in volume,
the air became oppressive, cloud of dust
and cinders came showering down, and ne
could see the flames through the trees. 1t
did not run along upon the ground, nor leap
from tree to tree, but it came on like tor
nado, sheet of fame 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 not long
O. see, but he could hear. He says that the
flames made no halt whatever, nor ceased
their roaring for an instant, but he had hard
ly got the opening closed before the house
and mill were burning like tinder, and both
were down in FIVE minutes. The smoke
came down to him powerfully, and his den
was 80 hot that he could hardly 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 outathe 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 he felt very comforta-
bly,. -, r,
He remained in his den until daylight.
frequently turning over the planks and put