St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-10-27
VOLUME 35 --NUMBER 1887.
Il Grophic "nd IHIiiiing !,tory.

II ''"I'"" az" IHIHftHO SiOIy-
Mr.. Hunters story is at once graphic
and thrilling. lie resided at Pestcgo
with h;s wife and little child, seven years
of age. Their house was about three
miles from the town, Just ut the cdgc OF
a strip Of forest. There had been fire,
in the woods and prairieS for weeI;
previously, and night after night they
had sat al the windows, gazing upon
the gorgeous panorama OF flame, smoke
and sparkling cinders, as it moved along
the horizon. Very little, if any fear wa-
entertained, as the course OF the fire
seemed away from the town.
On Sunday night they attended church
IN the village. They and MARITIME, the
herdman, retired TO rest early, wholly
unsu-pectlng the fearful peril that was
soon to oYerwhclm them. At about mid
nlght they Were aroused lay the roar and
cracking OF the flames. At first they
were almost petliiied will, amazement
and fear. The blazing woods seemed
marching upon them. \ brisk breeze
was stirring, but the strong currents OF
hot air RACED TO AMI fro with horrid,
bowling sound Q1ickly dressing, they
rushed to tl.r yard. The sky was thick
with smoke, and showers of sparks were
hurled hithcr and thithcr, assaiing their
face, eyes and clothing. From the barn
came piicous chorus Of neighs, below
ngs and screams from the terrified cat
tie, horses and other animals. After
great difficulty they Were released, and
compelled to 20 out. The cattle at once
stampe'ied from the fire, but the horses
trcmhIed and seemed par;lyzed, their
nostrlls expanding, their eyes dlatn"
and glarin%, and their mouths trothin..
With grcat difficulty and haste they were
harncsscd aud attached 10 long lumber
box wagon, into which few articles
were thrown, and the party mounted and
drove oft. An eighth OF Il mile had been
traycrScl At 4 rapid rate, when sudden
gust OF wind drove 4 mass of rcd-hot
cin!cr, upon them, tillin9 the air with
sitting smoke. Where the sparks fell
they burned INTO the flesh The iule
%irl screamed with fear. ''Oh, mamma.
| am burning up" ,hc cried, and the
others groamrd. shook off the fire and
covered themselves with blankets Th.
ar iur 4 moment was black and breath
ing was almost impossible. The horses
staggered, backed, and reared with ia
riou- screams, and then with a plunge,
that unScatrd those in tine wagon. madly
rushed down the road at almost LIGHT
ming -p,eL All control OF them was
lost, lnd the party clung to the sides OF
the ycLnclc 10 keep in. On they flew.
the wheels striking fire against the stones,
and the wagon >waying 10 and fro from
one side OF the road TO the other Then
for Il time, tlle wind changed and the
clouds OF cinders were carried in another
direction. They coull see that all the
northern part o: the village WAS on lire,
and thc flames seemed mOyinn with the
velocity Of clouds. All the buildings
were OF wood, much ot it being of pitch
pine, and is there had been no RAIN for
4 long time, and the sun had baked every
thinl, DRY, the fire ran along them IL
though they hll been Il train of Gun
powder
Mrs. Hunter sud: We stood in the
water up TO our neck>, our little girl
Minnie being held up between us When
we first went in the feeling was that OF
.rltcful relrcShncut. The top Of the
water seemed warm, but the bottom part
. was cold. After we had been there halt
IN hour, the wind carried @reat strips.
anl even pieces OF board, some OF them
iilmin@ These would hc wh:rlcd in
the air, high up over our heads. ami
hover like Il hu9e hawk, and then swoop
down upon IL. We would duel, our
heads unlcr the water, but would get So
exhausted that We could not, and then
We had TO he burned Poor little Min
ME, weak that she could hardly cry.
would say: Dear papa, | am burned
again dear mamma, my feet are 50
cold, and am 50 tired Three hours
and more thus passed Every moment
we expected to de Finally tie air be
came 81 that We could not see Our
eyes seemed parboilcd. The agony wa,
awful. Oar feet Ike ice, and our faces
and head. in an atmosphere Of flame
Vt last there was 4 rush Of the waters.
the dam had given way, and the flood
came down upon ns sweeping Us oft our
feet INTO IA r.,ass OF timber and broken
plank, some on fire horses, cattle, dogs
and human being, all struggling and
shrickin@. In the rush and whirI the
almost helpless Mr. and Mrs. Hunter
were separated. Mrs. Hunter went down
and came near being drowned Minnie
was lost and drowned. By Il swcrvin@
OF the current they were washed on shore,
and at daylight found each other Thcrt
were many mourning and crying over
the scene OF dcsolation Ga all sides, ~
tar as the eye cculd reach, there wcrr
smouldcring fires. The village was II
long waste of a>he- not vr~ti". re
NAMED
tUEEEFIINF>~ 'NpEE DIffICULTITS