Middletown transcript., 1871-12-02

ing Two bOoms, one farm, ono store, ono
national bank, one incomplete rnilrond,
one eternal security 6rc insurance COM
pany, ono saw-mill, one large dam, aud
one thousand acres Of pine land. ahead Of
him, Seeing his wifc look anxious. he
sought to cheer her by telling her that he
had sold tho old place. and would move
into Lac Du Dois village next year, and
build her the finest house in the place.
But somehow this did not cheer the heart
of Mrs. John Harrison at all And John
Harrison. senior, still worked away at the
problem whether 80 much success was
worth what it cost.
That was an awful October. There was
destruction in the very air, which hung
heavy and lifclcss over the country like
pail. The clouds had curious, sooty
look. The earth had been so utterly
parched, and the sooty clouds had so lit
tic promise Of moisture in them, that pco-
pie trcmbcd. John Harrison's mind was
full Of forcboding. lie that has many in.
/ vcstments has given many hostages.
The first blow came.
" Mr. Harrison, the Shcbanaaway pine
rics are all ahrc." said n ncighbor, as he
drove hurriedly past in the evening That
accounted for the smoke which was now
closing about them. John Harrison look.
ed anxiuusl out at the murky atmosphere
until hidcous aud unnatural night set
tied over the scene. Then h, went in
and shut the doors. while Mrs. John liar
rison watched his face Then there came
quick, sharp rapping at the door. Mr.
Harrison started, and his face grew white
Will, terror.
/ d" Mr. Harrison. Mr. johnson sent me
ou, to tell you that nll the timber about
Lake piichamnlogue and the head waters
/ Of the Cataqua River is on fire. and that
the booms are destroyed. though they
wouldn't be worth anything without logs.
The dam on the Ca,aqua River is burnt
and the sawmill men in your mill on the
lake have come down, aud say that moth
ing can save the mill
! What John harrison thought or felt
that night, nobody knew The dam. the
mill, the booms. the pincrics. were gone,
AMI he knew that the bankruptcy Of sew
cral numbering firms by the fire you'll
ruin the bank But Li5 disastcrs followed
one another like jobs. i, daylight there
seemed To be nm unusual number of wag.
ons hqrrying by, and the sleeplcss John
Harrison went out to his gate to inquire
what the matter was.
" Why. you sec" said one man. +" it
seems MI the worlds aiirc fvcry,hing's
burnt to about ten miles aho1e the village
Of Lac Du Bois, and nothing can save
that y
John Harrison salllcd hi, horse he
must =, To town to look after the paper,
in the banl. aud some things in the store
lie left the family in his fathers care, and
said tha, il the fire really threatened the
village he should return aud move them
to place Of safety. The village would o.
course burn first.
l}u, John Harrison did not know how
near the fire was. Before he reached ,h,
village the hoarsc, thundcrous roar Of tho
flames was in his cars The eindcrs wcr,
all about him There was something nw
ful in the ds,inc,ncss Of the sound IL,
could not tell where it was. Sometime,
il seemed ahead Of him. Then it was be-
hind him At last his mind was so ful
idea lha, his family were in danger, tha
he turned his horse and started TO %
back But column of fire had com,
into tie road behind him, and he coulc
not return lie was beaten back towar,
the village. hr. so diytrcssed was he abou
his wife aud children that he saw the banl
and store burn almost wit.egt pang
though be knew thg, he hal not n cen
left,
When the fa,lcr qf John Harrison saw
the 6rcry hgrricafa Gaming, he took tn
fnmily and fled half a mile to the Cataiui
River They got into th, boat, all bu
Harry the oldest boy. aud then the ref
ugccs on the road. having left their wag
ons, filed the boat 50 full that llarr
could no, get footing in IT, The mo,hc
saw strange man scisc lIarry's hand nn'
hurry up the stream toward another boat
already filling with people. Then tn
smokc shu, him out Of her sight, aud ,h
, boat was compelled to push out from tn
shore. leaving many poor wretches to per
ish. Thus they crossed the Cataqu
River and hurried on. doubtful Of tn
safety Of the head Of the family. and NOR
than anxious for poor little Harry.
A week Of anxious search. when th
' G,c was over. was spent before John lIar
, risop Ess able to find his family in tn
] village yherc they had taken refuge. An
{ all the advertising and writing aud in
r auring which they did brough. no new
!, of Harry. So. sadly and desperately, the
: went back on TO the farm which Ilarriso
y bought again on credit There were chat
: red bodies Of men and women and chill
!. ron on the shore. Which was Harry
o they could not tell They buried ,hr,
! bodles, either Of which they ,hougl
k might be his
The rude cabin you will see It in on
j. Of the corners Of the picturc) was hasti|
@ put together. With no furniture. no moi
j. ey. and no food for tho winter, they bcgu
v life over again. But II vas not the banl
IA rcr kho storc uor TIN hooms nor the mil