Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-10-28


the horses, who winny, paw and neigh as
though they appreciated the situation.
Again II start is made, and the party GO
along at high speed. Before the two miles
is reached, the fire has surrounded them.
One part alone is untouched it is a
farm lane running down toward the river.
Into this they turn. Closer and closer
comes the fire. Sparks are scattered over
them, burning where they touch the flesh.
The horses are wild with pain and fright,
and bending down their necks, tear along
with frantic speed \ gate is reached, but
without pausing they dash through it,
scattering the splntered fragme nts like so
many straws. Down the hill they gallop
the river is reached, they leap, and plunge,
and horses, wagon and people are in the
chilly water, midst lumber, logs, ashes,
charred boards, and every kind of rubbish.
| There were also animals of all kinds, in
| tcrninSlcd and struggled and struggling
for life. Here was the elimination of hor-
| rors.
The team becoming exhausted with their
| efforts, finally sank, and were carried away
| by the undercurrent. The other animals
held on like human beings with tEeir feet
to the floating logs and timbcrs, all the
| while uttering the most pitiful moans.
| There were number of persons here, al
up the stream. AS Mrs. Hunter said /:
1--WE stood in the water up to our nccks,
our little girl Minnie being held up between
us. When we first went in the feeling was
that of grateful retreshment. The top of
the water seemed warm, but the bottom
| part was cold. After we had been there
half an hour the wind carried great chips,
| and even pieces of boards, some of them
flaming. These would be whirlcd in the
! air, high up over our heads, and hover like
a huge hawk, and then swoop down upon
us. We could duck our heads under the
water, but would get SO exhausted that
we could not, and then we had to be burn
cd. Poor little Minnie, 50 weak that she
could not cry, would say, Dear papa, |
am burned again. Dear mamma, my feet
arc so cold, and | am so tired.n Three
hours and more thus passed Every min
ute we expected to die. Finally the air be-
came SO hot we could not see. Oar eyes
seemed par boiled. The agony was awful
our feet like ice and. our faces and heads
in an atmosphere of lame. At last there
was rush Of the waters, the dam had
given way, and til" flood came down upon
us, sweeping us of our feet into Il mass of
timber, broken plank some on fire, horses,
cattle, dogs and human beings, all strug-
Cling and shrickinS.''
In the rush and wlirl the almost help
less Mr.. and Mrs. Hunter were separated.
Mrs. Hunter went down and came near
being drowned. Minnie WIS lost and
drowned. BY Il sNerying of the current
they were washed on shore and at day
light found each other. There were many
mourning ard crying over the scene of de-
ISOLATION. On nil sides rs far as the eye
could reach were smouliering fires. The
village was long waste Of ashes; not a
vestiSc remained.
The very turf was eaten away by the de-
youring flames. The dreadful agony of
those who had lost children and other rela-
tivcs, as well as the awful anguish from
burns, was beyond description. People,
nciGhbors, were so SCARED and blackcncd
as not to know each other. Burned and
drowned bodies lay here and there. In one
place there were fourteen, these apparently
having pcrished during flight together.
Two little children lay side by side with
their hands extended toward each other as
though beseeching help. There were other
hcartrending scenes too numerous to men-
ton and impossible to adequately describe
Help came from the adjacent country, and
the sufferers were sent to their friends
NUfrtS6urV T4CgrGyA