Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-04
A NARROW ESCAPE.
How n Mot her and Her Five Chfldr rem
Fled from fire.

correspondent writes from Michigan:-A
thrilling incident and miraculous escape from
death in the case OF the family OF five chill
dren of Mr.. William Mann, of Rock Creek.
When the mother saw that they must leave their
home, after fighting the ire ali day, she told the
children give in number) to go 10 the lake and
she would follow as soon as she had gathered up
a few articles to take with her. They reached
the lake just in time TO be taken into fishing
boat, which three neighbors were about to shove
of in. The mother in the meantime had gath
cred up what she could carry, and started for
the lake, hut found the road which her children
had taken 80 full of smoke and fire, and falling
trees, that she took another course through the
woods, coming out some distance above where
the children had. She knew not whether her
pets had passed through the fiery ordeal safely
or not. She naturally feared the worst but fl
nally heard they had been taken Of by the boat.
Here commences the romantic and thrilling
part OF the story. There was not an oar or sweep
on board; piece of board was all they had to
control the boat with. For some time the boat
rode gently upon the water, all the time work
ing little out from shore, although they did not
realize, on account of the density of the smoke,
how far they were getting from shore. They
presumed they could easily return at their
pleasure. 1t soon became apparent, on account
Of the roughness OF the lake, that they were
rapidly drifting into the lake, and they made all
the efforts they possibly could TO guide their I'M
wieidy craft back toward the shore. Hour after
hour they labored, but all was in vain. They
knew that if they continued to drift death was
almost sure. Ali were in the greatest despair.
The oldest of the children, girl of eleven
the baby almost constantly during that terrible
trip. On they went, the waves frequently
breaking over them-of course all were wet and
cold. Night came on with Egyptian darkness
After weary and long, long hours of suffering,
daybreak was joyously hailed. They were now
beyond the smoke of the burning forests. They
were sure they would soon hail some vessel. All
day long they looked, until darkness again set in
without seeing sail. At about two O'Clock in
the morning of the third day out, one of Mrs.
Mann's children, a boy Of three summers, died
hunger w pr. a ia1 xuaS
lying in the bottom of the boat with water half
over Its little body. The little eleven years old
girl said she wanted the men in the boat to put
1t on the bedding, but they would not, and She
coud not do it. The children did not cry much
on the last day, as all were nearly exhausted.
Finally, after three days and nights, they were
their wants were speedily attended to- and from
there sent to Port Huron.
During these three days, the reader can imag-
Inc the mothers feelings. Everybody that
knew of the circumstances supposed of course
they had gone to the bottom OF the lake. The
mother came into Port Huron, and at once went
to the relief rooms. After making herself
in piteOus sobs and means (she had supposed
them all dead till this moment), Mrs. Fred.
Wells, the secretary of the Relief Association,
told her her children were here, well and APP
parently happy. / cannot picture the scene.
" Oh is it SO is it SO ?" "God bless their lit
tie hearts," "where are they ?' Take me
to them at once !" Mrs. Wells informed her
they were near by, and she would take her there
at once, Another and more painful part of the
story was yet % be told Mrs. Mann. How to do
this was query, all the ladies in the room
At last Mrs. Mann began to ask her how Emma
was, and then the next one. Finally she asked
how little Charley was No one answered for
moment. She looked up and saw at once all
was not right is he dead? is he dead 2" and
commenced weeping rs only fond and loving
mother can, for the loss of her boy.