South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-10-27

the horses, who whinny, paw and
neigh as though they appreciated
the situation. Again q start ls
made, and the party go along az
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 tow
ard the river. Into this theys:turD
Closer and closer comes the fire.
Sparks are scattered over them,
burning where they touch the flesh!
The horses are wild with pam and
fright. and bending down their
necks tear along with frantic speed.
A gate 10 reached, but without
pausins they dash through it, scat
tering the splIntered fragments
like so many stIaws. Down the
nil they gallopi the river is reach
cd, they leap and plunge, and hors-
es, wagon and people r in the
chilly waters, midst lumber, logs,
ashes, oharred boards and eyry kind
OF rubbish: There were.laIso ami
mails OF all kinds intermiLgled and
struggling for life. Here was the
elimination Of horrors. The team
becoming exhausted with their ef>
forts, finally sank, and we're carried
away by the undrrcurrent. The
other animals held on like human
beings with their feet tO the float
ing logs aud umbers, all the while
uttering the most pitiiuI means
There were a number Of persons
here, although most of the refugees
were further up The stream. AS
Mrs. Hunter said : Ave stood IN the
water up to eur necks, our little
girl Minnie berg held up between
Us. Wher we first went in tho feel
ing was that OF grateful refresh
ment. 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 whiried in the arr, high up over
our heads, and
HOVER LIKE A HUGE HAWK,
and then swoop down upon US.
We would duck our heads under
the water. but would get SO exhaus-
ted that we could no., and then we
had to be burned. Poor little MIN.
ME, so weak that she could hardly
cry, would say, Dear papa. 1 am
burned again. Dear mamma, my
feet are so cold, and l am so tired ?"
Three hours and more thus passed.
Every minute we expected to die.
Finally tho air became so hot we
could not see. Our eyes SCENE par
boiled. The agony was awful Our
feet like ice, ahd our faces and heads
in the atmosphere of flame. At last
there was q rush of the waters, the
dam had given way, and the flood
came down upon Us, sweeping us of
our feet into a mass of timber, bro
ken plank (some on fre1 horses,
cattle, dogs, and human beings, all
struggling and shrieking.
In The rush and whirl the almost
helpless Mr.. and Mrs. Hr-6er were
separated. Mrs. Hunter went down
and came near being dreamed.
Minnie was lost and drowned. by
a swerviug Of the current they
were WASHED on shore and at day.
light found each other. There were
many mourning and crying over
the scene of desolat;on. On all sides
as far as the eye could reach were
smouldering ires. The village was
q long waste Of ashes, not 8 vestIge
remained.
The very turf was eaten away by
tho devouring Aamos. The dread-
full agony of those Who had lost
children and other relatives, as we'll
as tho awful anguish from burns,
was beyond description. People,
neighbors, were SO SCARED and
blackened as not 20 know each 9TH
err. Burned and drowned bodies
lay here and there. In one place
there were fourteen. these apparent
fly having persisted during fight
togather. Two little children lay
side by side with their hands ex-
tended toward each other as though
beseeehing help There were other
h~eartreDding con too numer-
Gus to m, n.Ion and impossible to
adequately describe. Help came
from the adjacent country, and the
gu f,rers were sent to them friends.