Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-25
UNDER THE FLAMES
An Adventure Of the Forest Fires
An Old Veteran Who 8. STAYED To See

gut.
a man named Allison Weaver, who reached
Detroit from Port Huron on Wednesday, had a
narrow and curious escape from being roasted
alive in the north woods. His story is told In the
Detroit Free Press of Thursday:
Weaver is single man, about fifty years DID,
and served all through the war in an Ohio reg-
ment OF infantry. Up to two weeks ago he was
at work for a man named Bright, ten miles from
FoTeStviile, rs fireman of a shingle mill. Two
or three days before the approach of the flames
which eventually destroyed that section, Bright
and his family lett for ForestviIle, and the next
day all the men employed about the place either
followed his example or made haste to reach
their homes. On leaving, BrighS informed his
men that the fire would sweep that way and
warned them to lose TO time in making their
escape. Having no property to lose or family to
take care or, Weaver determined, as he says, "'tO
stay and see the circus out" meaning that he
intended saving the mill if possible. He has a
stubborn sort of spirit, and the fact that every
body else went induced him to STAY.
As soon as the men left he set to work and
buried all the provisions left in the house, and
during the day buried the knives belts and other
light machinery OF the mill, as well as a stove
and quantity of crockery ware. There was
plenty of water in the vicinity of the mill, and he
house, mill, stock and everything which would
burn, scattering several hundred pailfuls OF
water on the ground around the buildings.
When night came and the fire had not ap-
peared, he began to jeer his absent comra AIDES
But his self conceit soon left him. About ten
o'clock the heavens were so light that he could
see the smallest objects around him, and there
was roaring in the forests which sounded like
waves beating against rocks on the shore. He
began to suspect that he would soon receive the
visit predicted, and accordingly made prepare
tons Tor it. In leveling up the ground around
the shingle mill, earth had been obtained by
digging acre and there, and Weaver went to
work and dug ore OF these pits deep enough for
him 70 stand =. p in.
He then iiiled it nearly full of water. and took
care to saturate the ground around 1t for a dis
lance OF several rods. Going to the mill, he
dragged out iour-inch plank, sawed it in two,
and saw that the parts tightly covered the mouth
o. the little well. 81 kalkerlated it would he
tech and 60" said he, "but it was TIE best
could do" At midnight he had every arranged.
and the roaring then was awful to hear The
clearing was ten or twelve acres in extent, and
weaver says that for two hours before the fire
reached him there was a constant flight across
the ground Of small animals. As he rested for
moment from giving the house another wetting
down, horse dashed into the opening at full
speed and made for the house, where he STONED
and turned toward the fire. Weaver could see
him tremble and shake in his excitement and
terror, and felt pity for him. After a moment
the animal gave utterance to a snort of dismay,
ran two or three times around the house, and
then shot OF into the woods like rocket
Not long after this fire came. Weaver stood
by his well, ready for the emergency, yet curious
to sec the breaking in of the flames. The roar
ing increased In volume, the air became opPres-
sive, a cloud of dust and cinders came showering
down, and he could see the flames through the
trees 1t did not run along upon the ground
nor leap from tree TO tree, but IL came on like a
tornado, sheet of flame reaching from the earth
to the top of the trees As ii struck the clearing
he jumped into his well and closed over the
planAs. he could no longer see, but he could
hear. He says that the flames made no halt
whatever, nor ceased their roaring for amin
slant, but he had hardly got the opening closed
before the house and mill were burning like
finder, and both were down in five minutes The
smoke came down to him powerfully, and his
den was so hot thathe could hardly breathe.
He knew that the planks above him were on
IRE, but, remembering their thickness, he waited
till the roaring OF the flames had died away, and
then with his head and hands turned them over
and put out the fire by dash'ng I'D water with
his hands. Although Ii was a cold night, and
the water had at first chilled him, the heat
gradually warmed it up until he says that he
felt very comfortable. He remained in his den
until daylight, frequently turning over the
planks and putting out the fire, and then the
worst had passed. The earth around was on
tire in spots, house and mill were gone, leaves
shaved off and swept with broom and nothing
but SCOT and ashes were to be seen.
After the fire had somewhat cooled off, Weaver
made an examination of his caches, and found
that considerable of the property buried had
been saved, although he lost all his provisions
except piece OF dried beef which the fire had
cooked as in an oven, without spelling il. He
had no other resource than to remain aroundthe
place that day, during the night and the greater
part OF the next day when the ground had cooled
enough so that he could pick his way to the site
or the burned village. He was nearly twelve
hours going the twelve miles, as trees were fall
ing, logs were burning, and the fallen timber
had in some places heaped up breastwork over
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