Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-10-27

entertained, as the course of the fire seem
ed away from the town.
! On Sunday night they attended church
in the village. They and MARITIME, the
herdman, retired to rest early, wholly
unsuspecting the fearful peril that was
soon to overwhelm them, AT about mid
night they were aroused by the roar and
cracking of the flames, AT first they
were almost petrfied with amazement
and fear. The blazing woods seemed
marching upon them. A brisk breeze
was stirring, but the strong currents of
hot air ragged to and fro with a horrid,
bowling sound. Quickly dressing, they
rushed to the yard. The sky was thick
with smoke, and showers of sparks were
hurled hther and thither, assailing their
faces, eyes and clothing. From the barn
came piteous chorus of neighs, below
ings and screams from the terrified cattle
horses and other animals. After great
difficulty they were released and compel
led to go out. The cattle at once STAN
peded from the fire, butthe horses tremb-
led and seemed paraIyzed, their nostrils
expanding, their eyes dilating and glar-
ing, and their mouths frothing. With
great difficulty and haste they we're har.
messed and attached to a lumber box
wagon, into which a few articles were
thrown and the party mounted and drove
off. An eighth of mile had been trav-
ersed at rapid rate, when sudden gust
of wind drove mass of red hot cinders
upon them, filling the air with sitting
smoke. Where the sparks fell they burn
ed into the flesh. The little girl scream
ed with fear, sob anna, Fam burning
up, she cried, and the others groaned
shook off the fire, and covered themselves
with blankets. The air for moment
was black and breathing was almost i'm
possible. The horses staggered, backed,
and reared with furious screams, and
then with plunge, that unseated those
in the wagon, madly rushed down the
road at almost lightning speed. All con-
troll of them was lost, and the party
chung to the sides of the vehicle to keep
in. On they flew, the wheels striking
fire against the stones, and the wagon
swaying to and fro from one side of the
road to the other. Then, for time the
wind changed and the clouds of cinders
were carried in another direction. They
could see that all the northern part OF
the village was on fire, and the flames
seemed moving with the velocity Of
clouds. All the buildings were of wood
much of it made of pitch pine, and as
there had been no rain for long time
and the sun had baked everything dry,
the fire ran along them as though they
had been train of gunpowder.
| Mrs. Hunter said We stood in the
water up to our necks, our little girl Min
ME being held up between us. When we
first went in the feeling was that of CRATE
full refreshment 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 strips, and
even pieces of board, some of them fam.
ing. These would be whirled in the air
high up over our heads, and hover like
huge hawk, and then swoop down up
on us. We would duck our heads under
the water, but would get so exhausted
that we could not, and then we had to
be burned. Poor little Minnie, so weak
that she could hardly cry, would say
Dear papa, l am burned again; dear
mama, my feet are SO cold, and l am SO
tired" Three hours and more thus pas
sed Every moment we expected to die.
Finally the air became SO that we could
not see. Our eyes seemed parboiled. =
The agony was awful. Our feet like ice,
and our faces and heads in an atmos-
phere of flame. At last there was a
rush of the waters, the dam had given
way, and the flood came down upon us,
sweeping us off our feet into mass of
timber and broken plank, some on fire
horses, cattle, dogs and human beings,
all struggling and shrieking. In the
rush and whirl the almost helpless Mr.
and Mrs. Hunter were separated. Mrs.
Hunter went down and came near being
drowned. Minnie was lost and drowned
By swerving of the current they were
washed on shore, and at daylight found
each other. There were many mourning
and crying over the scene of desolation.
On all sides, as far as the eye could reach
there we're smouldering fires. The vii
lage was long waste of ashes not
vestige remained.
KITCHEN DRAINs.-Nothing should
be put in a kitchen drain that will not
easily dissolve and run off with the water.
10 prevent the drain from filling up from
greasy water and soap-suds, dissolve pot
ash in boiling water and pour down the
sink. This will keep it clean and sweet.
IF your drain is small or crooked yo,