New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-28

pied TO notice these indications Of an I'M
pending storm, but now that observed
them felt that the warnings they convey
ed were not to be disregarded. / hoped,
nevertheless, to be able to get back to the
village, or, at all events, so far as the open
road along the sea-shOre, before the storm
burst: for knew that ] should be subjected
to considerable inconvenience, If not posi-
tive danger, if Oyertaken by it while IN the
forest. I therefore, notwithstanding the
darkness, tore along the road at a rapid
pace The horse, indeed, seemed to sympa-
thize with my uneasiness, and scarcely
needed urging to putf0rth his utmost speed.
had barely ridden a mile, however,
when the low mutteTings Of the approach
ing storm became distinctly audible. The
wind began TO sigh mouInfully through the
trees, until, at the expiration OF few
minutes, it uGdenly rose-as it frequently
does in these latitudes-tO a perfect hurri-
cane; the tall pines bent before the blast
like grain in harvest time; branches and
even limbs, torn from their parent trunks,
strewed the road, while every now and
again was heard the crash of some falling
tree, which, weakened with age, was uD-
able longer to stand the fury of tine gale.
Flash after flash of the most vivid light
ming l have almost ever beheld succeeded
| each other in rapid succession, the heavy
! pcals Of thunder reveberating over my
! head; the rain, too, at intervals came down
! in heavy showers. 1t was, in fact, as the
fool says in "King Lear" "a naughty night
! to swim in
! At last terrific fash of lightning fol-
! lowed by the sharp report the electric fluid
| ALWAYS makes when it strikes, warned me
! that a new danger was impending; that
! tree had been struck, and that, i'll all pro
| liability, the woods would shortly be on fire.
! Nor was / mistaken. In less time than l
! could have believed it possible for the
a. 80 no y7f1T lrYpTI 0rIa tp
the right, apparently about a mile distant,
| proved that the forest il that direction had
! become prey TO the devouTing element.
| No rain had fallen for the previous six
! weeks, and, notwithstanding it was now
coming down rather heavily, the fire spread
among the dry, resinOus pine trees with
| fearful rapidity, threatening to completely
! cut off my retreat. Could /, indeed, but
once get to the fork of the roads, knew |
| should be comparatively safe; for as soon as
! / entered the lane leading to Babylon the
! wind would face me and drive the flames in
an opposite direction. The doubt was
| whether should be able to get SO far with
out being intercepted by the fire, Still it
| was my only chance, and drove furiOusly
on, half blinded by the dense volumes of
smoke which rolled across my path, while
myTiads of sparks shot up every now and
! again, from the burning forest.
! At last / reached the fork of the roads,
| but not minute too soon Tor the flames,
with an eager, hungry roar, were rushing
furiously forward, at a right angle with the
road, distance Of less than two hundred
| yards.
! l turned the corner and dashed into the
| Babylon road. The danger was past: and
1T was with a comparatively light heart
| drove the remainder of the distance.
The fire proved one of the most destruC-
| tive ever known in those woods; and, not
withstandng the fact that the rain came
! down heavily for many hours, swept seven al
! hundred acres completely clear Of timber,
| leaving nothing but the charred and black
| ened stumps of the trees remaining.
The search for the half-breed was unsuc-
cessful; and it was thought that he had
! quilted that part of the island. But, some
| DAYS after the fire had subsidized, party of
| villagers, whom curiosity bad led to visit
the scene Of the late COnfagration, came
across a small heap of charred bones, among
which were several metal buttons and the
remains of pOwderfask, which were at
once recognized as having belonged to I'm
! dian John" There could, therefore, be but
little doubt that, being on foot, the half
breed had been unable to Outstrip the
flames, and had persisted miserably in the
! burning forest.