The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-07-28
A Village on Fire.


a fehFlul EApeFleheus
AMichigau paper publishes private
letter from State Senator MCGOWAN to
his wife, giving au account Of the great
FIRE at Michigammi. After describing
the spread OF the flames in the forests
surrounding the village, he says:
1--WE saw it was useless for US to try
to do anything except, il possible, save
our lives. We ran to the like and got
out OIL q point. But the direction OF
the shore was east aud west, aud the fire
was sweeping down upon MS. I went
to the edge of the water, aud looked up
aud down. The liue of safety seemed
to be in the wnter, and in l went. /
picked up a board six or eight feet long
and waded ont to get better view OF
the situation. Just east Of mo l saw
some men trying to get hown stick in.
to the lake. l went to them, but they
had given Il up and were looking for
boards. l urged them to put in the
timber, aud, ut my solicitation, they
tried again aud we succeeded III launch.
ing it. One OF tho men had plank,
aud hal my board. We laid the board
aud plank across the timber, which was
probably twenty five feet loug, md with
this raft six OF MS put to sea in the
teeth OF furious wind that sought to
drive us iuto the fire. After struggling
awhile, told the men to keep the tim
Der from turning, aud I clainbered mp
astride Of II, near the "bow" end, aud,
with my board for paddle, struck
out. Il was terrible'work. The winds
aud tho waves were against us. The
lake was white with foam. We had
made about four rods from shore when
one Of the tallest aen, letting himself
down, said his feet were OH q rock.
Our strength was almost exhausted, SO
We told him to hold us, tslipped down
from my wooden horse, aud on exAmin'
alton we found the rock large enough
to allow two OF us to stand on 1t. We
took long breath, aud went into com
mittee Of the whole on the situation.
II we should undertake to row our craft
further from the fire, we would soon be
overcome, aud then be blown directly
iutO 1t. The unanimous verdict was,
that we would take our chances there.
The fire was around us, above us, every
where. The water was full OF strug'
Cling people. We held to tho stick.
Two OF us would stand on the rock Mt .
time aud anchor the rest, who iloated
like sea weeds from along the sides o.
the timber. When the hot air sweep
down upon us, We put our faces close u
the water aud shut our mouths. Fol
au hour aud q half We were there il
the water, and l became terribly chilled
By aud by the worst Of the fire wa,
over, aud n couple Of Swedes came to
ward lis with boat. l was the wors
used up Of any of the party, thorough,
chilled aud exhausted. My companion
called to them to come aud take mo of
They helped me into the boat, and thu
Swedes took mo to the little steamer
which was anchored further ont in the
lake. I gave them 50 to 40 back ant
bring of another OF the boys who wa
also badly chilled. AS soon rs I go
aboard the boat / commenced wringin[
my clothes as well rs / could aud exor
cising all / was able. The hot air ani
smoke had made my lungs 80 sore
could not breathe deep, aud every
breath was painful. However the ali
was still warm from the fire, aud grad
unlly grew warmer. We sent ever,
boat we could after tho people in the
water, and on the points, until ut las
our little steamer was loaded. The fire
had swept by where our raft was, Ant
the balance Of our little party had 10
loose from the rock aud honted ashore
We wero all saved. The mill was still
standing, but not ont Of danger. Ate
they had sounded the whistle, the PEG
pie commenced gathering there. / col
not describe the scene hero. I don
want to try. The women and children
and men rushing about and crying ant
begging to know something OF the ab
sent ones. You may imagine it, don
ask me to tell it. The whole villag,
was burned. Out OF 100 houses, onl,
three were left standing, aud one o
those was burning before we left. L
was impossible to tell how many live
were lost.