The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-07-14

tue Wlnu, anu the very ehrtn ltselt
trembled beneath the tread Of our giant
as It spurned the rails with It's iron reel,
and swept forward on It's way. One
moment and we were in the very midst
Of the fire. The ties were burning fierce
ly, bright tongues OF flame shot up all
around us, and kissed each other over
the tops Of our car, and the red hot
rails bent under the weight OF the train
as 1t sped onward through the gaunt-
let OF Are.
It was, indeed, fearful moment.
Every door and window was closed, 10
keep out the deyouring element, yet
the atmosphere OF the coaches was as
hot as the air OF hades, and the glass
windows shiyered by the excessive heat,
kept cracking and adding to the tui
multi
II rail should break, or bend too
much, all would be over. 0ur lives
were worth little at that moment, and
few life insurance agents would have
granted us policy on any considera-
tion. .i.ft q
This terrible state Of affairs could
not lAst long. One Of two things must
happen we would either soon be safe
ly through the fames-or stopping in
their midst be deyoured by them in
their fierce play around US. =
The yarnish in the coaches was melt
ing, the woodwork Of the sides, tops,
and bottoms Of the cars, was almost hot
enough to ignite, and already the out
sides were smoking, when we suddenly
emerged into cool, pure air, beyond the
belt Of fire. Hastily doors and windows
were thrown open, though many hands
were blistered in the operation, and we
rushed out again on the platforms TO
get some chance OF breathing without
inhaling the fumes OF boiling yarnish
and smoking wood. The last coach OF
the train was discovered TO be on fire,
and its occupants were thropging for
warl into the other cars. But we could
not check our speed 10 e1tinguish the
flames yet, for our old enemy was Civ
ing US smart chase, and pressing sharp
ly on our rear, seemingly bent on our
total destruction.
Three miles further up the track stood
a watering tank, so the conductor said,
and toward this we hurried on. We
were running rapidly, and It did not
take US long to reach the place. Here
we came to stand still. The locomo-
tive was plentifully supplied with leath-
ern buckets, and these we at once began
using dexteriously. Water was plenti-
fully dashed on the burning coach, I'm
til It was thoroughly drenched the
other cars, badly heated and charred,
were also cooled, and then we rested
from our labors and surveyed the train.
It was terribly damaged. Every plank
was more or less burned, the sides were
black with smoke, the paint had melted
and run in streaks down the sides, and
many Of the mouldings had been, SO
warped, that the nails had pulled out,
and they had dropped of along the
road. The car which had come 80 near
burning up was perfect wreck, being
more than half destroyed, and totally
unfit for further use until rebuilt. But
It's remains sat firmly on the trucks,
and we concluded that we could safely
carry II on with us 10 the end Of the
road, where IL would be delivered TO the
mechanics for reparirs. The engineer
and ireman-braye fellows, who stuck
nobly to their posts amid oil the danger
were considerably singed, on account
Of their exposed position-ior the cab,
being open behind, had allowed some
Of the flames to dart within and mike
their acquaintance. Had not our for
ward motion caused q wind which blew
the flames away, they must almost GER
tainly have perished. Asit was, We. all
felt that we had been miraculously saw
cd from frightful death, and fervently
offered. up our thanks to the Deity who
had SO merciiully preserved US.
Having now taken on board plenti-
ful supply OF wood and water, we found
the fiery sea again approaching us.
Prairie fires travel faster than most
people would think possible, the dry
grass afIording first rate fuel, and the
wind generally driving the flames be-
fore it. Butwe were in no special dan
ger Of being overtaken by the devour-
ing element, though such . catastrophy
was by no means impossible. However,
discretion was evidently the better part
Of valor in our case, so We entered the
cars, and were once more dashing for
ward to regions Of more safety.
We soon left theprairie far behind,
struck upon . hilly, barren portion Of
the road, and through this continued
our journey uninterrupted to the ter!
minus OF the line. Reaching there on
time, alive and well, we felt quite at
ease again, and were in exsellentspiri
On my return trip over that same
road I had another hairbreadth escape,
the particulars ofRhich will give you
in my next article.