The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-06-03
FIERY FISHING.
BRoILED IN A TROUT BOAT.


TWO FISHERMEN HEMMED IN BY NOUN
TAIN FIRES AND TAKE TO THE WATER
a NARROW ESCAPE.
The eventful experience of couple of
Rochester fishermen is detailed by CORES
pendent of the New York Sun by telegraph
from Snohols, Pa: Samuel L. Downs and
w. C. Reeves, of Rochester, have been
trout fisning for three or four days on the
streams in thisvicinity. On Tuesday they
went out to fish in Taylor's creek, a branch
of the Shohols, about five miles from this
station. The stream traverses a wild and
billy section, and for some days the woods
have been on fire for miles along its course
The men had ished up two miles
above It's mouth, when the fire approached
so near the stream on both sides that they
were compelled to stop, and started TO re
trace their steps. They had proceeded but
a short distance on their return when they
were alarmed to find that the fire had closed
into the stream in that direction also. High
and PERCEPTIONS bills rise on either side of
he stream at the point where they were,
and even If the fire had not covered them,
escape in that direction would have been
very difficult. To add to
THE PERIL OF THE SITUATION,
the fires above and below them were rapidly
approaching one another and reducing the
space in which the fishermen found them
selves confined. The underbrush also in
that locality grows down to the waters
edge, and dead logs and dry ORANGES lay
across the stream. To these the flames COM
municated readily, and in comparatively
! short time the fisherman were hemmed in
on all sides by the fire. At the spot where
they were forced to halt is a deep pool, at
| the foot of fall some ten feet high. This
pool is about twenty lest wide and very
deep. Downs, seeing that there was no
hope of escape in any other way, suggested
| to his companion that they must plunge in
| the pool aud remain there, if possible until
the fire had so far exhausted itself along the
stream as to permit of their wadipg down
the creek until til ey got below the burning
woods. new difficulty here presented it.
self Reeves could not swim, and the water
in the centre of the pool, where they must
necessarily take their position, was over
| their heads. Tue heat was now becoming
| Intense, and the smoke was almost suffo-
eating. There was but ore thing TO be
done. Downs showed piece of pine log into
the stream and supporting Reeves with one
arm,
SWAN To THE CENTER OF THE POOL.
BY the aid of the bit of log be was enabled
to keep both his companion and himself
afioat until they reached the foot of the fall,
wheraa pro Getting rock offered the former a
Qrm UOlu LOT us MANU-, dnu ny WHICH Dc
| kept his head above water. They allowed
| as much of the falling water to cover them
as they could with safety, and in that trying
situation awaited the passing fury OF the
| flames. Fortunately, no branches or dead
trees projected into the stream where the
f.hermen sought refuge, and they had moth
ing to fear from direct contact with the fire.
| But the heat from the flames, which were
a no time more than ten feet away on either
side, was almost unbearable. The men
would endure it as long as possible, and
| then duck their heads beneath the water,
and keep them there until they were forced
| TO again emerge for air. Added to the suf-
| ferings of Reeves was the circumstance oil
his being obliged to hang suspended by his
hands from the rock, scarcely any water
| touching them. He could not find foot
| hold, and essed his hands from the heat by
alternately dipping fret one and then toe
| other undtr cue wafer. For quarter of an
| h ur the agony was continued, when Reeves
| excIaiming that be would rather drown toan
suffer longer, released his hold and
DISAPPEARED UNDER THE WATER.
When he reappeared, he was some feet be-
low, and had touched bottom. Downs
shouted to him TO have courage, as the worst
u was over. Reeves, withous word, waded