The Hillsborough recorder., 1877-08-01
"A GRApHIcpIcruRE.

the extensive and destructive fires which
have swept through the pine forests Of the
southern Isni .sula. OF Michigan. The
subject affects the interest of the hunting
element Of The State 10 such an extent
that am constrained % infringe upon
| you valuable space 10 describe some of the
scenes which have come under my notice.
The fires Ia Osceoia county will answer
as specimen The destruction Of game
was very greatin all instances and will
form principle substance Of this letter. a
| friend Of mine spendnga few weeks fish,
ing in the lakes Of this locality. was
quarterrd a. the cabin Of an old pioneer,
which was situated in the midst Of u
wilderness of pine woo.is miles in extent.
give his own description OF the progress
ofthe fire:
rThe clearing around The cabin COM
prisel about ten acres. Some OF the
ground was really for corn, and some ofit
had been sown and planted, while the
forest around was so damp and green that
one wsu,l have smiled at the idea Of great
sheet of flame climing those tall trees and
waving fifty feet atove them, but come IL
did, aud with wlint results yon shall
presently know; The fire h SURPASSED TO
have kindled froma hunters camp-iir,
aud in six hours time had increased IL
extent with ssch rapidity that an acreof
forest was under. its rnntn,l. AT mid
night the wind csnne ilp fresh. andihe
hcnt uf The fire drove through the forrs',
scorching and baking trail for the red
ilames. III the morning we could plainly
scent The o,lor afilie turning kr-t Al
noon the n,lor was stronger. tile smoke
d.nser, and the live stock ar.und the.
clearing began 10 exhibit sighs pf alarm.
The pinneer believed the fire % he a large
swamp ten miles away, hut hardly tholgl.t
Il possible for lie green forest 10 Ignite
We sat down dl,linier, but brfore tie
meal was over ihere was a fresh cause for
alarm. A buck and two does dashed into
the clearing clnsely followed by af,,x
score of rabbits. and duzen cO0iis aud
woodchucks. The deer IAN 10 the fnr
edge Of the clearing as we went out, but
the other aninals scarcely noticed us
They were so paralyzed with fear tlittley
allowed MS TO approach them without
paying any attention To us. A few
moments longer Of suspense on the Iar, Of
the pioneer and his family. an,l n fresh
alaim aud new warning reached u.s.
There came a rnar. such as the sea gives
oui when rushing III iipnn abrokcn beach.
We had rot heard il l~fore. The rush of
vast herd ~ buIIiilncs might have
created s,rll roar. X was awful We
must run COR onr lives shouted the sei.
tier. He had three children. picked
Up hoy Of seven. Tile pioneer seizrd hi-
little girl, Two years younger, and the
wife took tile sleeping babe froni lie
cradle. There wasn't lime 70 take down
spare garment from the wall. "This
way--hurry :" heard the pioneer
calling cut; aud gasling for breath and
blinded by smoke, | rushed on after him
Tile rar was louder aud grander aud
more terrible. 10 the west. half a mile
away, was wall of fame hundred feet
high aud twelve miles long, c0ming down
ulau the clearing at tile rate of six mites
M hour. The wa,ers ol Lake Erie would
scarcely have drenched itout. a deer
ran against ne asI staggered after the
pioneer. More than once STUMBLED
against the small wild animals rushing
here aud there through the clearing. Ny
hair aud whiskers were scurching. aud my
clothing was oil iire Ia a duzen places
when we reached tie ulit.d"or cellar, u
place dug into the hillside about 400 feet
frm the house.
Just before the flames reached the
ground trcinblrd ~ II Old around Gcttys.
burg WHEN live hundred pieces ~ artillery
ihundcrrd away Tor hours. The smoke
drove ahead, leaving me a pretty fair view
ofll,e cabin ard clearing Tor Ave OF six
minutes. saw wild ducks aud snlpes
ftmn Tile adjoining inarsli drop dead 10
the clearing. Thrdeer rushed around 10
circles, sometimes running full against
htulhIst w tHelf tNueme se'iW tHe
smaller animals rnred ald barkc,l aud
fought eacli othcr, and several rabbits
found our retreat aud rushed IN among us.
When the flames reached the edge Of
The clearing. 500 feet from our cav,. tie
ground in front ofus fairly bake,i. The
wild animals fell dowa aud died, steam
roa, froi,, the green slutuns ~ clouds fOr n
moment, aud then fire broke out. The
wall of flrc rpared aud quivesed, r~e md
fel aud next p,pnlent was driving al,ead
on the other side. The Ilanrs seem To-
have reached right over thetth acrcs aud
graspvd the iarc-t bsymd. g
our cave wa like an oven. Tile eartl,
on the roof was son lakrd nstiry Hs pow
der Tie gferil l,is bcgan 10 stew ahd