Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-10-10
walked to the kitchen door, and opening it,

Twas in my own home. This afternoon the
fire came, and had to flee before It. Ny
ashes. Mr.. Ward saved my life and my boys
at a risk ] don't dare think off. May the Lord
reward him for his kindness He asked me
j to his housetO pass the night; but I'l not
stay where I'm not wanted, nor be the cause
/ of strife. May the devouring flames never
leave you as homeless and friendless as they
| have left me" zz.sssz:s
These words touched Mrs. Ward As Mrs.
and said, earnestly: 1900 p :
.Oh, forgive me! I did not think what you
had endured; You shall stay, and I'll give
all sit down to tea. Then, John you must
tell us everything about the fire and your es-
cape" Z, :
She turned pale and trembled as she listen
ed to his account of the fearful risks they had
run. &S. 4
reach us?"
81 think not. 1t is not Speeding in this
direction, and trust we are perfectly safe"
Yet with fear in their hearts, that night, be-
fore retiring, John Ward and his wife went
out and climbed high rock, near the house,
where they could see the danger threatened.
But around them was only the green, dewy
Feeling relieved, they sought the rest both SO
much needed.
The next morning, a messenger came to
the village to say the fire was spreading with
fearful rapidity, and that help was needed to
fight it back.
The men of the village responded to the
call, and all day and nearly all night, in com.
pany with the larger force, they fought the
fearful confagration. :.
But, famed by a strong west wind, although
baf1ed and driven back at one point, like an
unrelenting foe, the fire pushed forward its
| 0rlr in no
men were aware, they saw the TANKS OF the
| battle turned, and themselves almost sur
rounded by the flames.
Ward at last became alarmed for the safety
OF his family, and returned home. He found
the greatest excitement prevailing in the
village. he fire had attacked the, other side
of the mountain, and they feared it would
sweep ever and come down upon them
Ward saw that the wind was still carrying
the flames in an opposite direction; yet he
told his wife to dress the children in thickest
wooden garments, so they might be prepared
hausted, he lay down to rest.
He had slept but few hours when Mrs.
Stacey came running in, with report from
the lower houses that the fire was approach
ing from another point. They were in dan
ger of being hemmed in, and must make their
escape at once.
Old Mrs. Ward begged her son to leave her,
urging that her life was nearly ended, at best,
and that she would only retard their flight.
But he positively refused, and catching up
the two children, while his wife took the
twins, they all started to follow the rest Of the
inhabitants. Mrs. Stacey had taken the baby
and with her own little bow, was already in
| the advance.
For over mile the old mother walked, aid
| ed as much as possible by her son; but of
necessity, their progress was slow. The exer-
ton proved too much for her. She sank to
| f1,ar md
to rise, and urged her to make an effort to
| keep up a little longer; but she begged him
to leave her and save the rest of the family.
The flames were crawling nearer. They
could hear the cracking and the crash of the
great trees as they fell. He tried to persuade
the children to run on by his side; but terri
| fled by the awful scene, they chung screaming
! to him, and refused to move. For time, in
his desperation. he tried te carry them all.
| But the fire was advancing so rapidly, lie
saw that he must abandon his mother, or the
whole family perish. She now earnestly
! pleaded with him, for the sake of the little
ones, to put her down and fee for his life
She was not afraid to meet death. It would
| be but moments pang, then heavenly JOY
| forever.
With groan of agony, he acquiesced, vet
drew her as far as possible out of the direct
| line of the fire. Then, clasping her in bis
arms, he cried, 20 mother, how can leave
you?"
go, go, my son! As you have been faithful
to me, may God deal faithfully with you and
! yours. Don't grieve that you left me-"
! am describing an actual occurrence. It
seems almost impossible that generous, du
tiful son could leave his aged mother to die
| by the cruel torture of the flames, but the
safety of his own children and of his wife ap-
pealed to his heart, and at the moment it
| seemed to him better that one should be left.
rather than that the whole family should per-
| ISL.
Ward started forward, but before passing
| out of sight turned for one more look.
His mother was kneeling, with hands
| clasped and eyes raised in silent prayer The
approaching flames illumined her pale face,
but twas calm and peaceful.
DE stood like one IN trance till his wife,
who had pushed ahead. besought. him to
| hasten on. She didn't know which way to 90.
! for the fire seemed to be everywhere His
! mother also saw his hesitation, and motioned
him away.
Ward could hardly endure that last sight.
He turned desperately away, came rapidly to
his wife's side, and placing the children at her
feet hung himself into a tree to obtain more
extended view.
Aftera glance round, he sprang down, and
told her there was but one chance of esca e.
That was to climb to the top of the mountain,
where there were some barren lodges on
which there was nothing to burn.
1t was desperate struggle on the steep
rocks, ever fallen trees and through the brush.
But the children had become more accustomed
to the scene; and as they got further from the
fire, their courage returned, and their own
practice in mountain climbing aided their
parents. At last they reached the summit in
safety
But it was sad, exhausted group that
gathered there. The little ones cried with
hunger and thirst; and on that barren roc
the parents had no means to satisfy either. All
| day long they looked down from their high
perch into what appeared like gulf of fire.
Now it ran along the ground, now leaped-
from tree to tree, then, as if driven by a
tornado, it came in one broad sheet of flame.
| the roar increasing till in terror the children
covered their eyes and stopped their ears.
The parents also felt as if the awful grand
ure OF the sight and sound was more than
they could bear. For they hardly dared hope
! that they were safe above it.
From this position they were aroused by
| the oldest boy shouting:-
"Oh father, the sky is on FIRE, too"
Ward looked up and saw broad flash of
lightning dart out of dark cloud that was
rising rapidly in the west.
THANK God" he cried, "the rain is COM
| ing at last"
Soon the heavens were overcast. Tbs light
ming darted back and forth, heavy thunder
ovehead, the Increasing wind famed the
flames below till they ragged with redoubled
Jury as IL seem ng to realize that their power
would soon be gone. Then came the blessed
rain; hot in gentle showers, but in heavy tor
rents, that poured necessarily on the Kissing
steaming forests, till they lay drenched be.
| meath it.
John Ward drew his family close under the
rocks to keep them dry, but caught in his hat
the cool drops to quench their thirst. As the
| night wore on and the violence of the storm
passed by, they all found some rest save the
-ather, who incurred for his mother as he
kept watch over the poor little homeless flock.
| The next day dawned clear and beautiful,
the air washed pure from binding smoke, and
as soon as they had risen and thanked God
for their escape, they started to make their
way back to the settlements. - -
was tedious, difficult journey. Z. -
When almost back to the site of their old
home they heard voices approaching. Ward
shouted and was answered by loud cheer
| In few moments, a dozen of his old compan-
ions gathered round, congratulating him on
their escape, and anxious to hear their story.
They had just started in search Of them; but
as they saw the wide sweep the fire had taken
their fears for their safety were greater than
| their hopes.
John Ward and his wife now found that the
kind acts done for these neighbors in the past
! were returning, latter many days." siike
bread cast upon the waters" The men liftei,
l the nhil6ron in their orno opd oil :.