Connecticut western news., 1878-06-06

or the W1QQ caused It 70 Sebbl0 Lu0T0, and that in few minutes it would be waited away.
 But that fearful roar appalled, them. It meant that the fire was at no great distance, and was approaching at tre- mendous pace. ....... ..
 By-and-by, the density of the vapor set them to coughing, and the animal showed the same distress. He pricked up his ears, too, as if he suspected some thing was amiss.
 !" I'm afraid we shall have to stop," said the husband.
 "Go on, as long as possibility re- mains. Poor Dick!'
 He ierked the lines sharply, and the impatient animal started of OF brisk trot again, but had gone only a few paces when he stopped short, with g snort of terror. .aa .4s. e... .-.. ....
 Look P exclaimed the husband, pointing in front with his whip.
 'sI see, "was the response.
 A red tongue of fire was seen to dart into the road from one of the trees, and then slip back again. It was like fam ing finger, pointing out the doom of ad- vancing further. .. 1-'- ..'
 To go on, or even to halt, insured death in it's most dreadful form. Self preservation for the time absorbed their thoughts and energies, to the exclusion of everything else, and Madison began turning and backing his horse, with view of flying before the conhagration.
 It was a work of-some difficulty to turn in such q marrow place, and the otherwise gentle horse was restless and disposed to be fractious The husband was cool and determined, and he saw the frightful emergency. The terrific roar was like that of Niagara, and the serpentipe fire was seen leaping from tree.to tree on both sides of the road. ..'
 It had reached the spot where the vehicle was turning, and the heat was perceptible against the faces of the occu- pants. The cool-headed Madison be- came angry, and struck his beast Q sting ing blow, which caused him to leap for ward. There was moment when the wagon was poised on two wheels only, and feathers weight would have car ried it over. .a aas. :. ....yasag -....
 But it righted itself, and away the horse started on a gallop, down on the highway toward the open country be- yond. .t.. s.* .. .
 What ride .isss :: It seemed impossible to guide the running steed so as to prevent his dash ing the wagon to fragments against the trees. Again and again the hubs. grazed the trunks, and the body swayed from side to side, like ship in a heavy sea.
 The wife held on with both hands and prayed. The snorting horse plunged straight ahead, in the very frenzy of ter TOT. It was impossible to stop him now, had his driver desired to do so but the man held no such wish. He only wanted to keep him in the road, and to increase his swiftness, for the flames sped forward, seemingly with the speed of the wind. f .- H-
 The hissing and cracking fire was on every side and leaped from tree to tree, as if in wild delight over the futile ef- forts of the doomed party to escape. It ran up the dry trunks, the blazing circles chasing and interlocking with each other like serpents in their fantastic glee.
 The smoke was suffocating, and there were moments when the stretched out neck of the horse was scarcely visible. More than once the coughing wife was sure she was smothering, while the fer vid heat seemed as if it would literally set her clothing and the vehicle on fire.
 He lashed the horse and shouted hoarsely to him but the panic-stricken animal was doing all he could, and Le needed no urging. His nostrils were dilated, and the sweat streamed from his Hanks, while his back was baked dry by the flames overhead. ...a~-4sl....a...s The wife thought they might as well stop and meet death where they were, without all this despairing exertion, for she was sure nothing could save them. | That narrow, winding road, seemed miles in length. Would the open coun- try never be reached |? ' '%-+ ..1
 At times the smoke lifted, and then they caught mouthful or two of air, and then again, Madison, as he held the reins, really did nothing more than steady himself in his seat, for his snort ing horse was uncomfortable. ,.... A., Finally, the wife could see and know nothing, but that she was suffering all the torture of 8 strangling person. She fell to the bottom of the wagon, where she lay gasping, until the purity of the atmosphere she was breathing seemed te revive her, and looking around she found they were on top of the hill again, clear of the flaming woods, with theil scorched wagon and horse motionless- the latter painting and scarcely able te stand. ,.. .. s....t .
 From this elevation they watched tn, stupendous, confagration, with feeling which no one can imagine. The fir' swept on, carrying death and destruc tion into hundreds of homes, and leav ing nothing but black desolation in it track. ......... ...... ... l Ike next day, there was enough sub sidence for the striken husband and wifi to start again along the road, over whicl they had sped in such haste before tn terrible fire. Men were busy clearing | tha hiohwav Of tha dahria of fo 1ior, trooc it being impossible for wagons to pass. The heart-broken mother leaned upol the arm of the no-less-saddened father