The Osceola times., 1879-11-15
A GAUNTLET OF FLAME.
some of the Dangers Frontiersman Have
To Lncounter.
Helena tMon;ana) Independent

Helena (Moniana) Independent
leon and Perry, who took possession
of Canyon Ferry on September !, have
for the past three weeks been in the
mountains, at the head of Magpie, get
ting out timber for large stable. The
mountains in the vicinity Of Magpie
were set on fire some days ago by par
ty of prospectors, and the fire had been
raging over quite an extent OF county,
but until recently 10 danger was appre-
hended. About three o'clock on the
afternoon of the lith ult. Court Sheriil's
wagon and team started down the cam
yon loaded with fence poles, and few
MINUTES later Leon and Perry followed
with a heavy load of hewn timber
They had got fairly in the canyon when
the wind suddenly increased TO lively
gale, and before they could realize the
extreme danger of their position the
whole mountain was in flames. Putting
the whip TO their horses they COM
mencel a race for their lives. TO turn
back was impossible, the mountains ris-
ing almost perpendicular on each side of
the canyon. Their only hope lay in
outstripping the fire, which was now at
their very heels. Judge OF their sur
prise and CONSERVATION on discovering,
few rods ahead, the wagon which had
preceded them completely blocking up
the road, the driver having abandoned It
to save his horses. What was to be done
now must be done quietly. Perry was
on the point Of giving his horses the
whip and tearing his way through; but
the Colonel, with the cool head of an old
soldier, suggested throwing of the load
of fence poles and clearing the road.
Both set to work with will, and in a
few seconds had the poles unloaded, the
wagon uncouplcd and tumbled down the
side of the mountain. Tie roar and
cracking of the flames, and the booming
crash of falling timber was sufficient to
strike terror to the hearts of older moun-
taincers than those who had only been
in the country few months. So ex-
hausted were they with the intense heat
and the severe exertion of the last few
moments that they had barely auiiicient
strength to Chamber on the wagon and
again commence the frightiul race. The
fire in the meantime had got ahead OF
them and putting the whip to their now
maddened horses they began running
the gauntlet of fire. Trees were falling
in all directions around them; the atmo-
sphere was thick with smoke and i'm
pregnated with the fumes Of burning
pitch, making it almost suilocating.
Both faces were beginning to wear the
picture of despair. All hope of ever
getting safely through had almost died
within them. when Perry CHANGED TO re-
mark that the Colonel's wife would prob
ably be that night widow. The words
acted like magic on the Colonel, who,
rising to his feet, began urging the horses
to renewed cxertions with the end of a
binding-chain, the horses literally tear
ing their way over burnt trees ana fallen
timber for the distance Of half mile,
when they emerged into small clear
ing, where the fire had taken turn and
again gone up the mountain. With the
exception OF some slight damage TO the
wagon and few bruises themselves,
they arrived safely at the ferry about
nine o'clock in the evening, and next
day were around us usual.