The Russellville Democrat., 1879-11-20
A GAUNTLET OF FLAME.
Some of the Dangers Frontlersman Have
 to Encounter.
Helena (Montana) Independent.

to Encounter.
 Helena (sfontana) Independent
 Leon and Perry, who took possession of Canyon Ferry on September l, 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 a par ty of prospectors and the fire had been raging over quite an extent of country, but until recently no danger was appre- 1 hended. About three o'clock on the afternoon of the 14th ut. Court Sheriff7s wagon and team started down the can 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 menced 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 consternation on discovering, a 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 off 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 uncoupled and tumbled down the side of the mountain. The roar and cracking ofthe flames, and the booming crash of falling timber was sufficient to strike terror to the hearts of older moun- taineers 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 sufficient strength to chamber on the wagon and again commence the frightfnl 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 suffocating. Both faces were beginning to wear the picture of despair. All hope of ever getting safely through had almost died within them, when Perry chanced to re- mark that the Colonels 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 exertions with the end of a binding-chain, the horses literally tear ing their way over burnt trees and 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 as usual