South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-08-15
A Ride for Life.
Terrible Experience Of Family in . FOres, Fire

hAPeffcnCc ot ~ IN OstsS
The Pottsvilie, Pa. Miaers' Journal
relates tho following exciting story -
Between 8 and o'clock one evening
last week, Robert c. UHper. his wife
and daughter, twelve years OF age, LEFT
Fraokville for Shenandoah in An ordi-
nary farm wagon drawn by two horses.
Alter driving short distance, Mr.. Uif.
ner. on looking ahead half mile or so,
saw that the woods were on fire on both
sides Of the road, but as the timber WAS
small and the undergrowth light he
thought he would he able to get through
without much difficulty. When he en-.
tered the burning district the wind seem
ed to increase, and the FIRE moved with
such amazing rapidity he could hardly
keep pace With il. After driving through
the Are three or four hundred yards,
the smoke became 80 dense that the
travellers were almost snffocated, and a
few seconds later we're compelled to lie
down in the bed OF the wagon TO prevent
being smothered. The smoke so blind.
Cd MIR. Ufner that he could hardly see
the road. and consequently he allowed
tue horses to go along pretty much rs
they pleased. A half mile was travers.
ed IN this way, when the smoke sudden.
~ cleared away. and the flames on eli.
Their side OF the road increaS ci in strength
so rapidly that they almost roasted tho
now thoroughly frightened Travellers
Seeing that IL they did not escape very
soon the entire party would bc burned
10 death, Mr.. Uffncr tried TO urge the
horses to gallop, but the poor animals
were SO frightened that they hardly
moved, and at last came TO n stnndstill.
and began backing Off the road. Fear.
ing that tho wagon would be pushed in
TO the fire, Mr.. Ufrncr jumped out, to
quiet them until he found good, stout
stick. Then ordering bis wife to take
the rcins, he proceeded TO belabor the
horses until they struck a ga!iop and
dashed along the road into the very
heart OF the fire. Uffner succeeded i'm
clambering INFO the wagon as the hors.
es ran. and taking the lines from his
wife urged them on at the top of his
voice. This race was continued over
the rough mountain road for several
hundred yards, with Tie flames roaring
on both sides and myria,ls Of sparks
falling III & about the wagon. Mrs. UT-
ner's dress caught fire. ami her husband
dropped the reins To- assist her in cx-
tlnguishiBg it, when she tainted in his
arms. While he was cndeavorinr To
bring his wife back TO consciousness
the horses were tearing along at break
neck speed, and tile wagon swcrye,,.
Jo!ted anu swung around in ANYTHING
but u comfort bic manner. Mrs. U,rner
became conscious in few seconds.
however, and just then her husband saw
cloud OF dense block smoke cnvelop.
ing the road, and knew that they had
reached the outskirts OF the fire and were
safe. a quarter OF n mile more and
their dangerous journey had ended, aud
their ioaning horses were pulled up and
allowed "a breathing spell. The travel.
ers were all slightly burned. but fortu.
naicly escaped without receiving any
serious injuries. Some idea Of the ter.
rible heat they passed through may be
had when it is stated that the paint on
the wagon was burned entirely of. and
the horses hair was scorchea in hun
drcds OF places Ivy the clouds OF sparks
that fell on them. On the same day the
omnibus that carries passengers from
Frackville to Shenandoah ran the uaun,
let, anil the driver was severely scorch.
ed. but at that time the fire was not as
widespread as when Mr.. Uirncr passed
through it.