The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-01-29
JANUARY 90, 1880.
A & Of horror.

From the the Deaduood Pioneer, Col.
DOMAINS paper:
Last night was a night of wild excitement
and terror for DeadwOod, which is still stag
geriHg under the effects of the terrible fire of
September 26 that wiped the whole town from
the face of the earth. About midnight last
night, a hurricane was blowing which shook
our strongest building to its very founda-
tions. Dense, sitting clouds Of smoke be-
gan to roll down the gulches from the direc-
ton of Central and Gayville. A lurid glare
soon lit up the whole heavens. The alarm
was sounded, for
H CRY OF FIRE
is horror in Deadwood. Scouting parties
were sent out, and soon the appalling re-
port came back the whole country south of
US, mountains, pine woods, brush and
stumps, everything was fire and the flames
were sweeping on the wings of the tornado
towards our little city.
THE FIRE BELLS C%LANGERED
their harsh alarm. And in a few minutes
the whole population Of the place was on
the streets. Everything movable in the
western half of the city was packed.
Wagons were loaded, and the streets were
jamned with people carrying their little all
hither and thither in search Of some safe
retreat. The wind roared and howled.
The long ines of flame began to sweep in
sight. The mountain just south of City
creek was q mass of leaping, cracking,
merciless flames. The whole heavens were
afame. The pinions of the storm were
laden with red damnat1on. Millions of
bushels of sparks filled the air.
ALL HE'LL SEEMED TURNED LOOSE
upon US. The hose-compsnies were out
and did everything they could, but their
utmost and brayest efforts were like at
tempts to squirt Pandsmonium out with a
syringe. Thousands Of citizens were to be
seen everywhere along the mountain-sides
and wild crags, Keeling in the hurricane
and fighting the blazing horror with the
energy of despair. The town was on fire
perhaps in five hundred places during the
night, but thanks to the sleepless devotion
of our people, it was suppressed in every in
stance before any damage was done. God
grant US day light and
STOP THIS DAMNED STORM"
was the prayer that went up ten thousand
times during the eternity of night and fire.
Daylight came at last. The flames had
swept all around us. All creation was a
~blackened, desolate waste for miles about
our borders. But, hank God, though a
few cabbins in the suburbs had gone, and
though the fierce, tempest-driven hell in
miniature had ragged within a hundred yards
OF our best suburban streets.
OUR LITTLE CITY WAS SAFE,
though badly singed and Internally scared.
At ! o'clock as we write, drencned with
whisky, water and perspiration, and cover
ed with mud from head to heels, people are
moving back into their stripped and dis
mantled homes and business houses. Five
hundred families had fled with all they
could remove, but a few hours Will put
them all back in their quarters. Some dam
age has been lone to furniture and goods,
but the losses are slight To our gallant
discrepancies, TO every citizen who set his
foot or poured a bucket of water on IN in
cipient con1agration. and to God Almighty
who turned the wind from Us after the fire
crossed City creek, be all the praise.