Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-29
THE ARKANSAS HORROR.
The Fearful Fate of the Emigrant'S
Famlly-NarrativeO of the UnfOrtu-
nate Father.

LITTLE Rock, April 2S.-Following are
that befell the emigrant, Isaac D. Dement,,
In Stone county, few days ago, brief ac-
count of which has already appeared.
From Mr.. Dement, himself, who came to
this city after the escape, the details have
been obtained:
Early in February he left Wetzel county,
West Virginia, for Louisiana, via Arkansas.
He was accompanied by his family, consist
ing of his wife and four children. They
travelled In two wagons, boy aged twelve
years taking charge of one and Dement, him
self Of the other Nothing noteworthy oc-
CURED on the journey till the party reached
this State, when they encamped on the
mountains in Stone county, intending to
rest several days, as they all were worn out
with fatigue. The site chosen for a camp
was high, overlooking the surrounding coun-
try, and very difficult Of approach. Owing
| to scarcity OF water It was thonght advisa-
bic to keep one Of the teams and wagon at
the spot, some two or three hundred
| yards below, near spring, while the other
was taken to the camp above. The second
| day after going into camp Dement, noticed
| that the air was heavy with smoke, and that
sheets of flame occasionally burst out from
the dense woods, half mile or so south of
| them, and expressed some concern. On the
| evening of the third day Dement,. taking
one of the teams and two children, BOYS
| aged respectively eleven and thirteen years,
! went to the base of the mountains for the
| purpose of Fl hing, leaving his wife and two
! children at the camp. He did not begin
ascending the mountain till near sundown,
and before he was half way up darkness had
| shut down upon the earth.
! The first iutimation of danger he had was
caused By the remark of one of the bows,
who said: ooh, papa the woods are blaz.
/ iDgl' when, looking ahead he observed
| that the fire had reached a point directly
beneath the camp, and was climbing the
mountain side with terrific spead. The roar
/ OF the advancing flames could be distinctly
heard. The cracking of the burning pine
and the crash of falling timber rang out on
! the summer air like the voice of DOOM
| Turning the wagon he dispatched the boys
! with 1t toward the base of the mountain and
fastened forward on foot, hoping to save
his wife and two children, who were still
further above, perhaps at that moment un-
! conscious OF danger. When within a short
distance of the camp he shouted wildly, and
succeeded in arousiDg the woman and chill
dren, who appeared to be stupefied with
terror and incapable of making an effort to
escape. But it was TOO late. A circle of
flames had crept around the mountain peak,
shutting off ingress or egress, and girdling
1t as with a crown.
One instant the fire shot up in long, mar
row tongues of fame, and the next 1t swept
across the narrow area, destroying the wife
and her two children, two horses, wagon,
and everything that lay in It's path. Dement,
was forced to beat hasty retreat, ,and reach
ed the foot Of the mountain again only after
! plunging through line of fire which was
making its way across the mountains. He
was badly singed. He says it was terrible
experience and that the memory of the mo-
ment when the flames enveloped his wife
and children win haunt him forever. He
! left this city to-day with his two remaining
| boys, continuing his journey overland to
| Louisiana.