The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-12-09
ROLLING CLOUDS OF FIRE.
NARROW ESCAPE OF EARLY BRANCH
AND FLORENCE.
The Dry Grass Spread Fire ali over the
Woods in n Blaze from Sumter to the
Five-NIile Curve-Brare Conduct of Men,

Woods in n Blaze from Sumter to the
Fiye-NIile Curve-Brare Conduct of Men,
Women and Children. -,iCrs. .~- .g,iI
A correspondent from Early Branch
writing to the News and Courier under
date December 1, gives the following
account Of the forest fires in that sec
ton: At II o'clock yesterday morning
our village was iercely assailed BY for
est fires from the adjoining woods. We
then thought that nothing but a Provl-
Dental veering of the wind could save
the town from entire and speedy de-
struction. The wind did not change,
as we eagerly hoped it might; the fire
swept down upon Us with savage fury.
closed in upon every home, surged
around us everywhere, from several
directions at once, in desperate efforts
to accomplish our destruction. We are
surrounded here, for several miles in
every direction, by almost unbroken
pine forests. The ground is covered
almost everywhere to the height OF
several feet with Il thick-set coat OF
sedge, wire grass and other loWland
growths. After frosts this growth
dies, becomes dry and is very combus-
tible, so that in times Of drought at
this season of the year it is constant
and well-recognized source OF danger.
Yesterday. in addition to the drought,
Il gale of wind was blowing from the
southwest, fortunately, however, with
an occasional brief lull. OmlnOus
clouds of smoke were seen in the early
morning, but at first it appeared that
the track of the coniiagration would be
to the west of the town, hence there
was little apprehension. 1T seemed,
however. that far into the backWoods
the fire was steadily obliquely betting
against the wind, widening itstrack as
it went until it acquired compass en-
ough to envelope us in its dreadful pro-
gress. The scene as the fire bore down
on the Methodist parsonage across an
abandoned field two hundred ards
wide, covered with tall weeds. W;ts:sur-
passingly grand. but dreadful enough
to strike dismay to the StouteSt hearts.
The flames rolled swiftly on in lln.
broken waves, leaping,' curling and
dancing in the air to the height of
eipht or ten feet. It's inceSSant crackle
was like the firing of infantry in bat
tie. and it's deafening roar was like that
of the cyclone in its fury. Iet brave
men stood in its front, lnASSed their
small force directly in line OF approach
to the buildings and sought to arrest
the awful tide at a narrow intervening
roadway. They.succeeded for moment,
but in the instant Of local success a
column of flames makes for the heart
of the town II another. directions
Forces already too small nIGst be divid-
ed. We are speedily tlanlicd on both
sides. and now it is evident that the
whole town is to lie enveloped in flames.
How we were saved at last God only
knows. It would require q volume al
most to narrate the exciting situations,
heroic achievements and fortunate es-
capeS witnessed at every homestead.
The women behaved with most eX-
emplary courage and zeal, several aris-
ing from beds of sickness to aid IN the
great work. The children caught the
spirit of their elders and worked with
bOldness and ardor. Too much paise
cannot be given to the colored people
for their prompt and most hearty aid.
The ONLY losses sustained besides fenc-
ing are an unused sawmill shed, two
unoccupied cabins, several tat-cars Oh
the side track and a lot OF cord wood.
The railroad rOadbed was so injured as
to delay trains for several hours.
From the News and Courier, of last
Thursday, we clip the following The
passengers Oh the Columbia special
train Of the Atlantic Coast Line which
reached Charleston at $40 last night,
had an opportunity OF witnessing for
est fire of rare extent and brllliancy.
The woods were on fire almost continu-
ously from Sumter to within five miles
of Charleston, a distance of ninety
miles. The grandest display of the ac-
cidental fireworks was in the section of
country lying along the Northeastern
Railroad between st. Stephens depot
and tine Five mile curve near Charles
ton. In many places on both sides OF
the track, the line OF fire was unbroken
for miles, and in other places the fire
approached so near the track on either
side that the train literally ran be-
tween walls of flame and through
clouds of binding and asphyxiating
smoke. At such places the effect of
the super-heated and lire-laden atmos"
phcrc was scnsibly felt by the pasScn-
sengcrs through the thick plate-glass
of the car windows. The fire was fierce
ly swept OH by Il stiff breeze from the
Northwest, and at some points lcaped
across the roadway and caught the
croSsties. The whole heavens were
lighted up with the reflection from the
lurid blaze from the dry, combuStible
foliage and from the trunks of tine
forest giants that had been "boXed' for
turpentine. Some of these trees re-
semblcd pillars Of flame in motion is
the train rushed by with the speed of Il
lightning express. The woods on fire
in South Carolina is serious occur
renee. At MOnck'S Corner it WAS re-
ported that several plantation houses
had been burned down with all their
farm attachments. At StOney Land
ing it was only by the utmost cXrrtion
that the works were saved. the loss at
that place having been confined to thc
destruction of about one hundred cords
OF wood. Several wood piles and wood