The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-12-09
NARROW ESCAPE OF EARLY BRANCH
AND FLORENCE.


struction. The wind did not change,
AZ we eagerly hoped it might; the fire
swept down upon US with savage fury.
closed in upon every home, surgetl
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 a thick-set coat Of
sedge, wire grass and other lowland
crowths. After frosts this 'tgroWth
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,
4 gale of wind was blowing from the
southwest, fortunately, however, with
an occasional brief hull. OminouS
clouds of smoke were seen in the early
morning, but at first it appeared that
the track of the confagration would he
to the west of the town, hence there
was little apprehension: 1t seemed,
however, that far into the backWoods
the fire was steadily obliquely beating
against the wind, widening its:track as
it went until it acquired compass en-
ough to envelope us in its. dreadful pro-
rress. The scene as the fire bore down
on the Methodist parsonage across an
abandoned field two hundred yards,
wide, covered with tall weeds, was:sur-
passingly grand, but dreadful enough
to strike dismay to the stoutest hearts.
The flames rolled swiftly on in I'm.
broken waves, leaping,' curling and
dancing in the air to the height of
eight or ten feet. It's incessant crackle
was like the firing of infantry in bat.
tie, and its deafening roar was like that
of the cyclone in it's fury, Yet brave
men stood in its front, massed their
small force directly in line of approach
to the buildings and sought to arrest
the awful tide at a narrow intervening
roadway. :Theyisuecee ceededf for y moment,
but in the instant of, local success "a.
column of flames makes for the heart,
of the town in I another, directioh.f
Forces already too small must be dlvid-'
ed. We are speedily tlanled on both
sides, and now: it is evident;ttat the
whole town is to be enveloped in flames.
How we were saved at last God only
knows. It would require 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 amused. saWmill shed, two
unoccupied cabins, several tiat-cars on
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 on the Columbia special
train Of the Atlantic Coast Line which
reached Charleston at 9.10 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, 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 the 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-
phere was sensibly felt by the pasSen-
Sengers through the thick plate-glass
of the car windows. The fire was fierce
ly swept on by a stiff breeze from the
Northwest, and at some points leaped
across the roadway and caught the
crOssties. The whole heavens were
lighted up with the reflection from the
lllrid blaze from the dry, combuStible
foliage and from the trunks of the
forest giants that had been ''boXed" for
turpentine. Some of these trees re-
sembled pillars of flame in motion as
the train rushed by with the speed of 4
lightning express. The woods on fire
in South Carolina is a 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 StUney Land
ing it was only by the utmost eXertion
that the works were saved the loss at
that place having been confined to the
destruction Of about one hundred cords
Of wood. Several wood piles and wood
racks along the track were in blaze
last night, and the loss in this respect
may he still more serious. The people
all along the line Of road were out Ell
deavoriDg to check the hurricane of
flame and protect their fences and
dwelling houses. The accidental land
scape was Dantesqne to Il realistic de-
gree, and furnished the passengers
with sights and scenes equally difficult
to describe or forget.
\ correspondent writing from Flor
ence under date Of December to the
same paper says: Considerable excite
mont ,,ra1.pi LODI hnrn ypcf pr6av .cnI