The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-05
THROUGH A WALL OF FIRE.
1 Mad Dash for Life in The WildS Of The
AdiT0ldaCkS.

just before George H. Bird, Louis Webb.
Fred Vanderbilt and a number of others
started for summer camp in the Adj
roudacks, a story came out concerning Mr.
e. Bird that caused no little elevation Of the
eyebrows, and prompted many questions,
while intimates slapped him on the back and
spoke Of his pluck, says the New York Com
nercial Advertiser
a few who had seen Mr.. Bird during the
past three or four days noticed that he wore
a large pair of blue goggles and that his
mustache and eyebrows were trifie abbre-
rated, while his face was tanned to an
Extraordinary degree, the skin peeling off
IN some parts; but as he explained the mat
ter by saying that he had been playing with
ire and was only slightly scorched, all
lccepted the statement without delving for
setails.
They had not the slightest idea until il
was told on the way to the depot yesterday
that while one of party of four on a trip
taken TO the Adirondacks a week ago Mr.
Bid had been encircled by forest fire and
had actually TO dash through q column Of
dame to save his life.
1t came about in this way Mr.. Bird and
Two others were guests of DR.. Seward Webb
On trip TO the mountains, the run being
made on special train, attached to which
was DR.. Webb's private car. The train had
gone about seven miles beyond Paul
= Smiths, Which the discovery was made that
ire was under way just ahead and rapidly
advancing. The train was brought to a
Itandstlll, and while the advisability of
making dash through the flames was be-
ing discussed tue fire made It's appearance
Just ahead, and 1t was seen at once that
such thing would be impossible, so the en-
gineer was instructed to back down to Paul
Smiths, while those of the party remained
behind, determined to stop the progress of
the fire.
While DR.. Webb and others handled a
SPADE IN throwing up an earthen barrier,
Mr.. Bird welded an ak Telling trees. The
latter grew enthusiastic in his work, ana,
cutting his way into heavy piece of WOODS,
was soon lost TO view, and when his COM
pan!ons thought of him they noticed with
much alarm that the place where he had
been chOpping was a seething mass of flame.
The fro had come about in a ciTcuitous
way and all had to run to escape. The
roaring of the flames and the cracking of
The burning bOughs drowned all warning
cries, and DR.. Bird knew of no danger until
there was hot sweep and roar behind him,
and he looked to see the flames mounting
into the trees a short distance away. He
started to run, but discovered to his horror
that the fire had burned in a circle, and he
was hemmed in.
There was but one thing to do. and that
TO chance dash through the flames; 50,
hastily drawing his handkerchief about his
face and thrO wing his arm up as shield, he
rlinched his teeth and started.
Luckily the fire had burned in on him
only Il few feet, and with head down ne
made wild rush, and in few seconds had
cleared the flaming circle; but he stood half
dazrd painting, and with his face scorched
and his hair mustache and eyebrows singed.
Mr. Bro was asked how he felt when
pushing through the flames, and, as he an
swered that he had little time to think of
anything, one Of those who listened to the
recital of his experience suggested that it
must have been pretty much like toboggan
slice down the inner side of volcano. Mr
Bird answered that that about hit his feel
ngs off nicely