St. Paul daily globe., 1892-12-26
IN A RING OF FIRE.
A Party's Thrilling Experience il
Sinr, the PpS

A Party's Thrilling Experience in
ConflagratiOn on the Prairie.
We whipped up the horses and drove
toward the upland thinking thus to es-
cape the greatest danger, says f. ii.
Kellogg in the ST. Nicholas. We reached
the high ground before meeting any
fame, and we were greatly rejoiced to
see that much of the grass was still
fairly green here. though thickly be-
streWn with patches of longer grass
that was dry.
The fierce flames now approached,
rushing along with furious speed,
cracking ana Snapping-the sound
alone being sufficient to strike terror to
the stOuteSt heart. GallopIng along the
line of fire we found that where it
crossed a little ravine the flames we're
not so high, for the grass was quite
green there. We dashed through the
line of flame, suffering brief tortures of
suffOcatiOn and severe singing and
smarting of our eyes, caused by the IN
tense heat and pungent smoke.
Once through, we congratulated our
selves on the hope that we should yet
escape, for going in that direction. right
in the teeth Of the wind, we could travel
more rapidly than the pursuing flames.
While passing through the fire L re
called the proyerb ''lt'S all i'll wind that
blows nobody good" for just in advance
of the line of flame clouds of sparrowS
darted here and there, catching the
hosts of insects started up by the heat
of the burning grass.
We now hear galioping hoOfs and we
soon saw two Indians (Osage) approach
Ing through the smoke. Where are
you going?" they asked in their own
language. ''To Gray Horse" our driver
replied in the same tongue. They told
him that the prairie was a mass or
flames in that dsrection and that we
must go back. We responded that all
was flame in that direction. Notwith-
standing the indifferen ,e to danger u.s.
ually ascribed to redskins. these In
dians showed unmlstakable signs of
terror. Some further quick converse
ton informed US that they, like our
selves, had seized an opportunity to
penetrate the line of flame, thinking
thus to escape.
We all were now inclOSed in a gradual
ly narrowing ring OF fire. 10 clear tlhS
space around US by burning Off the grass
= to start a back fire." as it is called
was our only chance for safety: and this
we attempted. A large space was
cleared before the OncOming ire reached
us. We hoped to escape with but singed
eyebrows and few moments of SutiOca-
ton, and this we would have cOnSid-
cred a fortunate deliverance. But we
found our last chance failing us. The
back fire we had started against the
wind had burned only the dry grass,
and IN doing this had served as fur
mace to dry the greener grass. Thus
the prairie fire, reaching our burned
district, found the greener grass killed
and dried, and hence had almost as
much fuel as outside.
The fire was now close around us.
The varying currents OF air heated by
the flames Whirled and rose, and gusts
or cold air rushing in to replace the hot
air caused a whirlWind. and great
we'll of smoke and flame was thus
formed. Within this well we stood, as
vet unharmed and with a constant sup
ply of cool air. but expecting death.
1t was a dreadful moment; the mother
and child were crying; the Indians, with
clasped hands, were calling upon the
Great Spirit ill weird chant.
Suddenly we felt all unusually strong
rush of cold air from one side. and,
looking up, l saw strange and well
come sight A long tongue of flame
had run toward and into our circular
prison from The main fire. and had
burned a lane from the outlying burnt
area in to us. Through this transformed
by walls of fire, came rushing in cur
rent of cold. clear air. 1hiS kept the
smoke blown away, and we saw plainly
the path of escape thus provldentlally
afforded us when all hope seemed gone.