The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-27
ENCIRCLEO BY FLAME.
A Thrilling Experience In = Terrific Prairi
Fire.

A Thrilling Experience In . Terrific Prairie
Fire
We whipped up the horses and drove
toward the upland, thinking thus 10
escape the greatest danger. Wereached
the high ground before meeting any
fame, and we were greatly re5oiced 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 apr cached,
rushing along with furious speed,
cracking and swapping sound
alone being sufficient to strike terror
to the stoutest heart. Ca ping along
the line of fire, We found that where Il
crossed little ravine the flames were
not SO high, for the grass was quite
green there. We dashed through .he
line of fame, suffering brief tortures
of suffocation, and a severe singing.
and smarting of our ewes, caused by
the intense heat and pungent smoke
Once through, we congratulated our
selves on the hope that we should vet
escape; for, going in this direction,
right in the teeth of the wind, we could
travel more rapidly. than the pursuing
fames
While passing through the FIRE ! -
called the proverb: Its an i'll wind
that blows nobody good" for just in
advance OF the line of flame clouds of
swallows darted here and there, catch
ing the hosts of insects started up by
heat of the burning grass.
We now heard galloping hoofs, and
we soon saw two Indians (osages) APP
preaching through the smoke. Where
are you going?" they asked. in their
own language. ITO Gray Horse" our
driver replied. in the same tongue.
They told US that the prairie was 9
mass Of fame in that directirn, and that
we must go back. We responded that
all was fame in that direction. Not
withstanding the Indifference to dam
ger usually ascribed to redskins, these
Indians showed unmiStakable signs Of
terror. Some further quick converse
ton informed us that they. like our
selves, had seized an opportunity To
penetrate the line of fame, thinking
thus to escape.
We all were now inclosed in a gradu-
ally narrowing ring of fire. To clear
the space around us by burning off the
grass-to start a "back-fire." as il is
ca,led--was our only chance for safety;
and this we attempted. A large space
was cleared before the oncoming fire
reached US. We hoped to escape with
but singed eyebrows, and a few mo-
Of a,,I thia
have considered a fortunate deliver
ance. 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 furnance to dry the greener grass
Thus the prairie-tire, reaching our
burned district, found the greener
grasses killed and dried, and hsnce had
almost as much fuel as outside.
The fire was now close around us.
The varying currents of air heated by
the flame whirled and rose, and gusts
of cold air, rushing in to replace the
hot air, caused n whirlwind, and
great well of smoke and fame was
thus formed. Within this well we
stood, as yet unframed and with = con-
slant supply of cool air, but expecting
death.
1t was dreadful moment; the moth
er and child were crying; the Indians,
with uplifted arms, were calling upon
the great spirit, in weird chant
Suddenly we felt an unusually strong
rush of cold air from one side, and,
looking up, | saw a strange and well
come sight. A long tongue Of fame
had ruu toward and into our circular
prison from the main fire, and had
burned lane from the outlying burnt
area in to us Through this lane
formed by walls of fire, came rushing
in a current of cold, clear air This
kept the smoke blown away. and we
saw plainly the path % scape TINS
proviGentially afforded us, when all
hope seemed gomez. II. Kellogg, in
st. Nicholas