Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-12-22
tszs,seA GiRIT HERO.
The Story OF a Great Michigan
Forest Fire.

EOT6bU FIRE.
At the timesef' thesgreHt bush fires
which, vita disastrous results to human
and animal life as we'll as property,
swept over a vast extent of the western
states in October, 1871, there were liv-
ing on, iadjoiniug farms in Isabella
county, Mich, two families, names, re-
spectively, Wilson and, Moreau.
The aforementioned consisted of
father, mother and their ive-year-old
twin !poys, Sampelg and Peter; while
Nafcisse and Mrs. Moreau had but one
child, girl of fifteen, called Marie
Marie. Moreau---aname almost as pretty
as was it's American French-descended
owner.
In addition to- remarkable beauty,
Marie possessed the still more precious
gift of sweet, unselfish disposition,
and was, moreover, the foremost among
all the scholars attending the some
what distant country school. But, for
agirl brought up in the woods, she was
neither very large nor strong for her
age, and the performance of a specially
daring deed was the last thing of which
anyone Slceuld have supposed her capa-
BILE
The two log houses of these families
stood three hundred yards apart, in
the midst.of cleared fields, and consid-
erably more than that distance from
any standing timber, the nearest piece
Of woods being tract Of primeval
forest lying over a quarter-mile south
west of and facing both, so that it
seemed hardly possible for either to be
endangered
Up to the 10th of the month, though
the surrounding atmosphere was then
somewhat darkened by smoke waited
from the great confagration at Chica-
go, no fires had broken out in the Viii
son-Moreau neighborhood. On that
day, in accordance with previously
made appointment the heads of both
families drove away to Farwell village,
sixteen miles distant, to make the final
payments on and receive deeds of their
respeetiye farms, Mrs. Wilson leaving
the twins in charge Of Marie, not an
other person living within two miles OF
her house.
The party set out in Moreau's farm
wagon at ten o'clock in the forenoon
promising to return not later than nine
that same night.
Marie, well pleased at the prospect OF
having curly-headed Sammy" and
pete" all to herself for whole day
tpent delightful forenoon playing
with and amusing the little fellows
and in due time prepared in their honor
regular holiday feast, while discuss
ing which Sammy ingeniously re
marked:
ME likes mudder to go way in big
wagon"
80 does me-" chimed in Pete
"'cause US gets lots O. pies an cakes
den"
Pm rather afraid" merrily sale
Marie, that I'm giving you little
rogues too many sweet things; but yor
can run outdoors now and scampel
round while wash up the dishes"
"Us couldn't have too much honey
and jam, could us, Pete?" sagely Oh
served Master Sammy.
"Dess not; theys awful good" re
joined Pete, and the pair rushed glee
fully out.
But the next moment, though fol
lowed by n cloud of dust and smoke
they rushed still more gleefully il
again, shouting: "Oh, auntiew-as tn,
youngsters always called Marie
there's . b'u'ful big fire out in tn,
woods. Mebbe we'll have. 'nuddeI
Fourth Julyw
Much to the twins surprise, Marie re
ceived their joyful tidings with al
alarmed cry, and, hurrying to the door
she saw that, just beginning to show
through the trees, great fire was rag
ing in the heart of the forest, and
driven by the southeast gale, was rap
idly approaching the olearings.
On the instant the clear-headed CIR
realized the danger, for, parched by
six weeks drought, not only the gras
and stubble but also the upper soil itsel
was as dry as gunpowder, and, helped
on by numerous rail fences, the fiame
would be sure to sweep across the field
and destroy both houses, as well a
every living thing lying in their path
"Rut," she reasoned, 1.-THE very violenc,
of the wind will keep the fire to
northeast course, and, though Wild
enough on leaving the woods to fac,
the whole of our clearings, it will prob
ably not extend to any great distanc,
either due east or due north"
The children, quick to catch the in
fiction of fear, had become gravely 81
lent, and Marie, lifting the trap-doo
OF the cellar, cheerfully said;
GA Now, little men, you must be brav
andido jast as auntie says The smok
is NJ bad that you'll almost smother vi
here, Come down to the cellar, an,
stay there till get back. I'll be gon
only little while" 81
With the implicit confidence begot
ten of love Sammy replied: .,.-..7
"Ysa. Snntic; us II be veal good, an
not uwy my more when us gets wa,
from ;ns nasty smoke. 1t hurts on
eyes swfull'
+ 'le Al Enclosed field back OF the hous
were Wilson's two farIn-horses, togeth
er with four cows and six young cattl
belonging to both families, who ha,