The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-25
IN A RING OF FIRE.
a Thrilling Experience in Prairie Fire
We wbinned nntha borsas and dro

We whipped up the horses and drove
towafSas> the upland, thinking thus to
escape tho--greatest danger. We
reached the high ground before meet
ing any flame, and we were greatly re-
joiced to see that much of the grass
was still fairly green here. though
thickly bestrewn with patches of long
er grass that was dry.
The fierce flames now approached,
rushing along with furious speed,
cracking and 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 little ravine the flames were
not so high, for the grass was quite
green there. We dashed through the
line of flame, suffering brief tortures
of suffocation, and severe stinging
and smarting of our eyes, caused by
the intense heat and pungent smoke.
Once through, we congratulated our
selves on the hope that we should yet
escape; for, going in this direction,
right in the teeth of the wind, we
could travel more rapidly than the
pursuing flames.
While passing through the fire, re-
called the proyerb "It's 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
the heat of the burning grass.
We now heard galloping hoofs, and
we soon saw two Indians (Osages) ap-
preaching 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 of flames in that direction, and
that we must go back. We responded
that all was flame in that direction.
Notwithstanding the indifference to
danger usually aseribed to redskins,
these Indians showed unmistakable
signs of terror. Some further quick
conversation informed us that they,
like ourselves, had seized an oppor-
tunity to penetrate the line of flame,
thinking thus to escape.
We all were now Enclosed in a grad
ually narrowing ring of fire. To clear
the space around US by burning off the
grass-to start "back-fire, as it is
called 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 few mo-
ments of suifocation; and this we
would have considered fortunate de-
liverance. But we found our last
chance falling us. The back-tire we
started against the wind had burned
only the dry grass, and in doing this
had served as a furnace to dry the
greener grass. Thus the prairie-fre,
reaching our burned district, found the
greener grasses killed and dried, and
hence had almost as much fuel as out
side.
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 a whirlwind, and
great well of smoke and flame was
thus formed. Within this well we
stood, as yet unharmed 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, 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 lane from the outlying burnt
area to u.s. Through this lane, formed
by walls of fire, came rushing in
current Of cold, clear air. This kept
the smoke blown away, and we saw
plainly the path of escape thus prov
identially afforded US, when all hope
seemed gone.-F. II. Kellogg, in st.
| Nicholas.