The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-08-27

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| vOunng flames. The course was thus
rendered very zig gag, and their speed
correspondingly tardy.
1t was between midnight and morn
| ing that the fugitives made their start,
and daylight came without being no
ticed for the time. The light Of the
| cOutiagration overcame that of the
sun. which was eclipsed by the enorm
ous Volumes Of smoke rising to the
sky
Ridley also noticed a curious breeze
passing over their heads, and the air
seemed TO be peryaded by a horrid,
binding glare Father, mother and
child. began to feel the physical dis
comforts of their situation.
He was seized now and then with a
| faintness and q nausea, accompanied
10y a dizziness which rendered it diff
cult to keep his saddle; but he was
! able TO overcome the temporary col
lapse. as it may be called, and he did
not permit it to interfere with the
speed Of his animal
The mother. at this stage of the
| flight. showed less susceptibility to
| suffering than the father: but the dis
tress Of the little girl was great. Her
cheeks We're flushed, she was feyerish,
and moaned as if in pain. Her en-
treating looks to her parents filled
them with anguish. for it was ont of
their power TO DO anything to relieve
| her.
From the cabin to the lake of re-
fuge was about ten miles, and the dis
| tance was travelled at the highest rate
of speed possible The little party
managed 10 keep IN front of the flames
all the way; and when the sun was but
a short distance above the horizon,
| the water was reached.
Both were exhausted, and their
horses We're dripping with foamy
sweat. The blood of all was at the
fever heat, and they We're in as dismal
and woeful a condition as can be i'm
agined: but they were SO much in ad
vance of their fiery pursuer that they
rode their animals round TO the lee
shore, where they were abandoned and
never seen again.
Notwithstanding the partial shelter
thus secured, the situation continued
to grow more discomforting. The fer
vid heat was born across the lake. and
| the smoke was SO dense that many
times the coughing fugitives We're GER
tain they would strangle.
But they plunged into a mass of
rushes, growing along the water, and
made their way to the edge of the
lake. where they lay fiat upon their
faces. The water was cool and great
~ refreshed them.
But the flames rushed on. with
tremer dous roar. In every direction
the bloody glare was seen, even
though it was daylight. Trees We're
constantly crashing downward, and
billows of sparks filled the air. At
times the smoke was Of inky blackness,
so that everything else was hidden
from view
The fugitiyes crawled into the
water, so that nothing but their heads
was above These felt as if they were
broiling, though the rest of their per
sons was cool. The cries of the child
were SO pitiful that the parents could
not keep back their own tears.
In this fughtful situation the three
remained for the rest OF the day-nOt
in the lake, however, as the passage
of the flames permitted them to come
ont upon the shore, which they dare
not leave for many hours yet.
While the little gronp We're here,
numerous wild animals swan the lake,
or plunged in. Such was the spell Of
terror resting upon these creatures
that they frequently stood within a
dozen feet of the trio without Offering
to modest them IN the slightest respect
As the day advanced and the wild
animals disappeared, Ridley saw that
he had committed a blunder in not
shooting some of them, for he and his
companions became excessively hun
cry. and he moved off in quest of
something to eat.
He succeeded IN shooting n deer,
the flesh of which was cooked by the
aid f the smouldering embers around
him
1t served to refresh all; but the
night which succeeded was one Of the
most hideous that person can ex
perience. The thick, sitting smoke
prevented any one sleeping, even for
few minutes. and the ashes and Gin
ders were falling continually. Many
of these contained just enough fire to
burn. and when they struck the face
or hands were like SO many needle
points.
1t seemed to Ridley that the horri
III.
never end, but. as morning approach
ed the smoke lifted somewhat, and
the puffs Of fresh air frequently reach
Ell the faces Of the sufferers.
With the coming OF daylight, Rid
ley and his wife found themselves
cooler than was desired. They shiver
ed. and their teeth ratified as If with
an ague fit: but by huddling around
burning tree. lying fiat on the
ground. they managed to warm them
selves
The poor mother was exhausted,
and, pressing her child to her breast.
wept bitterly; but the husband cheer
ell her as best he could.
Several deer Wee descred short
distance away, standing in the lake,
and one Of them was shot. Ridley
took pains and broiled the best por
tons he could secure, upon some of
the glowing embers about them, and,
when his wife and child came to eat,
they werH much strengthened and
cheered A full stomach is beneficial
III many respects.
The flames were beyond sight,
though the baked ground contained
many live Goals. which rendered trav
cling dangerous: but, taking his child
in his arms, the father led the way,
| calling upon his wife to follow.
They pushed ahead for two days
and nights, over the desolated conn
try. when they struck the hard
woods" which had not been visited
| L. L..