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

| 10 sleep one night. Will LIS ldliIllA
| having no thought of impending dan
| ger Midnight came and passed, when
he was aroused by the snCIting Of the
| horses and the lowing Of the klne IL
the woods surrounding his home.
Ridley's first and natural suppsltlon
was that some wild animal was prOwl
ing around his dwelling, and, taking
down his rifle. he stole ont, with the
purpose Of giving 1t q quietGs; bnt
upon reaching the door. he was as
founded at the sight which met hisgaze
| Half the heavens reflected one glare
Of flame, and the trees stood as if il
| INK, in the fiery atmosphere. The
| scene was as appalling as that Of &
great city being consumed by contia
| grafton.
The lumberman stood q minute III
mute terror and then understanding
| that the immense area of woods by
which his house was surrounded was
ablaze, he dashed back into the bed
room, to arouse his wife and child.
She was already astir, for the racket
| from the animals was deafening. and
the sweep of the flames gave out d
| low, thdnderOus and increasing roar
| like that of the ocean in gathering
storm.
The wife was dressing herself by
the flood of light which streamed into
the window, and filled the room with
its bright yellow glare.
BE as quick as you can said the
husband, "for the house Is doomed
and that, too. very soon"
What are we to DOR she inquired
Il will saddle a couple Of horses
and have them here in jiffy. We've
got to DO some tall travelling
| The last words were uttered as the
lumberman darted ont Of the door
and he paused only a sscond on the
crtside, as if fascinated by the sub
| lime nature of the danger rushing
down upon them. !
He cCnld hear the cracking of the
flames as they shot along with arrow
sWiftness from tree to tree, and he
saw they were speeding straight to
ward the clearing were stood his cabin
| The glow of the contlagratlon against
! 'he clouds and sky above made ii
look as if the world was burning up
But the briefest possible space OF
! time was needed to take all this in
when Ridley caught his two alright
ed horses, and saddled and bridled
them. They were the best steeds he
! owned, and seemed unexpectedly to
be in that scared condition, not often
! r.lnpa1 tha,,, at Ia
and dOcile
BY the time the husband led them
to the door. the wife was ready and
waiting. The frugal helpmeet had
secured the little store of money III
the house, and in a twinBling both
We're mounted and off.
They were splendid riders, and the
husband took the child in his arms,
SO as to assist all he could. There
was no attempt to carry off any of
their property, for it was useless. 1t
looked as if they would have more
than they could do to take themselves
off.
Look said Ridley. when they had
ridden a short distance.
His companion turned her head.
and saw that the flames had reached
the cabin, and were darting over the
roof like 50 many fiery serpents.
Smoke was issuing from the front,
and the building would soon vanish,
like so much chaff.
While they gazed, they observed
that the blaze had not only reached
the structure. but was between it and
the spectators. and advancing with
astonishing velocity.
1t is not to be supposed that Ridley
| and his wife were sitting still, while
the consuming element was raging
with such tierceness.
A horn was attached to his clothes,
which he used in summoning his AM
mails together at nightfall; and, as he
galloped along, he blew several vigor
ous blasts with it.
\ few minutes later. the dogs and
cattle galloped in sight, and joined in
the stampede: but the increasing heat
seemed TO madden the kline, which
uttered wild snorts, and dashed off in
the woods, where they were all burn
ed to death.
The couple continued at sweep
| ing pace, holding their own against
their flaming pursuer, while the terri
| fled deer kept darting mp in front and
dashing away, doubtless fully sensible
of tue frightfnl doom bearing down
| upon them.
So many of these creatures at last,
were trotting through the woods, that
| the sight of them served TO excite the
| dogs more than the lurid light around.
They dashed pellmell after the
deer. and made it SO lively for them
| that they put on more steam, and
speedily vanished in the folest, with
the dogs at their heels.
On the right, left, and in front, at
varying distances, came the sound of
| horns, showing that other lumhermen
were aroused to their danger, and
were also summoning their animals
for flight
1t was literally ont of the question
that all these should escape, and it
looked as if the majority, including
| the settlers themselves. were doomed
to one of the most frightful deaths
which imagination can conceive
The forest was very extensive and
it was necessary to travel many miles
before the open country. with its IN
contaminated atmosphere, could be
reached
But where was Ridley going?
! He WAS familiar with the country
and he recalled q goodly sized lake, a
| number of miles off. which, once reach
ed. was sure to afford the safety they
so sorely needed.
The fire can't burn that mp" he
said TO his wife
But it looks as il it Will consume
Us before we reach it, she replied.
Whip up your horse and let us ride
faster" he urged. We can make it
for these horses have the speed. if We
can only fetch it out of them
Il