Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-09-12

the hills seemed dreadfully alive witt
rushing fire and smOthering smoke; the,
could hear the boar of flames, and tn
cinders fell in showers about them. The.
came to a high place where they coul
see the actual swelter Of the fire; then al
stopped in their tracks, appalled,. On,
great cry Of dismay sounded, then all tn,
tumult Of the crowd was hushed into 81
lence. The Oldest man there had neve
seen a fire like that.
Jack could hardly believe that thii
terrible thing was the possible DANCE
that he had warned the men against I
little while ago. Then a few trees wer'
burning; now every tree in the fores
was blazing torch; then few mel
with axes could have stopped the fameI
where they started; now no power coult
stay them 80 long as anything was lef
to burn, The time wasted after Jacks
despised warning was the time for con
quering. And the march Of destruction
had been 30 swift! 1t was mid-after'
noon when Jack looked at those few blaz
Ing trees. and 1t was only early evening
now.
Third Sand was doomed; everybody 70.
allied that. The very air Of the place
was always ready for kindling, 1t was &c
full Of petroleum gas. and the watcher
feared to see 1t burst into flames before
their eyes. The fierce gale now raging
had brought the Ere so close and had
spread 1t about on all sides Of the fated
place, and it was hailins such storm oil
blazing faggots down into the hollow that
1t seemed miracle that derricksa and Tank
were not on FIRE already.
I'VE must help get the folks out! That's
all we can do"
And some of the Oldtown men started
down the hill to run the gauntlet Of fire.
Jacks father shouted after them. calling
them back.
mo man living can get in from this
side now. We must go in by the rail-
road. And we must go by train. The
7:35 is almost due, and we must capture
that. Come on, men!"
So the men ran full speed for the Old
town station, Jack going with them; for
now the railroad cut between Oldtown
and Third Sand was the only breach in
the wall Of fame. What dreadful hap
peDings there might be, even now, within
that wall, they could only imagine, for
they could not see
The 1885 train was already at the sta
ton when they got there; 1t had taken
on score Of hardy men besides its will
Ing crew, and was of for the rescue.
The story Of that fearful trip is one that
the people never tire Of telling; how
those brave men came back out Of the
seething furnace Of blazing tanks, and
derricks and houses, their clothing scorch-
ed, their hair singed, the cars Of the
train charred and smoking, but bringing
with them every soul out Of Third Sand.
Every soul but one-a little child.
But poor Jack missed all that. 1t al
most broke his heart when his father,
discovering him just in time, put him off
the train and babe him stay behind, for
boys were not allowed on that trip. Then
Jack started for the hilltop again; but
he thought OF something and stopped.
What's going to become of little Katy.
all alone there In the woods She'll burn
to DEATH"
Rourd Hill was al, .b,aze be roman.
horoa. that moopt that Kotv wos wholly
M, ofy from Tho holm that had coma ~
tbo others. avon ~ tbev tnow of ber
Ioro,v Mich, ar romomhsrsd bor Of oil,
tbov could not nossiblv cot 70 bor us
Of rtod off again running 90 ho hoa rovor
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