The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-16

were surrounded by 3 wan OF FIRE. burn
ing furioUsly within n hundred yards q
Us. ard cutting OF all possibility Of re-
treat; for. could W have found Al ope--
ing through the burning heaps. We could
not have seen our way through the dense
canopy q smoke, and buried as NJ vera
II the heart OF the forest. no one could
/, discover our situation til we were be-
Z yond the reach OF help.
/ 10 I closed the door, and went pack
/ 10 the parlor. Fear was knocking loudly
! at ny heart. FOR orr utter heiplessness
Z destroyed all hope OF cur being able
F 70 eject our escape The gin sa1 upor
+ the floor by the children. who, uacon-
+ scious OF the peril that hung over them
. had both fallen asleep she was silently
weeping; while the boy who had caused
the mischief was crying aloud
Il strange calm succeeded my first
alarm sat down upon the step OF the
door. and watched the awful scene in
silence. The fire was raging il the cedar
swamp Immediately below the ridge OF
which the house stood, and it presented q
spectacle truly appalling
2. From out O. the dense folds OF a
canopy Of black smoke-the blackest I
ever saw-Ieaped OF red fords OF iurid
fame as high as the tree tops, igaiting
the branches OF a group Of tall pines that
had been left for saw logs. \ deep gloom
blotted out the heavens from our s;sht.
The air was filed with fery particles.
which foated even 70 the doorstep-whiIe
the cracking and roaring OF the flames
might have been heard az q great dis
lance.
e. To reach the shore ot the lake. We
must pass through the burning swamp.
and not bird could pass over IL with
unscorched wings. The fierce wind drove
the flames at the sides and back OF the
house up the clearing; ard our passage
10 the rosd or 20 the forest. on the right
and left was entirely obstructed BY sea
OF flames. Our only ark OF safety was the
house, so long as il remained untouched
by the fire.
Il I turned 10 young Thomas, and asked
him how long he thought that would be
When the fire clears this little ridge IN
front ma'am- The Lord have mercy on
Us then. or we must all go.
Is. I threw myself down OF the floor
beside the children. and pressed them
TO my heart, while inwardly I thanked
God that they were asleep, unconscious
OF danger. and unable by their cries to
distract our attention from adopting any
plan which might ofTer 10 effect their
escape
IS The heat became surocating. We
we're parched with thirst. and there was
not a drop OF water in the houss, and
none TO be procured nearer than the
lake. I turned once more 10 the door.
hoping that a passage might have been
burnt through 10 the water. I saw moth
ing but dense cloud OF fire and smoke
could hear nothing but the cracking
and the rearing OF flames. which were
gaining so fast upon us that 1 felt their
scorching breath IN ny ace
i. All" thought land it was a bitter
thouEht--what VIII my beloved husband
say when he returns and finds that his
poor wife and his dear girls have persisted
IN this miserable manner But God can
save Us yet"
IS. The thought had scarcely found
voice II my heart before the wind rose
to hurricane, scattering the flames on
al sides into q tempest Of burning bill
lows. 7 buried my head IN my apron. for
thought that all was lost, when a most
terrible crash OF thunder burst over our
heaos. and like the breaking OF q water
spout. down came the rushing torrent OF
rain which had been pent up FOR SO many
weeks
- In few minutes the chip-yard was
all aaoat. and the fire enecuaIly checked
The storm. which unnoticed by US, had
been ga5heIi1e all day. and which vas
the only one OF any note we had had that
sumner. continued 10 rage all night. and
before morning had quite subdueI the
cruel enemy whose approach We had
viewed with such dread.
Dehutions.-Abating lessening List
lessly, not paying attention. 3 FaIloW,
new clearing usually covered with
brush heaps. s Concentration bring
ing into a small space. the essence. g.
Canopy, q covering OF curtain o. Effect.
TO bring 10 pass. Il. Succeeded. followed.
Appalling. terrifying l. Lurid. dun red.
lighting. setting or FIRE. 4. Distract. con
fuse, perplex. Is Parched. made very
dry. =. Wster-spout. a column OF water
caught ID b. a whirI wind