Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-04-06

complete. II. v.
A BRUSH FIRE,
It Is said that fire and water are
good servants but bad masters. Every
one in the Kesagami Lake country
Just south of Hudson Bay. toward
the end of August. 1902, thought that
fire was distinctly bad master.
During the whole summer I had
been busy doing rough geological work
round the southern shores Of the bay,
and near the end of the season found
myself alone with two Indians, up
the West River, large stream which
drains Kesagami Lake and flows north
into Hudson Bay.
My two companions spoke not a
word of English, but in my several
trips among the Nascaupees had
learned enough of their language to
make at least my wants known to
them; and they. by numerous signs
and careful use of simple language,
were able to communicate with me.
The summer Of 1902 was remark.
able for singular dryness in region
usually moist. and not drop of rain
Tell during the months OF July and
August in the basin of the West River.
On this account my Indians feared
b conflagration, and were always care
full in their choice of location for
the camp fire. I was generally asked
to camp either on the small rocky
lslets which lay in midstream, or far
out on the gravelly points which
stretched into the numerous lake ex-
pansions.
My experience with bush fires was
limited to small autumn blazes in
Southern Ontario or prairie fires In
the great West; and 1t did not occur
TO me that fire in the dense spruce
forests of the north would be ma.
terially different. Therefore did
not feel especial alarm when noticed
the sun set in dense red, smoky
cloud on the evening Of August 10Th.
big fire over there said JACKIE. in
monosyliabic Nascaupee. poiating to
the west Good! Camp on Island"
Taking Jacko's advice, we camped
on an island in mldstream, and fell
asleep vi without f5Iff giving another thought
to the great fire burning far TO the
westward.
The next day broke clear and calm,
with not sign or smell OF smoke
in the air. Accordingly. with no mis-
givlngs, especially as little rain had
fallen during the night, started OF
on a two-day irtip to the west, my
endeavor being to make geological
section of the country between the
West River and the Kattawagami, 8
much smaller stream said to lie some
eight or nine miles from the former
took JACKIE with me, and left be
hind ltzlla. the other red man, to TAX,
care Of the camp. All went well dur
ing the morning, and as the countr.
was not Of peculiar geological interest
we had already advanced far towar
our destination when we stopped TO
lunch at noon.
Then, for the first time that day.
noticed that the air smelled smoky
and felt some alarm when jack
pointing to the clouds swiftly floatin
eastward said:
big wind. Fire come here SUI
now"
1t was indeed evident that the gre,
Ere was coming in our direction, 70
as We watched. large black clouds
smoke foated rapidly by and the a
grew gradually darker.
Now / began to realize fully O,
impending danger. To turn back Il
way we had come was impossible. f
seven or eight miles of dense spru
forest lay behind us; and to be caug
there In fire meant certain deaf
To advance to meet the fire SEEM
equally hazardous. Sill, we thong
that the Knttawagami River could n
lie very far ahead of us: althou
we knew nothing whatever Of Il
stream, 1t would, no matter ht
small, give US at least comparati
safety. Jacko, moreover, favored {
ing ahead. and so we continued o
journey westward.
Soon we emerged on one of the
broad, wet, messy swamps, deep WI
sphagnum, and thinly interspers
with stunted spruce, so common
the north, and known as muske
JACKIE. was of the opinion that
should stop here. and fight the fire
the open; but the long-contin,
drought had SO dried the surface
the muskeg that did not dare to
go, the more especially as saw
eight. dip in the country ahead Of
which supposed to be the valley
the Kattawagami.
My conjecture proved to be CORE
but upon arriving there We were
deed disappointed to nnd only I
row, shallow stream. a poor bar
to an advancing fire. But as
hope, we were glad to seek its pro
tion, and we decided to take
chances In midstream.
BY this time the wind had riser
gale, and the atmosphere was de
with smoke and rapidly darkeEing.
four O'clock it was so dark
unable to see my hand in front Of
face, and the air had begun to
decidedly warmer
shall never forget the VERDI
and uncanniness of that awful glo
the wild shrieks of the night ha
and the loud boots OF the owls in
strange. unnatural night, or the !
OF animals fleeing as before teri
foe. Out in the thick spruce 70
across the stream, in front and
hind us, escaped caribou. moose
hear, besides innumerable smaller
:imals, such as rabbits and SPUR
We could not see them. but as
new animal found refuge near
Jacko, long accustomed to the var