Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-04-06
A BRUSH FIRE,

1t 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
word of English, but in my several
trips among the Nascaupees I had
Learned enough Of their language to
make at least my wants known to
them; and they, by numerous signs
and a careful use of simple language,
were able to communicate with me.
The summer of 1902 was remark
able for singular dryness in a region
usually moist, and not drop of rain
fell during the months of July and
August in the basin of the West River.
On this account my Indians feared
a CONGREGATION, and were always care
full in their choice of a location for
the camp ire. | was generally asked
to camp either on the small rocky
islets 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 it did not occur
ITO me that fire in the dense spruce
forests of the north would be ma
terially different. Therefore I 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, pointing to
the west. "Good Camp on Island"
Taking Jacko's advice, we camped
on an island in midstream, and fell
asleep without 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-
givings, especially as a little rain had
fallen during the night, | started off
on two-day rip to the west, my
endeavor being to make a geological
section of the country between the
West River and the Kattawagami, a
much smaller stream said to lie some
eight or nine miles from the former.
I took JACKIE with me, and left be-
hind Itzka. the other red man, to take
care of the camp. All went we'll dur
ing the morning, and as the country
was not of peculiar geological interest,
we had already advanced far toward
our destination when we stopped for
lunch at noon.
Then, for the first time that day, l
noticed that the air smelled smoky;
and | felt some alarm when JACKIE,
pointing to the clouds swiftly floating
eastward said:
big wind. Fire come here sure
now"
It was indeed evident that the great
fire was coming in our direction, for,
as we watched, large Slack clouds of
smoke f1oated rapidly Ky and the air
grew gradually darker.
Now | began to realize fully our
impending danger. To turn back the
way we had come was impossible, for
seven or eight miles of dense spruce
forest lay behind us; and to be caught
there in a fire meant certain death.
TO advance to meet the fire seemed
equally hazardous. Still, We thought
that the Kattawagami River could not
lie very far ahead of us; although
we knew nothing whatever of this
stream, it would, no matter how
small, give us at least comparative
safety. JACKIE, moreover, favored 60
ing ahead, and so we continued our
Journey westward.
Soon we emerged on one of those
broad, wet, messy swamps, deep with
.sphagnum and thinly .nterspersed
with stunted spruce, so common in
the north, and known as muskegs.
Jacko was of the opinion that we
should stop here, and fight the fire in
the open; but the long-continued
drought had so dried the surface OF
the muskeg that did not dare to dc
so, the more especially as saw a
slight dip In .to country ahead Of u.s.