Year: 1873

Every door and window was closed, te

 keep out the devouring element, vel

 the atmosphere of the coaches was as

 hot as the air of hades, and the glass

 windows shivered by the excessive heat

 kept cracking and adding to the tu-

 mutt

 If rail should break, or bend toe

 much, all would be over. Our lives

 were worth little at that moment, and

 few life insurance agents would have

 granted us policy on any considera-

 tion.

 This terrible state of affairs could

 not last long. One of two things must

 happen /; we would either soon be safe

 ly through the fames-or stopping in

 their midst be devoured by them in

 their fierce play around us.

 The varnish in the coaches was melt | ing, the woodwork of the sides, tops,

 and bottoms of the cars, was almost hot

 enough to ignite, and already the out

 sides were smoking, when we suddenly

 emerged into cool, pure air, beyond the

 belt of fire. Hastily doors and windows were thrown open, though many hands were blistered in the operation, and we rushed out again on the platforms to get some chance of breathing without inhaling the fumes of boiling varnish and smoking wood. The last coach of the train was discovered to be on fire, and its occupants were thronging for ward into the other cars. But we could not check our speed to extinguish the flames yet, for our old enemy was giv- ing us smart chase, and pressing sharp ly on our rear, seemingly bent on our total destruction.

 Three miles further up the track stood

 a watering tank, so the conductor said. and toward this we hurried on. We were running rapidly, and it did not take us long to reach the place. Here we came to stand still The locomo- tive was plentifully supplied with leath- ern buckets, and these we at once began using dexteriously. Water was plenti- fully dashed on the burning coach, 1ln- til it was thoroughly drenched the other cars, badly heated and charred, were also cooled, and then we rested from our labors and surveyed the train. It was terribly damaged. Every plank was more or less burned, the sides were black with smoke, the paint had melted and run in streaks down the sides, and many of the 'mouldings had been so warped, that the nails had pulled out, and they had dropped off along the | road. The car which had come so near burning up was perfect wreck, being | more than half destroyed, and totally | unfit for further use until rebuilt But | its remains sat firmly on the trucks, and we concluded that we could safely carry 1t on with us to the end of the road, where 1t would be delivered to the for reparirs. The engineer and freman-brave fellows, who stuck nobly to their posts amid all the danger were considerably singed, on account of their exposed position-for the cab, being open behind, had allowed some of the flames to dart within and make their acquaintance. Had not our for ward motion caused wind which blew the flames away, they must almost cer- talnly have perished. As 1t was, we all felt that we had been miraculously sav- ed from frightful death, and fervently offered up our thanks to the Deity who had so mercifully preserved us.

 Having now taken on board plenti- ful supply of wood and water, we found the fiery sea again approaching us. Prairie fires travel faster than most people would think possible, the dry grass afording first rate fuel, and the wind generally driving the flames be- fore it. But we were in no special dan ger of being oyertaken by the devour- ng element. though such catastrophy vas by no means impossible. However. discretion was evidently the better part 'f valor in our case, SO we entered the ,ars, and were once more dashing for ward to regions of more safety.

 We soon left the prairie far behind, truck upon hilly, barren portion of he road, and through this continued 'ur journey uninterrupted to the ter minus of the line. Reaching there on ime, alive and we'll, we felt quite at 'ase again, and were in excellent spirits.

 On my return trip over that same oad had another hairbreadth escape, he particulars of which will give you n my next article.