Year: 1870

scenes AT the buTut


Hall Correspondence of the Montreal Wit


ness.


On the evening Of the 18th, I
was engaged about a mile and a
half from home, along with Mr..
Byran Daley and his three sons, in
a swamp about mile southwest
of Mr.. Daley's house. We had
cleared a road across the swamp
from northwest to southeast, and
were busy carrying water and ex-
tinguishing whatever FIRE was car
lied across our road by the wind,
which was very high. We like
wise kept two axes going clearing
the road of the branches of falling
trees, as they were falling too fast
to allow US time to cut their trunks,
the fire having undermined their
roots.


A little after dark q fierce gust
of wind carried the fire across our
road in q number OF places, and
set the swamp in blaze. Some
Of us got out by running across
the fire, while others of us tried a
race with the fire across the swamp,
in which we were successful. We
had not time to congratulate each
other on our escape, but set to
work with all speed to clear the
sheds OF sleighs, wagons, buggies.
and harness of all descriptions,
drawing them into potato field
with a horse belonging to Mr.. J !.
Foran, which happened to be
standing in the stable; but the un-
fortunate animal, when let go,
started for home at full speed, and
after running about mile, per-
ished miserably inSthe flames near
what was our gate.


In less time than it takes to
write this, the fire came out of the
swamp and flew to the barn, 200
yards distant, and in one instant
it was all in ablaze. We now fed
to the house with what water we
had in our pals. The water that
had been drawn half mile was in
barrels which were too close to
the barn to allow us to get at them,
owing to the heat. I was left to
guard the house from the numer-
Gus sparks which rained about
like hail aud l succeeded for more
than half an hour in extinguishing
the flames as fast as they kindled.
while Mr. Daley's three sons drag
ged the clothing and part of the
furniture into the adjoining field.
At length my water gave out, and
the roof of the house taking fire, l
fed for home, little thinking of
what was before me.


l had to run across the dlrec-
ton the wind was blowing, down
q narrow strip of ground, between
two fallows not one hundred yards
apart. Back Of the fallows, to my
right, was dense swamp. My
eyes being blind with dust and
smoke, I did not see that Mr..
George Simm onds's buildings were
nearly all burned, until 1 got near
them, and was stopped by a
strong log fence, which was all in
q blaze.


1t was now that the black reality
of the danger Of my wife and four
small children broke on my mind.
Right to the windward Of Mr..
Simmons's house the road is cross
ell by a beaver meadow which is
skirted on both sides by brush
and fallen trees. This was all in
a blaze, and Just behind that
stood my house, in the midst of
pine stumps, each one of which 1
knew to be by this time a flaming
torch.


I stood bewildered for mo-
ment. To proceed was certain
death, and going back was leaving
my little ones and wife to the how
ling tempest Of fire by which they
were surrounded. Hooked around
and now discerned my personal
danger. The fence that | had
crossed bu. few moments before
all was on fire, and both fallo VS.
were taking fire Thus l was shut
in bv blazing fences to be roast
ed between two fallows. The in
stinct os MISREPRESENTATION drove all
other things from my mind.
ran into patch Of potatoes where
there were no stnmps, and as neal
to the fallow to the leeward as the
flames would permit. commence
ed digging hole among the pota
to hills; but I had not got it very
big. when the flying fire, smoke
and sand became unbearable; and
placing my arm across my face sc
that l might breathe through my
shirt-sleeves. l stuck my head as
far as l could into the hols, my
body and my feet being stretched
out to the leeward.


The storm of burning cinders
and sand and smoke that passed
over me no human tongue can de
scribe. nor any one imagine excep'
they came through it themselves
had often to hold my breath fol
some time when gust would
come, even although l had my
mouth an rose covered with my
shi. t. sleeves, that might rot suff-
ocate. The heat, both from pass
ing cinders and the two fires, was
awful, and when the wind would
slacken some l scratched out tn,
loose sand and down with my
head again, having my eyes sh u
all the time.


Now, a more dreadful suffering
awaited me. l had four email
children, the oldest. Margaret