“It is impossible to tell how many lives were lost, as many of those who were in the woods among the lumbering parties, had no friends nor connections in the country to remark on their non-appearance.  Five hundred have been computed as the least number that actually perished in the flames.

“The destruction of bears, foxes, tiger-cats, martens, hares, squirrels, and other wild animals, was very great.  These, when surprised by such fires, are said to lose their usual sense of preservation, and becoming, as it were, either giddy or fascinated, often rush into the face of inevitable destruction:  even the birds, except these of very strong wing, seldom escape.  Some, particularly the partridge, become stupified; and the density of the smoke, the rapid velocity of the flames, and the violence of the winds, effectually prevent the flight of others.”

It was from this mighty destruction that the forecast and admirable presence of mind displayed by the lumberer, whose pathetic story I am about to relate, saved him.  I could not fail, while rejoicing in his escape, to impute his self-possession to the compassion of the all-wise Being who had made him such an instance of His mercy.

“The weather,” said he, “had been unusually dry for the season, and there had been no rain for upwards of three weeks before this calamity took place.  We had only just completed our shanty, and had commenced felling timber ready for squaring, when it occurred.  We had heard from our teamsters, who had brought us out pork and flour, the day previous, that fires were raging in the woods some miles to the eastward of us.  However, we paid but little attention to what appeared to us a common occurrence.

“After supper, one of our men went out of the shanty, but immediately returned to tell us ’that a dreadful conflagration was raging within a mile or so of our dwelling.’  We immediately rushed out to ascertain the truth of his assertion.  I shall never forget,” he continued, “the sight presented to our view:  as far as the eye could reach we saw a wall of fire higher than the tree-tops, and we heard the mighty sound of the rushing flames mingled with the crashing fall of the timber.

“A single glance convinced us that not a minute was to be lost; we did not stop even to try and secure our clothing, but made our way as quickly as possible to a small river about two hundred yards from our shanty, and which we knew was our only chance of preservation.

“We reached the stream in safety, where I determined to take my stand.  My comrades, however, were of a different opinion:  they contended that the fire would not cross the river, which was upwards of thirty yards in width.  Unfortunately, no argument of mine could induce them to stay, though I was well aware, and represented to them that such a body of flame would not be stayed a minute by such a barrier.

“My comrades, hoping to reach an old clearance of some acres, about half a mile in advance, in spite of all entreaties crossed the stream, and were soon lost to my view never more to be seen alive by me.