Hemmed in by a Prairie Fire

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 48, 8 October 1892, Page 4

Hemmed in by a Prairie Fire

— ♦ " I had an experience in Nebraska in 1856 tnat I can see yot whenever I shut ray eyss," said Major Tom Stephens at the Lindell. " I piloted b party of emigrants across the plains I , and was returning; alone to the Mis- i souri. It was a trifle risky, but my i

business was urgent, and I was so well mounted that I had little fear of Indians. It was in the latter part of September, and as there hud been no rain for two months the tall grass was like go much tinder. One night I camped on a small tributary of the middle Loup. It was a small, springanu rivulet, destitute of timber and | almost hidden by the rank grass. I had not slept long when I was awakened by a neighing of my horse, and was horrified to find the prairie to the south of me afire and a strongwind sweeping it down upon me. I mounted and started for the Loup, some five miles north, but before half the distance was covered try horse put his foot in a hole, fell ami broke alee:. , "The fire hemmed me in by a semicircle and was coming on with terrible rapidity. The whole heavens seemed to be a sheet of roaring flame. I thought sure I was done for. I have heard men brought face to face with death remember every evil deed of their lives, but I simply stood there in the dry grass and watched the subline spectacle. I felt that my doom was sealed and deliberately waited for it. Suddenly a new danger confronted me. A vast herd of buffalo flying before the fire was bearing down upon me. I was to be trampled to death aud cremated afterwards! As the vast mass came thundering on I instinctively started and ran. Several deer were scurrying by me, and I fancied I could feel the hot breath of the herd of buffalo on the back of my neck. I was suddenly thrown into the air and landed lengthwise across the back of a big bull. •• I fastened my fingers in his shaggy coat and managed to bestride him, and thus mounted I was carried to Loup River, where I was thrown off by the branch of a tree. 1 managed to swing to it, however, and thus saved myself from being trampled to death. The herd plunged scross the shallow river and took re- | luge from the approaching flames in its muddy waters Three days later I was picked up, more dead than alive, by an emigrant train. I spent, first and last, more than fifteen years on the plains, and had many close calls, but that midnight ride on a butfalo's back, with the Loup Hiver in front and tbe fires of Gehenna roaring in tue rear, was, I think, as remarkable as any of the inventions of the yellow- black literati."