AN AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1229, 23 January 1872, Page 2

AN AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRE.

A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. We take from the Newcastle Chronicle the following account of a narrow escape from death in a bush five : Mr Sub-Inspector Harrison was, on Saturday night last, returning from Stroud to Dungog in company with the A. A. Company's Gloucester Superintendent (Mr Keys) and one of the police, and whilst in the vioinity of the Ram Station, having occasion to discount from his horse, the animal jerked the bridle out of his hand and made off up the range. Mr Hartison followed, and after about half-an-hour's chase secured him; his companions having meanwhile ridden onwards. On trying 10 recover the road, the horse took a wrong track through the darkness of the night caused by the bush fires and carded his rider down into a gully, out of which he was driven by a bush fire, which was approaching along both ridges. For three miles he was driven, up into the ranges, and finally surrounded by a complete circle of fire. Twice he was on the point of giving in, but again trusting to his horse, relying on his surefootedness, and in sheer desperation, with handkerchief bound over his mouth—for the fire was scorching him terribly, and the smoke was suffocating—he made a dash through the burning scrub down into another gully. There he remained from about one to, five a.m. surrounded, by a complete cordon of flames, his face to the ground, and the smoke curling over him in dense black volumes. He was torn and scratched from head to foot, and his clothes were in ribbons, consequent upon the reckless manner in which he was compelled to gallop through the burning scrub to avoid being roasted alive. As soon as daylight permitted, and he could once more see his way, he again started, and after several hours' ride made an old station of the com-. pany's called the Black Camp which, had been many years deserted. Here, after searching for some time, he found an overgrown tiack which ultimately led him to the Koruya river, in the immediate neighborhood of the township of Stroud, where he arrived about mid-day, having been sixteen hours and a half in the burning ranges. In the meantime, the alarm having been given, parties -were organised in Dungog and Stroud for Ihe purpose of seeking him, but with faint hopes of ever finding him alive.