FIRES AT LETHBRIDGE.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 21, 20 January 1863, Page 3

FIRES AT LETHBRIDGE.

Lem, ' ' ess than four large bush fires," says the * re a-:-: V J Advertiser of yesterday, " were visible i ited "■ Abridge, in the direction of the Steiglitz s f- 'oa Saturday evening, and during the ] ' _, of yesterday 'a dense smoke enveloped the *Yf~ yto the westward. Along the Moorabool tiie iss is so dry fiat the slightest spark would J ' i .l ia blaze, and some portions of the river * ■* -.' low that they look like a succession of t „. water holes rather than : a running j rol-;. .' A Lethbridge correspondent of the same \ say,: writes :— " The last day of December, 1862, ' pon : Aelyto be soon forgotten at Lethbridge. I he-' e ' eve n o'clock a.m. a hot wind struck up - -is c Dor n ' Towards noon the wird increased } ', ,- e > became perceptibly hotter — the ther- i l»e !r ran up to 95 deg. in the shade, and clouds > be - c enveloped the face of the country. The f gis- : 'g near and lurid, and tinged every object r ilar ' 6a nguineous red color, a sure sign of a f j n *j{ er< At two p.m. the down passenger train * l ; n i n fl s usual passing through the com-fielde, "V' t'i dan Rer was apprehended, but shortly after I ant, ' wrs bMr llobertson's fiold were startled by a City fc bush fire rushing down straight on the r ie)d in which they were engaged through \ ■'• vun. In lees than ten minutes

the plain was ono sea of fire aiid smoke — it seemed entirely beyond human aid to preserve the neighboring farm rhouscs and corn-fields from entiro destruction. A. cry of terror was quickly spread to the neighbors, and everybody ran to the scene ofthefiro. For some time they battled successfully with the fierce intruder, hvA at lost it sprang into the above-mentioned ! ficld of oats; the oats were nearly all in stook, and stooks and stubble were quickly in a blaze, as well as a long piece of brush or log fence which added additional intensity to the scorching blast. A thousand fires gleamed round in the pitchy darkness. The thunder rol.'ed overhead; accompanied by bright flashes of lightning. A refreshing shower of rain fell about eleven o'clock, and thus closed the iskirt of the 'old year ' on a scene of grandeur and terror which is seldom witnessed."