FOREST FIRES IN NORTHERN ONTARIO. 



IN " CANADA FIRST " FOR AUGUST. 



It was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and I was some 

 two miles back in the bush, when a man came down the trail 

 at breakneck speed, "Get out quick," he yelled, and then for 

 the first time that day I smelled smoke. I admit I ran, and 

 it was well I did so, for a roaring, crackling, veritable hell of 

 flame was at my heels in as few moments as it takes me to pen 

 these words. 



After as short a time as ever that trail was travelled on, I 

 struck one of the mines, and there all was commotion. Every 

 available pail and receptacle which was water-tight had been 

 pressed into service, and all hands were at work, some felling 

 trees, tops outwards, some going out to meet the fire, cutting 

 down all the birch to keep the inflammable bark from fi^'ing 

 and carrying the fire onward, while others patrolled the road, 

 water pail in hand. We met and fought the fire by fire, and 

 for a few moments saved the camps. 



Night fell on a scene which beggared description. The 

 whole country seemed on fire. The atmosphere was filled with 

 smoke and ashes, some of the latter burning us as they fell. 

 Our eyes ached, our breath came in gasps from our charcoal 

 charged lungs, and sleep, or even rest, we dare not. The heavens 

 were brilliant with the reflection of the lurid flames, while the 

 forest, — or what was left of it, — was a scorching mass of fire. 

 Devouring tongues of the flame licked the cedars and balsams 

 clean and clear of all foliage, leaving them like ghastly skeletons, 

 and then sprang twenty feet above the highest forest tree, as 

 if to seek others upon which to wreak their wicked vengeance. 

 From tree top to tree top sprang these pillars of flame, until our 

 fire met the main body, and then with a fearful roar, amid 

 which the crash of falling trees could be heard, the fiend swung 

 oflE to the south, and for the time being we were safe. 



But what of the others in the track of the fire? It was the 

 following day before we heard all the news, as blistered and 

 worn out we walked over the still smoking ashes to see how our 

 neighbors had fared. Not a vestige of green caught our eyes; 

 ashes, ashes, that was all, save for the dead skeletons of forest 

 giants — not a bird could be heard, even the rabbits and chip- 

 munks had fled, or had perished. The forest, of a truth, was dead. 



