RIVER LIFE. 257 



iads of salmon, trout, bass, and other fish, which, poisoned by 

 the alkali formed by the ashes precipitated into the river, now 

 lay dead or floundering and gasping on the scorched shores and 

 beaches, and the countless variety of wild fowl and reptiles shared 

 a similar fate." 



Such was the violence of the hurricane, that large bodies of 

 ignited timber, and portions of the trunks of trees, and severed 

 limbs, and also parts of flaming buildings, shingles, boards, &c., 

 were hurried along through the frowning heavens with terrible 

 velocity, outstripping the fleetest horses, spreading destruction far 

 in the advance, thus cutting off" retreat. The shrieks of the af- 

 frighted inhabitants mingling with the discordant bellowing of 

 cattle, the neighing of horses, the howling of dogs, and the strange 

 notes of distress and fright from other domestic animals, strange- 

 ly blending with the roar of the flames and the thunder of the 

 tornado, beggars description. 



Their only means of safety was the river, to which there 

 was a simultaneous rush, seizing whatever was buoyant, howev- 

 er inadequate ; many attempted to effect a crossing ; some suc- 

 ceeded ; others failed, and were drowned. One woman actually 

 seized an ox by the tail just as he plunged into the river, and 

 was safely towed to the opposite shore. Those who were unable 

 to make their escape across plunged into the water to their necks, 

 and, by a constant application of water to the head while in this 

 submerged condition, escaped the dreadful burning. In some 

 portions of the country the cattle were nearly all destroyed. 

 "Whole crews of men, camping in the interior, and engaged in 

 timber-making, were consumed. 



Such was the awful conflagration of 1825 on the Mirimachi. 



This event, of course, put a great check upon the lumbering 

 operations of that section ; but since that period, the places named, 

 " phoenix-like, have risen from their ashes finer towns than they 

 were before the period of that terrific conflagration." Hundreds 



