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Jerry Bolton

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Fire! Fire! Fire!
by Jerry Bolton

Sunday, October 07, 2012
Rated "PG" by the Author.
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This happened in a little settlement by the name of Walker Creek, Arkansas. It was before I was born when the forest caught fire. Some didn't make it out, but my grandparent and their family, including my mother paddled their way to safety.

The dinner bell tolled
It wasn't dinner
It was early morning
The waning moon was high
Morning had settled in heavy as could be
The dinner bell roused the family
They smelled smoke
Before they saw fire
The woods surrounding them
Fiercely
Dramatically
Burning
Deadheading toward the house
The morning sun shone through the smoke
Causing the water in the creek
To appear to be on fire
Horses in the barn
Neighed and whinnied
As the fire reached the hay inside
No hope for the horses
Everybody scrambled together
Looking for a way through
The wrath of the approaching inferno
No where to go
Flames bearing down on three sides of them
Only possible way to flee
Was Walker Creek whose bank
Fifty yards from the house
Wooden boat tied to a pine sapling
The family of seven
Had no choice
They ran toward the creek
And the boat
Down the creek they paddled
Out of danger
Leaving all their dreams
Behind them in the house
In the wake of
Moonless, dark water

©September 16, 2012 / Jerry Pat Bolton

 

 

 

Ram Slade, Shamus

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Reviewed by pat medlin 10/19/2012
how did i miss this one...an excellent description of that traumatic event...pat
Reviewed by Morgan Merriweather 10/10/2012
I too appreciate the descriptions in this. Excellent writing
Reviewed by Mary Ann Biddinger 10/9/2012
Jerry ~
A well written history of your family. A blessing they
were quickly out of danger.

Lady Mary Ann

Reviewed by Adriaen Valerius (Reader) 10/9/2012
You draw the story in such a descriptive way that I can smell the smoke and hear the crackling of the flames. I can see the fear in the eyes of the escaping people.
This happened way too much and many can’t recite this terrifying experience.

Thanks for sharing this piece of history with us Jerry
Reviewed by Annabel Sheila 10/9/2012
OMG!!! What a nightmare....thank goodness your family made it out alive, Jerry!

Anna
Reviewed by T Jett 10/8/2012
Im glad everyone made it out safely. Written as only you can, I was getting nervous reading it. I lost a home to fire, a tenant was asleep and her child played with her lighter. Luckily they got out to safety.
Reviewed by Jane Noponen Perinacci 10/7/2012
How sad to have to leave everything like that. You tell the story in such a fashion that it's like seeing it all take place! Strong people, my lord!

Love ya!

Jane
Reviewed by Ronald Hull 10/7/2012
It happened so many times in those days when houses were built entirely of newly cut wood, fires were used for heat, and there was no machinery for cutting brush that grew up everywhere after the large trees were felled.

My grandfather grew up in a log cabin, the second his father built. I'm sure there were fires, my great uncle became a fire chief, but there is no history of them in our family, only the great tornado of 1928 or so.

Tell more stories…

Ron
Reviewed by Vivian Dawson 10/7/2012
Such a tragedy *Jerry* but
for some who made it out,
blessings bestowed..alleluia

Lady Vivian
Reviewed by Darrell and Kathy Adams 10/7/2012
Thank goodness the most important thing from the home was saved. The family. So sad for the horses and whatever other people and animals that must have been lost in such a terrible way. As Lily said though, what a piece of history indeed. And you have passed it on and grown the story's audience and therefore, history's witness, just like any teller of tales who passes history on down the line, and done it so very well, an important thing. Thank you Jerry. Kathy
Reviewed by Lily of Lough Neagh C. Dennis-Woosley 10/7/2012
WOW, that was something Jerry..
What a piece of history! And of
course if not for the quick
thinking and the availability
not all would be here and perhaps
you to tell it :)

Love and Light
Lily
Reviewed by Budd Nelson 10/7/2012
a sad story told excellently my friend
budd
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