It Rained Fire

by D.P. Stewart ©2003

Miramichi River Valley during the summer and fall of 1825 were extremely hot and dry. Temperatures stayed very hot well into October. No signs of rain or cooler temperatures. Fires had been sweeping through the Province throughout the season.

Marshes and creeks were hard baked by the sun and crops were feeble. Small green potatoes, thin wheats and grains were all that grew. This would not be enough to carry them over the winter.

On the seventh day of October the air was dry and an eerie stillness of the atmosphere made it hard for one to breathe. By mid-day the sun was blacked out by a dark veil and a faint smell of far off smoke was noticed. In the distance, rumbles were heard and assumed to be thunder and the approach of much needed rain.

The blood red sun was erased from the sky by the dark veil, of now noticeable smoke. A tawny, thin line of light was visible on the horizon to the Northwest. Lumbermen said it was far off woods fires or maybe Northern Lights?

Maybe?

That evening the low horizon, as viewed from the south bank of the Miramichi River, began to cast an orange glow. The temperature was over eighty degrees. Too hot for October. A breeze picked up from the North East. As it did the far off rumble seemed louder and closer.

All at once the entire northern sky was upon the Valley with fire. Seventy miles of flame blazed skyward hundreds of feet. Hurricane winds whipped the fire and the River into a frenzy. Whole flaming trees blew through the air, crashing down upon sailing ships anchored down in the harbour.

Many inhabitants were overwhelmed by the fire, consumed while standing in awe. Many people believed that Judgement Day was upon them and within minutes the entire north bank was engulfed in the inferno.

Animals ran with people following, into the River’s refuge. One account tells of a bear huddled in the water with cattle and people. Flames roared with deafening thunder, the intense heat melted human and animal flesh and boiled small ponds and streams.

Burning hot embers rained down as far away as Halifax. Smoke crawled through Newfoundland and sailors in the Gulf were unable to navigate with no sun in view for days. All the time hot embers rained down upon their vessels, scorching decks and smouldering rigging and sails.

Sailors also thought it was Judgement Day and prayed accordingly.

—    Excerpted from "Leaving It All Behind” work in progress.