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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1025, 23 February 1869, Page 3

A Bush Fiee in Austbalia- — A terrible story of the ravages of a bush fire is told in the Gipps Land Times, It is related that, for some days previous to Christmas, the dangerous enemy was seen hovering round Freestone, Maxwell's Creek, and Gladstone, but it was not thought that the scourge would come as near as it did come. However, on last Christmas evening, a Mrs. Barstale, who lived some distance from the township of Gladstone, saw the fire approaching her dwelling. Paralyzed with fear, she stood until the fire was within a few yards of her house ; but then, knowing a minute's delay would be death to herself and her little ones, she placed one of her children upon her shoulders and another one under each arm, and pursued her way up the creek, springing from rock to rock, crawling under the branches of fallen trees, and performing what, under other circumstances, would be impossible feats of endurance and strength. She reachod Gladstone in safety, but had not time to rest long, for the ranges on both sides of the creek were soon covered with flames, and the whole of tho residents of the township were compelled to make their way through smoke and through fire, into a drive, the men then stauding at the entrance to keep the burning lava from falling on the women. One man lost his presence of mind, and made the confusion more confounded by his conduct ; but he found a safe waterhole to jump in, just in time to prevent himself being pushed in by his companions. Other men niado for abandoned shafts, while the flames surged and roared around like a raging sea. The noise was deafening, and the smoke insupportablo, and for hours tho sufferers were in agony. Not a vestige of a house was afterwards to be seen. The entire township has been but a morsel in the ' mouth of the devouring giant, and is no longer visible. This was Christmas Day at Gladstone.