Georgia: Near miss in a fire, 100 years ago

From the Rome, Georgia, News-Tribune, December, 1908:

L.A. Dempsey was almost the victim of a raging forest fire when he barely escaped being trapped one day last week in 1908.

Returning to Rome from a trip to Texas Valley, he found the sides of Lavender Mountain on fire. Not realizing its extent, he attempted to drive his team through and was almost suffocated by the smoke.

Trees were falling and branches crackled as the fire whipped along both sides of the road. His team started to run away, but he held control of it, and finally managed to get home, his clothing burned but himself intact.