Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-09-08

The Fires IN woods and Swamps.
One Of the most extraordinary and di>gs
truus results of the terrible drouth which as /
visited the country, is the unparalleled dcs-
truction of property by conf grations cp'u-
mcncing III swamrs and woodlands, and cx-
tending with fear al rlplity to every species
Of cOmhustirlr material within thcSt reach
Thus valuable trl' Is oG wood, timber and peat
lands have fallen Il prey to the consuming
element, involving also in their ruin the d"S-
tructiOn pf buildings, crops and other pro-
perty Of great value. thus swelling up an inn
mcnsc aggregate loss which must fall heavily
upon the industrial classes of the country,
to say nothing Of the wholesale destruction
of crops by the ordinary Effects of drouth.
In addition to the fires before noticed, one
in Wilmington, Mass on the Lowell railroad.
burnt over from 800 to 1000 acres Of peat
ground One NAV who was engaged in quel
ling the fire was suddenly surrounded, and
and had narrow escape, having his hair and
clothes scorchcd in the effort to save himself.
In several of the counties of Maine, many
towns have narrowly escaped entire destruc-
tion, and in some of them valuable buildings
have been fired from the burning woods, and
consumed. In numerous places, the fires,
after leaving the woods have gnawed into
the dry turf, and thus converted the earth
surface into ashes for considerable distances.
The standing wood and timber, with immense
quantities already, cut and ready for market
together witt! buildings, fences, crops, &c.,
which have been destroyed, involve a heavy
loss Of property. In Sunderland, Vt. up to
Saturday last. there had been only one rain,
and that slight shower, for three months.
\ large mountain in the vicinity had been ON
fire for five weeks. The fires in Maine, New
Hampshire and Vermont, of which we have
heretofore given the important particulars.
have sNoopcd up every species of comlustiblc
property on many miles Of land, in the most
ilourishing districts Of the country. The
famous Moat mountain near North Conway.
y. H.. has been on fire for week, and bears
and rattlcsnakcs have been driven from their
retreats, and have fallen an easy prey to their
dcstroyers. In one mountain locality. three
bears were killed last week. and the oldest
inhabitant cannot remember when rattle
snakes were 50 plenty in August.
On the line of the New York Central rail
road, there has been large number Of fires
which have ragged to an unprecedented extent
on both siies of the road, covering hills and
luwlands while in the back ground, larg"
cunila9 9ratipns were consuming immense guam
titles of wood and timber at various points.
and threatening houses and mills. The pro-
grcss of .hcSc fires through the bush was
about as fast rs a man would walk. At va
rious places, men and teams went out to pIow
lurrows, hoping thus to arrest the further
| advance OF the flames, but III most eases
these proved irultlrss. y large amount of
| pine wood was destroyed, and an immense
| quantity Of timber either burned up or badly
! injured. In other sections of the state. the
fires were equally destructive. At Dresden,
in Washington county, several hundred acres
! ,T q, Ia
Titles of wood were destroyed. The steam
bouts were compelled to feel their wy u!on
Lake Champaign, the smoke was 50 dense and
at numerous points between Whitehall and
| Rouse : Point. extensive fires have destroyed
everything in their way. At Crown Point.
one firm has had 23O.0oo worth OF mills,
| lumber and wood destroyed. The muckN
swamps hrtwren Rome and syracuse, are
| burning iurI0us!y-the lire ttlriy eating ui
the eart'I. Ia It. Lawrence county, the
woods were ON fire at Il score OF points oi
saturday ana sunday on the line OF t he rail
ROAD ana tHe iIm"s continued at last ad'
wees 10 slrea! "lth great farlnlty. III
NatrfNlI!'' v" ld' county 9thty acres have
"eeI, burned 'N'i--'He ire Pi'rcIhG ''e earth
TO the drptH OF TWO leet' quarter OF Il
lll't o' p'""N r%IH was ueHIroTeu' ana some
iHmlHeS "'r' "'iI-s' % nee ior th'ir IlNes
from several 3'Ier counties; we nave similar
accounts oi 'e'aAlatioh Whlch mas Already
caused tremendous loss OF property whose
owners IN some cases are nearly ruined there
~ me IoreSt "nout the sources OF the
hudson mas peeh burned over ior circuit OF
ID nll'S' ana vast forests covering mis- ana
valleys IN Northerh New YORK are also the
scene oi d'St tfucti'r hres'
r"rthcf rSV' tIe hres nave been equally
disastrous; me ,leveiahu HeTa!a gives " -, sac