, 1864-08-25

THE NORTHERN FIRES.
TIE DEVASTATION IN MAINE
Cities and Towns In Danger-Vllla.es
Bufpeu-GreRt Amonn.1 of
Property Destroyed.

WINTHROP, Me-, aug. 10, 1so4-
Maine Is, now In mid August, beginning to
look once more out U the smoke. The late
raips which have fallen In most parts of the
State, have eubdued the fires that for several
weeks past bare been raging with great fury,
spreading CONSERVATION and destruction in
all dircctions TIE stata has been almost
entirely hidden by the thick, Bmothering.
sick enipg veil which has been upon her. and
only those who have tried 1t know what 1t ls
to live day and night shrouded in dense
smoKe.
The long drought pre7ared the way for
meet terrific sweep OF lire, and from the
small beginnings Of the sparks from cars,
the fire from PIPES and cigars, the Dire shin
gle-mnker set to burn mp hls shavings, and
another FIRE set by child five years old, who
WAS lett alone to play, arose the great confla-
FOREST and field and homes. The winds have
been very hflh nearly all summer, part OF
the tine blowing gale, especially near the
fires, rs is natural,
The grc,test devastation Is sid to have
been In the counties Of Afo0stook and Pc
nobscot. A report was spread that the city
Of Bangor was burning; bnt in the city
proper there wns no fre-onlv anxiety and
alarm. DenFe volumes Of smoke were seen
suddenly rieing from several points near the
city. The wind blew guile. aud 1t WA found
that extensive tlses were raging In the woods
few miles away. Information was sent to
the Mayo that help was wanted on the Essex
rona to fight the advancing toe, and be
promptly furnished the required aid; but.
happily. the oyinE Of the wind rendered their
Efforts netlleRs. The Villages Of 0rono, 31ll-
ford and Vcazie, with their peculiarly inaam-
marle mill property, were 10 great danger,
and were reported as burning; but only a
few buildings in the last named villages we're
destroyed.
A train on the Maine Central railroad WAS
blockaded py fires en- both sides Of the track
ut Pittsfisld. and 1t was deemed unsafe to
run the gauntlet In Gleburn, Orono and
Eddlngton, there were extensive fires. Wood
l4nds, cr6pe, fences and houses were speedily
destroyed In South Paris the fire in the
woods kfpdied suddenly one morning, and
spreading through to the timber, came rap
idly toward the village. The people, In great
but thc wind ceased and the danger passed
In Newport goods were removed from the
stores, and the village was prepared for q
general conflagration, which. as usual under
such circumstances, did not take place. In
Knox and Ellsworth and Bath, and, indeed,
in nearly all directions, the danger has been
real and near.
The village Of Salmon Brook, in Aroos-
took, was entirely destroyed. Just after
noon, one Wednesday, the terrible toe was
seen streaming through the smoke to the
south Of the doomed place. The wind urged
tl luG AAlucss ~ Hi1a Ill Will W utLEulQl t0
resist them. and too 1ate to stay to snve any
thing but lie. Men, women and children
aed, unable even to 6riye away their cattle.
Many of these, and the sheep. were so badly
burned thar they died, and others had to be
killed, MS their poor feet had been burned to
crisp. The earth being so dry the fire has
worked down very deep, and In fighting it
men have frequently "stumped" through
to their knees Into Intense FIRE. Wo to boots,
and to feet, md legs. They have all suffered
greatly thus tlery summer.
1t Was stated that In Portland large
graveyard was burned over, the fence de-
stroy ed, and some Of the grave.stones SO
burned as to crumble. The destruction Of
grass and grain has been deplorable. In one
instance family, seeing the flames sweep
Ing towards their house, hurried, With the
b1dy Of one Of their number, Just dead, to q
plsce. But MI was destroyed They were
nrable to return to the poor, dear, helpless
form. and 1t was burned to ashes.
In Palmyra the hardship and distress and
loss have been very great. a hundred men
IN scattered farming region have been
spend their whole time lighting fires. The
women cooked and ran with food and coffee
from place to place to feed their husbands,
sons and brothers. From half mile to
nile they had to 60. They kept watch, too,
and when new f1rea from the tncend1arY em.
De1Bt WHICH HtlE 0luNH LII JILL GllECLltQ6,
started, they blew horns aud called the men
to try and extinguish them. Their clothes
and all packa5le things are kept packed and
covered with blankets. They live "from
hand to mouth" ard 'sall upside down." as
1t is expressed. They are worried and worn
enough; but as the rains that have fallen all
about them hare not yet been granted TO
Palmyra, they dare not relax their watch,
though Tor several days the winds have been
comparatively still, and the fires subducd. g
Water has been scarce and precious with
us all. Some families have had none even to
drink, which they did not bring distance Of
q mile, and to wash floor had become an
extravagance in Palmyra and other places.
The destruction Of property hls been im-
mense. May there never be another simmer
like this IL MINNIE, nor anywhere. We, just
hire in Winthrop, surrounded by lakes, have
not really been scorched. though thoroughly
choked we have been 1t is decided, be-
licvc, that the fires have not been within two
1niles Of us but NE might almost as well be
Killed ae scared to death.