, 1870-04-22
A ROARING OCEAN OF FIRE,
Five square 1EiEc* of, Long island In
Elamc*-ffoukc*, Nnrr7s, EIaysracks,
Meadows md Forests Hurnrd-'Thc
scene Mt Night - Heroic Women
Fighting the Fire.

E1lmcx-Ef1ukcM, NnfnS. IIuy sta ckz
Meadows md Forests Hurncd-'Thc
scene Mt Night ~ Heroic Women
Fighting the Fire.
From the .se.o York Sun, April 1e.
On Thursday morning the residents Of tho
country round about Holbrook Station, on the
Long Island Railroad, we're greatly alarmed at
the discovery that the woods near that point.
Rnd directly on tho line Of the road, were OF,
fire. The Wind WAS blowing fresh at tho time,
dsiyTee. the flames from tho road, leaving the
buildings in the settlement secure
Tie fire rushed with amazing rapijity
through tho vide forest Of scrub OAK
and pine. that lies between tho Long
Island and tue South Shore roads, and
licked mp the dry grass and leaves with 1ts
hEsinE tongue, as II it were demon queach-
tnG It's thirst. Tho roar. Of tho tornado of&tire
Was heard for miles and the heavy clouds Of
BLACK smoke, now hanging lazily over the burn
lead-colorcd fakes at tho bidding Of the ca-
PRECIOUS wind, now lowering close to earth in
mbre maes too thick and too dark for the
eye to penetrate. gavo token to tho people OF
tue whole country eide that the destroyer who
had threatened them more than once before in
night came the sky vas Illuminated will, the
reflection OF the flames, and in every
hamlet and village, fol Leagues and
leagues around tho centre OF attack,
tne inhA6itanta wcro out IN force watching the
Earring course Of the fire fend, and consult
tnE the augurs as to its fu1thar movcmcuta
All depended upon the wind. It WAS now blow
ing, in ttfu1 gusts, first from ono point. then
from another, until it had boxed the compass
score Of times, keeping the fire meanwhile
confined to nAtruw llmlla, 1t q point nearly
midway between the two roads, and al,out
southwest from the placs al beginning. At
midnight the able bodied men Of nearly ayeyr
village within ten miles OF this point were bust
y engaged in preparing for the coming Of the
gnWelcome VlAitot. Some cnt DOWN the un-
between their homca and the possible
danger. while others, where tho direc-
hon OF the wind permitted. set fire to the
grass, thus destroying what might otherwise
sesse as food and strength fo1 the threatening
nse, aoe; a. a. ts tune the appearance Of the aky
md beautiful At times there was nothing to
be eeen but yast dense cloud Of iukv black
ness,, overEpreading i've times the area GOV
cred 9y the tire. Anon bright lines Of yellow
ba, bs etamson @ streaked the gloomy mass, and
appeared like windows opening to the SIM or
Ike flashing oriaammes borne aloft in the
darkness over the heads Of q Titsn host.
enoaenly the cloud would rise high upon tho
w1na, % tar above the foxer level. and, as it rose
ano AZ spread, It's face would catch tha CLEAN Of
,hs BRILLIANT flame beneath. md bear II ernn,Ily
nll another wiud-guat lifted the mass, And left
but lurid glare behind.
AZ night long tbs people watched, and Ill
more than two mitns in diameter, moving now
to the north, nov to the south, the cast or tho
west, aa the fitful hreczo prompted-.Minfaipa
lts cruel tongusa Of dAmc around tlo trunks
OF Thrifty pine, oak: and cedar, blasting the
young saplines, with ita 6ezy breath, and
sweeping from tho earth whole acrs Of efass
in - devious course, leaving nothing Il it's /!
pa:h but soo1 blacLness, and filing the ar |
With the eiadered atous Of its spai.
: ~ gn f1aasy morning the wind, became set
southeast, c1iring the fames 10 Trash fields !
md pastures new. They bore down rar:d}v !
upon OAKLAND Station, point on tho South |
SidG haakoad: Just forty-eight miles east Of |
" MAAa9aso9tgh, and within / long mi1a Of the !
grounds Of the South Side spo1tsmen's Club, |
Here, although the station WAS saxed, the |
damage done was considerable. Hundreds Of |
acres IN the township Of Ialip were coussed
over By the flames, much valuable timber was
burned, and several hundred corla Of wood
hnds adjon the club grounds, loz at least $50
cofus and III. Sneteler. the custodian Of the
club grounds. Ahnoat half that quantity.
hithn nl3le Of the club house, and A.
most IN sight Of the little laks in which the
so9shside spottsmen are Won: to bob f9r eels.
and tempt their weu-trained front with mot.
tied khoo flies, stood the modest little home OK
james OAeiil, L farmer In Small way, who,
after long year OF hard l1bor, had managed to
provide himself and family with the comforts
aud conyeuiencies Of life. His house was we'll
furnished, his barn well stocked, and fortune
was beginning to smile upon him.
On FEiday afternoon tho approaching col
umn Of smoke which ho and his had been
watching andoualv for two days md The whole
Of one night, began to near his farm, giving
warning thatIt was time for him to prepare
for danger. Tho wind VIE freshening, md the
roar Of The coming tide Of dre g1eW loudar
and louder. His wife was terrified. but like !,
tue woman whose worth ia beut estiruateI in