The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-04-19
IBOAEING OCEAN OF FIRE.
yryr SQUIRE MILEsOF LoNo ISLAND
IN FLAMES.

~. f:r,nt Fire NJ nr Isiip-Housct, Barns,
un,.nck.. lIea dows and Forests Burned
-Tsc sccrc Mt Nigbt-Heroic Women
F,,btinq the Fire-A Woman and her
Dnuyhter iu the midst ofthe Flam s-Tho
Turning oftbe O'Neili Housr,
On Thursday morning the residents OF the
,oun,ry round abou, nolbrook statation, on the
lorr Island Railroad, were greatly Charmed ~ 'ne
N.eoyety ,not the woods near that point and direct
h on tle line OF the road, were on hrc. The WIND
s,s blowing frceh at the time, but fortunately is
,,ree,ion was such rs 10 drive the flames from tile
road leaving the buildings In the settlement secure
he Dire rushed with amazing rapldity through the
vide forest Of scrub oak and pine that lies between
the Long Island aud the South Shore roads, and
licked up the dry grass and leaves with Its hissing
tongue. ns IL It were q demon quenchng is thirst
ROAR OF rus TORNADO OF rias
ora, heard for miles and the heavy clouds OF black
an oke, now hanging arily over the burning ares,
nav skurrying hlther and thither In leadeolored
Makes at the bidding OF the eaprieicus wind, now
lowering close to earth In sombre mass too thick
and too lark for the eye TO penetrate, gave token to
The poodle Of the whole country side that the do
,roy,r who had threatened them more than once be-
lore 10 ears gone by was upon them again. When
night came the sky vas illuminod With the refse-
for leagues and leagues around the centre Of attack,
The inh. bitants were cut In force watching the
VARYING COURSE OF THs rIRs TIkSD,
and eoasulting the augurs to ts further movements,
ali depended upon the wind. II Was now blowing
IN ltful gusts. first from one point then from an
other until IL had boxed the compass o score OF
times keeping the FIRE meanwhile confined to mar
row limits, at point nearly midway between the
two roads and about south west from the place oil
beginning. At midnight the ablebodied men oi
nearly every village within miles Of this point were
busly engaged In preparing for the coming
Of the unweicome visitor. Some cut down tile un-
derrrowih. and widencd the distance between their
homes ana the possible danger while others. where
the dir, elton OF tie wind permitted, set FIRE 10 the
rrass, thus destroying what might otherwise serve
a. food and strength for the threatening foe AT this
1re he nprefrance Of the sky over the burning
district vas eeuharly grand and beautiful Az times
there nothing to be seen but vast dense cloud
OF nky b9ckncse, oyersnreadng nve times tne area
covered BY the IRE. Anon
BRIGHT LINES or YELLOW on CRIMSON
streaked the GLOOMY mass and here and there broad
psichc- OF lNd white appeared like windows open.
log to- tire sun, or ike flashing orifammes borne
tl0n In the darkness over the heads OF Titan host
Suddenly tie cloud would rise upon the wind Tar
nee would catch Ihe sleam Of the brilliant ame be
meath. and bear IT. grandly iii another wind gus
n1ed the mass, and lef but lurid glare behind
long the Ore played within a circle OF not mor'
iAan two miles In diameter moving now TO the
porth. now to tho south, the east or the west, a
he itni evening breeze prcmpted-windna It
cruel gues Of fame around the trunks Of thrift
pine aud oak and cedar blasting the young sapling
whole OF grass In its devious course, leayn
popins IN It's path but sooty bl.ekness, and allini
Me air With the cindered atoms OF Its fpoll.
TIE TIEE SPREADING.
On Friday morning, the wind became settled as h
course. and blew steadily toward the southeast
driving tie flames to resh fields and pssturcs new
fs SHS Spcn fSsn Ss s6a sdS 1'3I mile
fast Of Wllliamsburgh, and within long mile Q
Here t atRSSsh the station wa. saved, the d.mae,
/ Ione wa. considerable. Hundreds OF acres In hs
Of D ;, sss S"a
/ dred cord, OF wood destroyed. fhe Hon. wm. ii
whose land. aSop .hs Club SroSnss Ds
or tue Club grounds almost half that quantity
FARNER's HOME DESTROYER.
Within q nile OF the Club House, and almost i
sight Of the lt,e lake in which the souih,id
sportsmeu are wont to bob for eels and tempt thei
well-lrained lrout with motted shoe flies, stood TN
modest little home Of James ONelll. .armer In
managed to provide hmtelf and his family with th,
comforts and cOnyeniencies OF life. His house wa
well furnished, his barn well,stoeked, and ioiIun'
was belinning to sme upon him.
On Friday afternoon the approaching column o
smoke which be and his lad been watching anx
lously for two days and tho whole OF one night be
gan to rear his farm, giving warning that y wa
time Tor hm to prepare for danger. The wind wa
and inS roar 81 The coming ger1.S 4as o. Sr S
1 like true woman whose worth Is best estimated u
the hour Of peril, she los. no time In skreking an
waing, but set TO work TO save ner household gear
l which II was now certain must soon be desroye
l Sf not quickly removed 10 place Of safety.
oNsi asd HI, two S sons. foS % there was no dine
harness horse and .s rstidly "a possible ,.ui "
Wnle one OF the sous was engaged at the barn 4
freeing the live stock, tie other members OF IN
family being st 5usy ~ hay'ns INIT, gu. .Ss NJ. nSas,
TIE rIRn WAS UPON THEN.
I The house stood near the edge Of the woods an
The are had reached them q moment too soon. The
hurried out, and " hile the woman ran toward th
clearing with q bundle Of time-honored keepsakcs
her arms the mon tugged ut the loaded wagon whic
pow contained ali q their worldly goods; The
hoped 10 get to the Great Of the hil to ,hs we,
BE- 10 no danger from tho flames. B,
o. they turned to take last look at the roof th!
bad sheltered them they discovered tIs, ne elosi m
snt the dry roof OF the barn began TO blaze. Noti
/ Jog was len them but flight. Hastily empt,ing Oh
l 70 The road, and there left It, ibe sole remnant
/ tbeir little fortune In lew minutes the house wi
1 mass o blazing ruins, and In Few minutes MOI
ing was to DO seen OF The barn but few snlel
,r pAcKwoops HEROINE.
/ On one OF the few hills TO be found 10 this lov
| level part OF Long Island, stands Q small fran
| house, occupied by John Boyce, his wife, an
Slaughter, the latter pretty and intelligent girl
L 1csttTuay mOfniHR. u
| gnK bUS ran Gown to the Club House FOR INFORM
/ tiOn con noerning the great fire in the woods, ~
/ hiter long tramp through scorclied Fields an
Il bAckened woods, and over muddy roads, found b
I way to Oakland station, where he met with Mr.
boyce, whom he accompanied TO her house mi
bway, Ou the road, which passed through a part {
the burned district, he obtained tile following pa
liculArs CO ccrlng the fire Of Friday, which th
heavy raiu OF that night had now enectuall
1 puehched:
/ Mrs Boyce and her daughter were alone In IL
house, hs Mr.. Boyce was engaged "a a workman
p New York glass factory. On Friday afternoo
Miss Boyee noticed that the clio I'D OF smoke in II
distance was rolling rapidly toward her home, al
| that
rHE ROAR AND HISS OF THB FLAMES
were Lecoming palmer and palmer. She gave u
alarm to hor mother and tho two Immediately A
about saving what they could before II should bo tC
late. Every thing they could lin thcy carried I'M
the cellar; but bef re they bad secured one.ka
\ their moyables they found that the flames We
creeping along the grnss toward the hay stack. IA
Il lying forth without q moments delay the ~
women, SELLING what weapons came FIRST, made
GALLANT FIGHr AGAINST THE FIERY FOE,
and saved the haystack. The air was filled with II
\ tpaIks bOrns from the burning woods by the win
4 and the little barn was In danger. Making her wa
10 this "a fast as she could, Mrs Boyce opened q
n door and released the COW. the only occupant, wi
II took to leeWaid without moments delay, and s
Il cured her safety In q far distant clearing