The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-29
TEE GREAT FIRE ON LONG ISLAND.
A Large Quantity Of Cordwood Destroysd-Five
Hundred Men Fighting the Flames-A
Providsntial shower The Beau ~
tiful Rain" as an Extinguish-
er-Details OF the Losses.

The largest IRE which has ever occurred In the
woods OF Long Island commenced few minutes
after twelve O'Clock on Saturday noon on the line OF
the Long Island RAILROAD, about one and a half mile
east Of Deer Park station. The fire originated rom
a spark from the locomotive attached to the freight
train going east and In the immediate vicinity OF
where the foreman Of the Deer Park section was at
work with eight men. Notwithstanding the fire
originated as IL did, these men, 1t is said, neither
lifted finger to stay the destroying element nor
warned others or the great danger OF general con-
nagration The farmers OF the neighborh0od were
all At work in the hay fields, and although some OF
them saw the flames Of them were aware OF the
danger until about four r. M, when 1t commenced
to spread In fearful manner
THE COURSE OK THE FLAMES
was at first eastward towards boulevard station,
driven by light westerly wind. About midnight
Saturday night the wind changed to northeast and
the flames commenced to run south towards Baby
Ion ann the more thckly populated sections. Inc
alarm now became general, and as many as 500 men
were at this time fighting the flames. Sunday morn
ing found a tract Overrun two and half miles east
fear was entertained that the fire would run further
SOUTH and looked ss II the force OF the connagra-
% was aoS WIS the e the
flames gained new Roadway and commenced to run
directly towards Deer Park.
At two O'Clock Sunday afternoon the smoke was
dense in the houses at Deer Park that the inmates
could not stay IN them. The entire heavens were
back, as II dense cloud Of smoke hung overhead.
The roaring OF the flames, the sound OF falling
trees, the shouts OF the men and the darkness 0!
night, which hung over what seemed TO be q doomed
village were
TRULY APPALLING.
The school house fence was already on fire, and
the people were busly engaged IN hastily removing
the valuabes from their homes when OF a sudden IL
commenced to rain. For an nOur the rain poured
in torrents AT first IL did not have much effect on
the devOuring flames, but before half hour was
over 1t was evident that the village was saved. the
men who had been at work 80 long took new hearf,
and by nlghtlall the fire was conquered The follow
Ing are some or
D. II. Skidmore loses 200 cords OF wood and about
700 burned Ebert Carl loses 200 cords OF
200 cords OF wood and 450 acres burned ever; Ste
phen Samms, 100 cords OF wood and had $50 acres
burned over; Silas Muncy IS cords OF wood and 100
acres burned over; Il. Southland loses rs cords or
wood and 200 acres burned over. The Wilson es-
tate are heavy losers. Many other persons lost
heavily, but at present cannot ascertain the exact
amount.
On Sunday during the most exciting time, deer
and rabbits were crossing the road 10 BABYLON
aud the railroad large plumbers. A large field OF
corn on the north OF the railroad caught fire and
burned like so much finder. Hundreds OF acres or
grass was also burned. From twenty-five TO fifty
miles OF fence shared the same fate, as well as q
number Of thousand feet OF timber. On Sunday Of
ternoon large pile OF railroad Ties commenced to
burn, but 1t was Immediately put out by the foreman
Of the railroad squad.
The people in this section are bitter against the
Long Island Railroad Company, claiming that the
MEETINGS on the smOkeStaCkS OF their locomotives
are all worn ont and do not conflne the sparks.
Before the shower on Sunday there had been no
ram In this vicinity for six weeks ana everything
was dry and badly parched. the shower seems to
have been confined to very narrow tract OF coun-
try for II did not rain either mile north or south
OF the burned district.