The Republican journal., 1870-05-26
MOUNTAINS ON FiRE--AN AWFUL SPEC
TACLE

The terrible conilagration which has been
raging for some days past in the woods and
among the Delaware mountains in Sullivan,
Orange, Madison and other counties in the
state Of New York, has extended over hun
dreds Of miles of territory, and the loss is al
ready estimated at five million dollars. A
letter from the scene of the fire describes the
awful spectacle as follows:
1t is generally believed that the conilagra-
ton was started by the hand of an incendia-
~, In those regions where the fires broke
out live many persons who are gypsies, who
reside in shantics which have been erected in
remote hooks on the mountain side, and other
solitary places that are seldom reached by the
more civilized world. These gypsies are de-
scribed as 4 thrittess community, having no
regard for, and therefore no love for, the in
dustrious farmers and woodsmen who live
near them; and it is believed that they set
fire to the underbrush, well knowing that the
flames would extend to the forest proper and
spread many miles in extent
At some points cinders and chaif tloated
about in the air currents and We're scattered
in showers over the villages and farms, in
several instances kindling into flames upon
barns, fields and dwellings,
The rivers and brooks were blood-red from
the reflected flames In some places the
water was stcaming hot Thousands Of fish
es, snakes, birds and squirrels persisted and
noated upon the surface The crngs and
rocky walls of the mountain sides We're baked
by the intense heat, and many of the ooulders
are cracked and crumbed.
Along the Erie Railway track the rails at
one place, were twisted out OF shape and the
ties burned. The heat was so intense that
laborers could not repair the damage for
hours. The trains, however, suffered no long
detention The Cincinnati express train east
ward bound from Summit rushed through Il
sea of flame and smoke for nearly a mile.
extra enginc) Although the train had been
wet and prepared for the passage, the glow
inc heat blistered the paint, and the windows
were stained with smoke. The engineer and
tiremen were slightly tinged.
By far the most awful spectacle and c;lam-
ity vet reported occurred on Sunday night
near Deposit station As darkness gathered
over the hvng day the fire had reached the
base of the West Mountain and before 9
o'clock had completely encircled one of the
prominent peaks as with u girdle of fire.
The flames roared and cracked with horrible
sound as they swept up the hillside The
glare brilliantly Illuminated the whole ad-
.acent region. A party Of sportsmen return
ing through gorge on the opposite side
proceeding from the flaming forest Look
ing up through the flame and smoke, they
thought they discovered the forms of man
and woman upon rocky height, swaying
their arms to and fro. The cries continued,
and one of the party is sure that he after
wards caught q glimpse OF i child in the wo-
mans arms Soon after the walls Of flame
shut out all the view, and the cries ceased.
The Mortified witnesses, driven away by the
heat to a greater distance, fingered as near
as possible, but neither saw nor heard any
more. 1t is believed that the persons thus
seen We're q man, wife and child named
Hough, who lived in shanty in a remote
place on the barrens, and in escaping across
the ridge were hemmed in upon tie rocks,
We're seen, and so perished in the conflagra-
ton Search is to be made for their remains