The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-25
FIRE IN THE MOUNTAINS.
Extensive Confiagrations In New York,
New Jersey, and Long Island-A Hum
ter,s Story.

Extensive Confiagrations In New York,
New Jersey, and Long Island-A Hum
ter's story.
Great fires have been raging lately in the
forests Of Sullivan, Ulster, and Delaware ceun-
ties, in New York. The woodlands in the re.
mote sections of the Shandaken Mountains
were discovered in flames on May Is. The
underbrush, dry as tinder, was like a train of
gunpowder, and the flames spread with extra
ordinary rapidity. The following homespun
description is from the lips of an eyewitness
s.You see, we were huntin' for bars, which you
know get OFF to just such places, whar there aint
nobody nor n1thin' TO be b0ther'n on 'em. When
we found track, and were follerin' on t up Jim
says to me, Bob, something's burnlngp We hadn't
tramped much further before the smoke came pretty
thick-in pu1s, like. There wasn't breath OF air.
All at once there came cloud OF smoke, like a
blanket 1t came right down and made the woods
almost dark as sunset, although it only about
2 O'Clock. Then came shower OF cinders. We got
choked and blinded Some Of the cinders came on
our necEs like 80 many needles stckin' into u.s. We
nigh TO the top OF the hills and in minute or
30 the smoke and ctnders shifted another way, so
we could see bit There never was such a sight! I!
Ali about us, except one little streak along the
east'rd was in blaze. We were both as black
Congo niggers 1t was like the Atlantic Ocean chock
full OF kerosene and pine-wood, all a1re at.once.
Well, on top OF this mountain, bit OF below u.s.
was hollow, with steep rocks all around it There
was spring and brook there, and green grass. In
that hollow, say about ten rods long and i've wIde
there were more than million OF snakes-adders
m0eSas Res aRe Oac6 rs ens s WOOD
all come there TO get to the water away from
the fire, but now the water was nearly all
dried up, the ground baked, and che rocks around
as hot as an oven. They were all walled in
by the fire. There was no gittn out The bar
laid down on his back and growled. His hair was
most burnt of, and his hide was sc0rched. The
foxes were burnt as bad, ana looked awful curious
with their tails all roasted. The most amusing thing
OF all was the snakes Some OF them were de ad In
heaps, all twisted up and burst open; others were
burnt crisp and the rest squirmed and wriggled like
a heap OF tangled ropes. All this happened in less
than ha an hour. While we etood a-gaWking at
the sight, gust OF wind and hot cinders came on
us. We choked, and turned around to get out
There was no time to lose. Only a narrow. dry
two ards at each straddle until got the bot
tom. Wen never forgit that stranger; and IL hell
is any hotter'n that, Wen jine the meetin' next
Sunday, sure!"
The whole of the Shandaken Mountains
seemed to be on fire last Saturday night In the
vicinity of Monticello and Liberty Village the
fires extend for miles in several directions Tens
of thousands of acres of excellent woodland have
been burned over. and thousands of cords of
wood have been destroyed. The Methodist
chapel, the public schOol-house and other build
ipgs have been consumed at Black Lake. Wild
rumors prevail of other extensive losses of pro-
perty, and, perhaps, of human life. The flames
have surrounded several farms and dwellings on
the distant mountain terraces, and fears are
entertained as to the safety of the families.
The forests on the Orange County Mountains
have also been on fire. The most extensive Oi
these cOnhagTatons was along the Hudson High
lands, westward of Ionia Island. Showers
arrested the flames on Monday, and the fires are
now smouldering. Extensive forest fires are saiC
TO be raging in the New Jersey pine barrens anC
on Long Island