The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-05-30
FORESTS ON FIRE.
Extensive CONGREGATIONS in the
Mountain FORESTS of Sullivan,
Delaware. Ulster, and Orange
Counties, n. Xs-xmmense Des.
truction Of Property.
from tn, New York U.r,,a No. o.

From the New York Hersld, May 90
The forest mountain wilderness in Suliv>
an, Ulster and Delaware counties, New
York, has been devastated by the most ex.
tensive tires ever known in that region. On
the 18th inst, it was first reported that the
wood land in the most remote sections OF
the ShAndAken mountains was being de-
voured by flames Vast volumes of smoke
were observed in that direction, bat were
directed by currents of air from all the hsb-
liable sections. These clouds of fame and
smoke were carried close TO the surface of
the ground, between the range of hills,
Selling upon every inasmsble substance in
their course. Hunters who witnessed the
spectacle declare that the rapidly of the
devouring elements was almost beyond be-
lief. 1t came like army, in long rsaks
nearly q mile in width. The underbrush,
dry as tinder, was like train ofgunpowder.
The white flames rushed along like q van
guard. /. won't faster than men could ruu
The description OF one Of the eYe-witnesses
is very graphic: WaAl, you see we were
huntio for basrs. Now, bsars, you know,
get of to Jest SIGH places, whar there ain't
nobody nor nothin, TO be botherin on EN-,
when we found q track and were q follerin
ont up. But we hadn't trAmped long be-
fore the smoke came pretty thick-iI Game
down 10 putfs like. There wasn't a breath
of air, and il was alfred hot. All to ouc't
there came g cloud of smoke, iis like
blanket. 1t came right down and made the
woods almost ss dark As sunset although il
was only about two o'clock. Then came q
shower of cinders. We got choked and
blinded. We were nigh the top Of the hills,
and in minute or so the smoke and Gin.
ders shifted another way so we could see
bit. There never were fsiCh q sight. All
about US except one little streak along TO
the eastward were in blaze. While we
we're q stsndin' on the high rock, lookin'
on, we see one of the greatest sights human
eyes ever took in. Barnum's museum want
circumstance to it. Well, on top of this
mounting, bit of below Us, were hollow,
with steep rocks ell around it. There were
a spring and brook there, and green
grass. In that hollow, say about ten rods
long and FIVE feet wide, there were more
than q Thousand of snaiks, Adders, moccs
sins, racers, and black snAiks and wood
ohuoks, squirrels, foxes, and one bear.
They had ell come there to get 10 the water,
away from the IRE, but now the water was
nearly all dried up, the ground baked, and
They were all walled in BY
the FIRE. There was no gettiu out. The
bsAr-he LAID down on his back and rolled
and stuck his nose on the ground, and
growled aud hollered. His hair was most
burnt off and his hide was scorched The
foxes looked awful curious with their tails
all soorChed. They screeched and howled
and tore about, swapping ct everything,
sometimes dRshings toward the opening Of
the hollow. But twas no sort of use. The
amoosin' shing of al was them air snsiks.
They looked like heap of tangled ropes.
The progress of the flames at night is
almost magical 10 its swiftness, and has an
indesoribsble mRgni6ceDce. The bright
Games ran along the underbrush like FIRE
tends; the turtts of grass and dry leaves
are ignited, and the flames go leaping and
turning about the tall forest trees like mon
sterous ssrpents, until the whole mass Of
limbs and trunks Is one vast body OF flame.
There are places where its advance is inter
rupteG by swampy ground, but where it is
dry the rush of the fire is almost ike the
rolling tide of some mighty river.
The whole of the Shsndaken mountains
seemed ablaze last Saturday night. For
miles the country WAS lighted up with the
bright reflection. In the vicinity of Monti-
cello and Liberty village, the fires extend
for four miles Ia several directions. Tens
Of thousands Of acres OF excellent wood
land have been burnt over, and thousands
of cords of wood aud tannery bark have
been destroyed. The Methodist chapel, the
public school house, and other buildings
have been consumed at Black Lake. Rum.
ors 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 inhabitants
The Orange county mountains have also |
been on fire, but not to so great an extent. |
The most extensive of these conhsgratiOns |
was along the Hudson Highlands, westward |
Of Iona Island. Capt. Abbey, of the |
steamer Thomas Cornell, and other river
usviRstors, describe the night scenes there
as being superb beyond al descrip-
ton. AL the northwest hillsides were in
flames, which spread with amazing speed
until the tall peaks were reached. The
lurid reflections sent their glare down on the
black waters in the river below, and against
the sky in every direction. The cracking
roar of the fire deGdened the whistles of the
railway locomotives on tAe bank, and the
laundering paddles of the night steamers
whose white forms were tinged with blood
red.
Hundreds of acres bAve thus been burnt
over, but the showers on Monday arrested
the flames, and the FIRE now shoulders,
possibly to break forth again. An extensive
forest fire is also said to be in progress in
New Jersey pine barrens and on Long
Island. Every year millions of dollars
worth of property is thus destroyed, and no
sffeotual remedy seems to have been
adopted.