The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-05-31

FohESJs ON E1RE. +T.Ss fbreaE maun-.
tain wiadernessain Sullivan, Ulster And,
Delaware Counties, New York; has RSens
devastated by sle MOST e3tsnssge m nress;
eyer kno Yh ip that regiahs NGn She Aot1s
instant. It was first reported that the
woodland In the most remote sections OF
tho shandaken Mounsaips was being, de:
jvoured by flames. vast' volumes OF
smoke were observed in that direction,
but were directed by curtdnts Of air from
all tha habitat SECTIONS. .These clouds Of
flames and smoke were carried close to
thb surface Of the ground, between the
range Of hills, seizing upon every in
ffammable substance in their course.
Hunters, who witnessed the spectacle,
declare that the-rapidity. of the devour-
ing element was almost beyond belief
It came like an army, in long ranks
nearly mile in width. The under
brush, dry as tinder, was like train Of
gun.powder. The white Hapes; rushed
along like vanguard. 1t went fastcr
than men could run.
The progress OF the flames at night is
almost magical in its swiftncss, and has
AN indescribable magnifcencc. The
bright famts run along the underbrush
like fire fiends; the tufts of grass and
dry lHapes are ignited, and the flames go
lenpipg and turning about tho toll forest
trees like monHtrous ssrpents, until the
whole mass Of limbs and trunks is one
vast body .of flame. There are places
whore its advance is Interrupted by
swampy ground, but where it is dry the
rush Of fire is almost like the rolling tide
of some mighty river.
The whole OF tho Shandaken Noun
tains seemed ablaza last Saturday night.
For miles the country was lighted up
with the bright reflection. In the
vicinity Of Monticello and Liberty Viii
lage the fires extend for four miles in
several directions, Tens of thousands
OF cords OF wood and tannery bark have
the public school house and other build
ings have been consumed at Black Lake.
Rumors prevail 6fSother extensive losses
of property, aud perhaps of human life.
The flames have surrounded several
farms and dwellings, on the distant
mountain terraces, and fears nre en-
tertained as to the safety Of the :inhabi-
tants.
The Orange County Mountains havo
also been onsfire,, but not to 30 great an
extent. The most extensive of these
condagrations was along the Hudson
highlands. Westward of Iona Island.
Captain, Abbey, of the steamer Thomas
Cornell. and other river navigators, de-
scribe the night scenes there as being
superb beyond all description. All the
Northwest hiii.sides 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 doadened the
whistles of the railway locomotives on
the bnrk, sad the laundering paddles
or the night steamers, whose white forms
were tinged with q blood.red glare.
Hundreds OF acres have thus been burnt
over, but the showers Of Monday arrested
tho flames, and the Are now shoulders,
possibly to break; forth ngain. Exten-
siye forest fres are also in progress in
the New Jersey pine barrens and on
Long Island. .-Ne,o Pork Times. =