The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-12

Shelter Island Burning Like Tinder-
The Camp Meeting Project Damaged
Speculation as to the Cause OF the Fire.
Shelter Island is a part Of Suffolk county, Long
Island, located In Gardeners Bay, and is known as
the hiding place of the first Cuban fibustering ex-
petition. The island was once favorite watering
place, but of late years it has been unrecognized
The island itself has an of six and three
quarter miles and population of $500 people,
mostly mariners. The island is now notorious
for its fish Oil factories the fish known as the
moss bunker or menhaden being the species used
The bays filed with this fish at certain seasons
Of the year, and the revenue realized from render
ing them into Oil and reducing the scraps to fer
tilizing Ingredient amounts annually to hundreds
OF thousands OF dollars. Last year the receipts
were $469, 1892
In the fail Of 1871 an association Of Brooklyn
and New York MethOdists purchased that pOr-
ton Of the island known as prospect"
rising 200 feet above sea level affording q
splendid view Of the Sound and bays This
religious watering place, camp meeting ground,
and superannuated minister's home on scale
exceeding Martha's Vineyard or Ocean Grove. The
Shelter Islanders were delighted, and pledged
everything to the association. The association last
February made contracts for half million dollars
worth OF improvements including hotels cottages,
docks and ferry accommodations. little later the
factories commenced preparations for the summers
of Brooklyn, President of the Association, demanded
that the factories should be removed The majority
OF people favored the IaCuOTleS nut MT SearIeS
contended that their presence would render the
island uninhabtabe for the purposes intended, and
after pledging that in five years the association
would expend half million dollars made an alb.
sOlute demand for their suspension. Some of the
factories were removed, but the majority remained
An order from the town officials that the factories
should be removed in twenty days caused the
greatest alarm, and the twenty days would have
expired tomorrow at noon but for the commence
ment on Friday of a terrible conhagratiOn, as men
toned in yesterdays HERALD. The whole
island is surrounded by woodland, skirting
the bay shores, and the fire burned
east and west In one solid sheet, creating
sublime midnight scene both on land and water.
over three miles OF woodland has been destroyed,
which previously composed one OF the prettiest and
most comfortable spots on the island. The trees
were tall and well laden with leafy bOughs, making
the place perfect paradise in summer, but these
beauties have been demolished.
The origin of the fire is complete mystery, but
the general opinion is that 1t was malicious. No
secret is made of the fact that the factory
interests would be sufficient incentive,
for by damaging the island for camp
meeting purposes the Methodist project must
fail temporarily and the removal OF the factories
would be delayed for long time and thousands Of
dollars saved to the propretors. Whether the
theory may prove true or false the factories have
been benefited by the fire.
The fire has been subdued, but every few minutes
1t begins afresh In new places by fire falling from
the tops OF the trees. BY very hard work the
flames were confined to the woods. Had they
have been terrible, as the place Is wholly unpro
vided with fire apparatus.
The loss will foot up about ffty-fve thousand
dollars.