Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-05-16
FOREST FIRES.
Terrible COnGagratiOns in Delaware and
Sullivan Counties, New York.
Immense Destruction Of PrOperty-Yil-
lagos in Peril-Prayers for Rain.

From the New York Times.I
PORT JARVIS, MY, Saturday, May
1.-THE forest fires are still raging in
this vicinity, and reports of fearful raw
ages are daily received. The prayer of
the country is for rain, as copiOus falls Of
that alone can stay the element that is
laying waste vast extent of valuable
timber-land, doing incaIculable damage
to farms, and sweeping buildings away
in many places. Every leaf and twig is
as dry as a long-cOntinued spell of hot
weather can make them, and the least
spark communicated to the woods issuf-
ficient to fire acres upon acres. For sew
eral days a strong wind has been blow
ing, which drives the flames along with
fearful velocity. and makes fighting
fire with fire - a dangerous as well as
useless operation.
In the immediate vicinity of this
place the fires have burned themselves
out, and the dense cloud Of smoke that
has obscured the sun for many days IS
clearing away; but in the mountains of
Sullivan and Delaware counties the fires
are still raging with undated fury.
In Lumberland, FOrestburg, Highland,
| Tusten, and other towns Of Sullivan,
not only standing timber, but logs and
manufactured lumber have been de-
strOyed in immense quantities, and
farming, numbering, and all other Oc-
cupatiOns have for the time been sus-
pended to fight fire. In the vicinity Of
COchieten, theI country presents a
dTeary aspect, the mountains having
| been burned bleak and barren. Although
these fires are miles distant, they illu-
inmate the heavens so brilliantly that
they seem but a short way off. Look
ing up the Delaware Valley last night,
the sky presented to the beholder a
sight as grand as the most brilliant dis
play of aurora bOrealis.
In the vicinity of Deposit, in Della
ware county, for nearly two weeks the
fires have been burning in the forests,
and they appear to increase in fury Tath-
eF than abate. On the lands belonging
to John LuscOmb and J. NJ. Hall, near
the Summit y along the Erie railway,
a most terrible fire is raging. On both
sides of the Erie railway track, from the
Summit to near Deposit, the fires have
added to the other great perils of rail-
roading. For miles trains have been
compelled to run fiery gauntlet, the
track at times being invisible for the
smoke. The heat is described as almost
mbearable.
Near Pine Grove fire was commune
Gated to the woods, ON Thursday, from
smouldering brush-pile which had
been burned the day before, and was
swept rapidly over large tract of land.
The Pine Bush schOOl-hOuse was near,
and in imminent danger. The scholars,
large and small, turned out en- B1dSse,
and battled with the flames all day, and
at last succeeded in cOnfining its extent
to a comparatively small territory. If
their efforts had been Unavailing, most
valuable property would have been con-
sumed.
The Summit, which is nearly two
thousand feet above tide-water, has pre-
sented a terri6ly-beautiful sight for
miles around for several nights. Great
bands of flame encircled it at intervals,
and its greatest hight was crowned with
fire. On Land Pond Hill the fire is
sweeping overthe heavily-timbered land
of Devereaux d Clark, extensive lum-
bermen of Deposit, and the fine tract of
John P. Dean. Miles of fences have
been burned here, and numerous newly
seeded fields destroyed.
BroOme county forests are also ablaZe
in many localities. Near Killaway
a steam-mill, residence, barns and other
buildings, belonging to Mr.. r. M.
Richardson, the dwelling of Joseph
Pike, and about two million feet of logs,
and large quantity of other lumber,
have been destroyed by fire commune
Gated from the burning Reports
of great ravages by forest fires also come
from other parts of the country, but no
details are given.