The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-29
MASSACHUSETTS, ABLAZE.;
A Forest Fire with a Front Of
Eight Miles of Flame.
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.
Sixty Miles of Territory Laid Bare-Ef
forts to Oircumscribe the Limits Of
the Confagration-The Citizens,
Alarmed Prayers for Rain.

PLYMOUTH, Mass June 25 1873.
one OF the most destructive forest connagrations
ever known in New England is now raging here in
the wooded portion OF Plymouth county. 1t began
on Friday the 20tn inst and has increased daily in
magnitude and Jury ever since. smart thunder
shower this afternoon has had the effect to some
what check It's speed but unless there Is more rain
the fiery demon threatens devastation OF the
country scarcely less In extent and destructive
ness than the famous Western fires. At the
beginning there were no fearful apprehen-
sions more than OF an ordinary Summer brush fire,
but tonight there Is general alarm all through the
Cape district and citizens are organizing to pro-
tect the hamets and villages winch they inhablt.
In the vicinity OF the Great South Pond in this
town the progress for three or four days has been
steady up to the little shower OF this afternoon.
The main body OF the fire has been south Of the
pond, and the entire half Of the woods between the
great and little ponds Is now burning fercely.
The red glare from
AN AREA or EIGHT SQUARE MILES OF FLAME
seen from the Old Colony Mills is terribly grand,
and absolutely denes description. This morning.
In spite Of all the men and means available
for checking its progress, the fire emerged
from Its apparent confinement within the
heavily timbered district between the ponds, and
seized upon the scrub oak and small pines to the
northeast. Here, though not so Violent, 1t spread
more widely, and made rapid progress towards the
village OF Clint9nville, on Eel River some eight
miles distant, which locality 1t Is likely to reach
unless there are rapid and frequent repetitions
OF this afternoons shower nearer approach
Of the fire to the thickly settled portion
OF Plymouth seems hardly probable, unless the
wind changes and comes from one point long
enough to cause the burning OF the district be-
tween the ponds and the town, which are six
m Thp wooded
within mile OF the village, the remaining dis
lance being covered with light brush up to within
quarter mile OF the houses. No buildings in the
path OF the fire have yet been burned the men en-
gagged in fighting it having concentrated upon every
structure threatened in season to prevent their
destruction. This work has been rendered COM
paratively easy owing to the large clearngs around
the iarm buildings which the occupants, by past
experiences, have been taught to leave The IRE
began on Friday, the Goth inst, and has burned
with more or less energy since. The heavy dews
nave had the effect to deaden the flames at night
and each morning has brought with it encourage
ment to the men that their work was nearly ended.
But as the day avanced the wind would freshen and
THE sHoULDERING FLAMES
would rise with the occasion. There mas Deen
from the first but little gained by starting back
fires and the various gangs have learned wisdom
by experience. They now c0nfine their energies
to narrowing Che area OF fire by operations on its
tanks, and they hope soon to reduce Its path Oh
four miles to less and possible change It's course
to the more swampy districts. Nearly a thousand
men, 300 OF whom employed by the Old Colony
Railroad Company, from along the lines OF Its road,
have been engaged in the work at various points
for week, and the force Is daily augmented. Last
night
NEW FIRE
started about two miles south Of the point OF origin
OF the great fire at fremont, ana made rapid prog
ress in a southeasterly direction The gang en-
gagged in that vicinity nave been drawn away to
other points where danger threatened. An addi-
tonal force put upon IT from the Cape division,
and the prospect this evening is that the fire Will
soon be got UNDER 1t Is in low land, covered only
by studded growth.
THE AREA BURNED
| over extends from fremont to Plymouth South
| Pond in one direction, and to Herring River,
within mile or two Of North Sandwich, in another,
having passed across the northeastern portion OF
Carver destroying immense quantities OF standing
and cut wood in it's track Not less than sixty
square miles OF territory are laid BARE and thou
sands of cords OF wood destroyed. AT times the
burning mass has presented q front Of eight
miles, at others 1t was reduced to two miles
! then a slight veering OF the wind has caused
! it to spread beyond all human power to oppose
| 1t successfully. Nothing but rain, and that Of
twenty four hours continuance ut least, Will serve
to prevent the flames IRON devastating the entire
wooded portion OF the Cape 10 the snores OF the
Bay.
The citizens, as may be expected, are greatly
/ alarmed Every means at command ls employed
to quench the flames, but nothing Will be enectual
until there are copous rains. Prayers ior wnicn
from heaven Will be offered in the various churches
tomorrow.