The New York herald., 1874-09-19
TIE JERSEY FOREST FIRES.
Sweep OF the Flames from Sandy Hook
to TuckertOn-Severo Losses to the
Farmers-How the Fire ORIGINATED.

sweep OF the Flames from sandy Hook
to TuclkertOn-Severo Losses to the
Farmcrs-How the Fire Originated.
The destructive fire which has ragged for two
weeks along the southern coast OF New Jersey has
at last been exunguished The fire broke out on
q tract situate midway. between Sandy Hook and
the Highlands, where whole range OF cedars
was burned down. It then extended to
Long Branch, where TWO fields and several fences
were burned. Everything combustibe was con-
sumed between EatOntown and shark River. The
fire reached the latter place on the first OF the
present month, and has continued until two days
ago. On both sides or the New Jersey Southern
Railroad, between Farmingdae and Squankum,
the fire was most destructive. Among the farms
destroyed were those OF Messrs. Williams, Butcher
and Goodenough. From 20 to 100 acres were de-
vastated by the hre IN this section, the timber de.
stroyed being white pine, oak and chestnut.
The IRE reached Squankum on the Sd inst
between squankum and BrIcksburg and burned
down large tract. 1t then extended from Bricks.
burg to Manchester. large tract belonging to the
Brlcksburg Land and Improvement Company was
burned twice within two weeks. Spreading to the
line OF the Tuckerton Railroad it consumed the
watch at night beyond BricEsbHrg to preven Inc e
the neighborhood. The FIRE extended the entire re
length OF the Tuckert0n Railroad.
Nathaniel Bishop, OF Mayetta station, had q
large swamp which he intended to convert into a
Olahpcl1N DOe. anu luc uIe was SO destructive
here that the subsoll OF mud was reduced to pow
der. Upward Oh sixty acres OF cranberry bog be.
longing TO the same owner escaped. Hundreds OF
other proprietors suffered losses, but the total
damage has not yet been estimated. THIS tract
was burned last year, and the fire swept over the
same ground this year.
There is IA neck Of land between the Metedeconk
River and Katie Creek, and the fire broke
out on the north side Of this neck. II was caused
accidentally whiIe John Jones was clearing away
lot OF bushes. The fire commenced IN the swami
and overran the property OF Jonn Wordell, Riley
Ware, Abraham Ware, Jacob Herbert Mary Har-
rls, Margaret Rogers, John Maxson, Abraham
Jones and John Jones, dli cranberry bogs, yielding
from 100 to 600 bushels. Upward o. 800 acres
were burned in the swamp and the bogs
On the south side OF MetedecOnk Neck the fire
originated on the property OF James Smith, who
was burning brush on mis- own land. The fire
rapidly extended and destroyed the cranberry
bogs Of Stephen Cant Leonard Truck, Hants Cant,
James Smith ana the house OF Aaron Irons. But
the ire was most destructive on the farm
OF Horatio Ely Havens brother Of the senator
pletely devastated that the soil was burnt to the
depth OF one loot, and IN some places two feet All
the small trees were consumed. The devastation
Is so complete that the owner can enter Without
any clearing and plough 1t up to the extent OF 100
acres.
The entire range Of the fire from Sandy Hook TO
Tuckerton is about sixty miles. One. third of the
ticularly great on the line OF the Tuckerton Rail
road, where the land was thickly planted with
pines. The whole damage was originally caused
by sparks rom the locomotive "Jay Gould.u The
farmers along the line intend to apply for relief TO
the directors Of the New Jersey Southern Railroad
Many OF them have suffered 50 severely that thev
VIII not be able to resume operations for q long