The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-11-03
O THE FIRE LINE.
SCENES By THE WAY.

a AhA -
WHAT SENTINEL LEANED FROM
THE HARvEsr OF FIRE IN VARIOUS LOCAL
BURsED n LARGE QUA
Titles oP TIMBER SWEPT AWAY-THEF FIRES
UNDER CONTROL
Especial Correspondence e of the Sentinel
NoBLRsyILLE. Oct. 81, ISAIAH early
hour found me again on the wing, not In
search of water. for owing to the wintry
weather 1 bad no desire to get within forty
rod Of anything that had the semblance of
water. The fires reported in the Northern
part of the State was the game. and along
the line Of the Indianapolis, Peru q chicago
road was the hunting ground.
The fires have prevailed extensively along
the line of this road, and a large amount Of
property, consisting OF corn, fodder, slaves
and fencing, have been destroyed. About
four miles from Noblesville, the first indica-
lions of the destroying element became
visible from the passenger train, but the
fires had apparently broken out in differ
ent spots and were comparatively small,
having more the semblance OF the
camp fires OF an army. 1t was
not until reaching Arcadia that some
idea of the magnitude of the fires could be
formed. At this point, as far as the eye
could take in the surrounding country, the
fire had prevailed, and the burning rails
that had enclosed the fields Of corn, wheat
and wood pastures, and the charred and
blackened appearance of the trees indicated
the ravages OF the fire fiend. From appear
ances Arcadia had been greatly endangered
by the near approach of the fire, as
IL had crept up to the very edge of the
town, but the united efforts of the inhabi-
tants prevented destruction of property. In
Hamilton county, the fires have not been so
extensive as reported, being confined to the
northwest, northeast, and east parts OF the
county; in Noblesville, Wayne, White
River and Adams townships. Extensive
fires have also prevailed southeast of Cicero.
In Upton county the fires have been more
effective and widespread. Nearly all the
woodland in the county has been burned
over, but no buildings have been destroyed
with the exceptions Ofa log house in Madl-
son township occupied as q residence by
william Davis. In Jefferson township,
west of Upton
THE FIRE HAS FIERCELY
and effectively. John Johnson, Ebel letter
and Squire Campbell, farmers of that town
ship, feel the effects of the unwelcome visitor
by q loss of a large amount of corn and
fencing: In Cicero township John Sloan
will split rails to supply the place of the six
hundred that nave been destroyed, and
other farmers will do like
wise to supply deficiencies. Along
the line of the Lafayette, Muncie & Bloom
ingtOn road a large amount of railroad ties
and fencing bave been destroyed. In the
vicinity of Windfall, a little tow eight
miles northeast of Upton, the fire ragged
fercely and the farmers fought nobly.
Whenever the flames approached. too near
the little village the farmers sounded the
alarm by ringing their bells, and the citizens
came forth to join in the fight. South OF
Upton lies the largest body of timber land
in the county, being about five
hundred acres in one body, belong
ing to SPECTATORS. Through this tract
the fire made a clean sweep, and 1t now
looks as wierdlike as the mountain forest
in which Rip Van Wrinkle enjoyed his long
sleep. Reports from all parts OF the county
convey the intelligence that the farmers
have got the fire under control, and a gen.
eral feeling prevails that the danger has
passed. In all the various confiagrations
Upton has had its share. In the fore part
of the week, about 2 O'Clock in the morning
a fire broke out in the hardware store
of A. j. Norton Son., anc
covered. The flames spread to an adjoining
building occupied by Sidney Riley as a sa-
loon. Both buildings were destroyed.
THE Loss
is $4,000, upon which there is a partial in
surance. The origin of the fire is attributed
to the hand of an ~lncendiary. In the edge
of Madison county a fine new dwelling
house, the residence of Peter Cary, an ex
tensiVe trader, was totally destroyed. The
family were absent at the time, and upor
their return they f0und their home in ashes
The flames from the burning wood:
spread to the fences that surrounded
the properly, and igniting the withereC
leaves in the yard, soon enveloped tn,
house. Near Petersburg the fire mas de-
stroyed rails around 40 acres of land. South
of Petersburg the entire country has beer
burned over, destroying a large amount o
valuable timber. At various points alonI
the line between Upton and KokOmo, thu
ravages of the flames became plainly visible
and as the train sweeps into an open coun
try the passengers beh0lds far in the dis
lance a long line of smoke rising above th'
tops OF the trees, and when IL becomes con
centrated it gives forth the semblance o
a dark threatening cloud. After c~rossin.
the line between Upton aud Howard Oun
ties no fires are visible from the train and tn
passenger is liableto congratulate the peopl
of Howard over the absence of the destroy
ing element, but away from the road a differ
ent aspect presents itself. To the east AM
northeast the fire has got in its work, sweep
ing over thirty or forty farms and destroy
ing between four and five miles of fencing
in addition to a large amount of VALUABLE
timber. A most curious festure of thesi
igniting rs easily as though dead. KOkOm'
had a narrow escape, coming near adding
chapter in
THE HISTORY OF FIRES.
DIR. Cannady has his office in a buildin,
located in the most important place in tn
public square. His wood is a few feet Ion
ger than the stove, in consequence of whicl
there is a large amount of tuel that extend
outside of the door of the stove. Upon thi
occasion he hsd filled his stove with fuel an
lett his Office to take care ~ofitself. The WOO
was consumed until the flames reache
that portion which extended outsid
of the stove. and thus th
fire was communicated to a frame partition
and the entire room would have bee
eveloped in flames but for the timely dis
covery of the existence of the fire. L. {
Phillips, of the KokomO Tribune, was tn
first to make the discovery, and had til
credit of throwing the first water. TIL
alarm was given and the entire con
munity, including the fire department
was soon upon the spot, but their assistant
was not needed, as Phillips, with til