The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-24

hunters. ana several snots were nred at rnsm
tpJurec and GLIDING their followers IN the woods.
Thursday and Saturday the air was literally nlled
with wIld pigeons which mad been driven from
their roosts in depths OF the beech woods west
OF Blooming Grove and were n'ing northward IN
search OF other resting places. hundreds were
KILLED not only with guns, but with CLUBS by per-
sons standing on the Orows OF ngh hilis. 10 Is
feared that the fires nave ruined the prospects OF
successlui game season next iall as hundreds Of
animals must nave persisted ana partridge nests
been totally destroyed.
party OF Philadelphia fishermen were en-
camped on Bright Brook, noted trout stream
south or the KNOB. The fire surrounded them,
and they were obliged 10 desert tpelr tents and
seek safety by climbing a mountain which mad
been burned over but which was yet covered
with smouldering hres ana hot ashes, stumps, &C.
The party were forced TO make their way mile IN
TINS way before reaching a place OF SAFETY. TWO
men rom Rochester, named Downs and Reeves,
VINO were spending few days fishing ia this
vicinity had
ana narrow escape While nsDinR on Wednesday on
Iaylor's Greek. fney rad 1shed up nearly 70 the
Babit MN, when they met tue advancing
They had noticed the prevalence or the
hres on the mountain on both sides OF the
creek as they came up, and mad suffered consider
soie inconvenience IRON the smoke ana heat. put
ola not cream OF any danger from them. When
Just swept over Taylertown advancing on down
the stream, on both sides, tAey at once COM
menced to retrace their steps. They mad not gone
more than quarter OF mile before they noticed
that the nres down the creek hau drawn nearer
the stream, and finally found their retreat entirely
cut on. They were smut IN on every SIDE by walls
OF IRE. To escape up The mountains, which rose
on botn SIDES o the creek. was impos-
slble, and the fishermen awoke TO the ter
rlble nature OF the situation. horrible death
stared them In the face and they saw no possible
chance OF escape. Their only hope seemed TO be
tLat the IRE rom below. which was not so fierce
or extensive as the one coming down the stream
would be stopped by an opening about twenty
feet wide, made by q ravlne near the spot where
they were forced 10 halt when they thought they
could wade down the creek and get out Of the
burning woods. THIS hope was soon dispened, Tor
the fire coming down the stream made such rapid
progress that Is was evident that IL would be upon
them before the lower nTe reached the opening.
In this strait Downs hit upon plan that seemed
TO offer them the only remnant OF hope. The
creek where they were shut on by the nre falls
over a prectplce about ten feet hlgn. IL then
spreads ont into circular BASIN about twenty
ieet IN diameter, and very deep. Downs plan
was for him and his companions 20 plunge into
the pool, and remain there until the fury
OF the rre was spent which would be
IN a quarter or an hour, as the approach.
ing flames would meet before that time.
and having nothing more e. Iced on along the
thought that by keeping IN the water, diving ana
moving about, and shielding themselves beneath
the cascades that they could pass tine ordeal with
safety, and undergo very little suffering from the
heat. Unfortunately Reeves could not swim, but,
as he said 10 his companion ne would rather run
the risk OF drowning than be burned to death, ne
found piece OF pine log, and, with The support
OF Downs arm, plunged with MS companion IN the
stream They made their way up 10 tie foot OF
the falls, where Reeves found a projecting rock,
which ne grasped with his hands aud kept mis-
neau ABOVE wafer. by lH!s Liulc tue neat MAO De-
come intense, and the air was dense with smoke
and filed with burning twigs and branches,
which fell ike red-hot shower N tue poo.
Downs being O bic TO move about IN the wafer and
remain Tor some time beneath the surface, AZ no
time having more OF his person exposed than was
necessary 10 obtain air, suffered nothing from the
heat smoke. Reeves on the contrary. had
only such protection 70 his face and hands as was
afforded by the waters or the cataract. behinu
which thin veil he kept as much as pos
sible. He had no support for mis- leet,
and was afraid to release his lands rom
thp rnpR nun q O.
with the hear. For nearly fifteen minutes he re-
NAMED In this tor uring situation. and then say
ing he would rather drown than suffer any longer
let go his hold aud disappeared beneath the
water When he reaDpeared he had reached tue
lower emo OF the basin. ana when he recovered his
breath he started as fast as no could down the
cre.k, knocking aside burning branches with his
hands and keeping them away rom MS face as
view. About half an hour aferward the
worst OF the IRE was over. The opposing
CONGREGATIONS had met and taken course up the
mountain. Downs then followed MS companion
down the stream. The heat was SIN intense, and
the smoke almost srnocatng. He found no great
difficulty IN making his way along, and found
wing on the ground below the burned dis
irict lie was almost eyhausted and bls
HANDS and face badly burned. His CLOTH
ing was full OF holes and there were several
busters on his oony and limbs, where burning
embers had fallen on him, and burned through his
clothing. His injuries We're not serious. how
much recovered 10 start their way 70 their
boarding place farm mousse near BY. On Thurs
uaN tneY RETURNED 10 hOCuesieE.
Near Hawley, Wayne county, Pa, on the line OF
the gravity railroad or the Pennsylvania Coal
Company, a sawmi belonging 70 the estate OF j..
T. Barnes and $4,000 worth Of mine props were
destroyed. The Are for nearly two days was only
Kept away from number OF the stationary engine
houses on the roaG at the heads OF planes. by the
united efforts OF large force OF employees.
Thousands OF railroad ties were destroyed along
this road.
On 4 branch OF the Eqununk Greek. IN wavne
county, a circular sawmin ana 5000 feet 81 manu-
featured lumOer were burned.
TOTAL LOSS
In the destruction OF mills, lumber, &C, far
known cannot fall below ,000 while the loss
Ia standing timber, cordwood, tan bark railroad
ties, ana similar property cannot be estimated.
Wnen the iull measure OF the damage done il
known, II will far exceed any calamity. ~ imam
cIal point OF view, that ever beiel the region.