The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-06-10
FOREST FIRES.
WHOLE VILLAGES ABANDONED BY
THEIR INHABITANTS.


THE sUFFERINGs OF A FAMILY FLEEING FOR
THEIR LIvEs-oNE OF THEM ovERrAKEN
BY THE FIRE-THE DESTRUCTION OF SEW
ERAL TOWNS.
The forest fires are still reported as raging
in York state, as appears by the following
special to the Sun from Port Jervis: Great
fires are still raging in the isolated parts of
the neighboring Pennsylvania counties. IN
the northern part of Monroe county several
lives were lost. The inhabitants of Locust
Ridge, Evergreen, Stoddartsville. Goulds-
boro, and of many numbering settlements,
were all driven from their homes.
scores OF which were laid in ashes
Hundreds of people saved only what
clothing they wore. Families were driven
for miles before the advancing conflgration
through the forests before they reached
places of safety. One Stoddsrtsville family
named Cox, consisting of father, mother,
seven small children and Mr.. Cox's mother,
nearly one hundred years of age, suffered
untold horrors in the burning woods. They
lived on tho outskirts of the place, and fled
with the rest OF the inhabitants. Old Mrs.
Cox was unable to walk more than mile
unsided. Her son assisted her some dis
tance further, when she fell TO the ground
utterly exhausted. Besides helping his
aged mother. Cox carried two OF his chill
dren, his wife carving two more, the three
attempted TO bear MS mother along also,
but found that his progress was so retarded
that the fire
THREATENED TO ovERTAKE THEM.
The old lady begged her son - leave her
and save himself and children. He tried to
induce the children to run along themselves,
but they were so frightened by the terror OF
the scene about them that they chung to
their father and refused to 60 on alone. The
flames advanced rapidly toward the group,
and Cox, after dragging his mother some
distance to the right of the direct path OF the
confiagration, was forced to abandon her to
save the rest of his family. She was soon
enveloped by the flames and burned to
ashes. The rest OF the family were
driven high into the mountains, where
ridge, for a day and night. Two of the
smaller children became delirious with
hungar and thirst, and one has since died.
The others are still sick from the effects of
their dreadful imprisonment in the burning
forest. An old man named Chamberlain
was also overtaken by the fire which was
driven along by a high wind with great
rapidity. An effort was made to save him
by some member of his family, but in vain.
He was burned to death. On the mountain
from White Haven to Gouldsboro fifty-two
farm houses were burned, with barns, farm
implements. stock, etc. Besides these,
heavy individual losses are reported in the
Monroe county region, including
100000 FEET OF MANUFACTURED LUMBER,
twelve saw-mills, four stores, and over 200
head of valuable horses and cattle, The
losses in the region, independent of the
standing timber, arr placed at 100000. The
main losses fall on poor people, who are
rendered homeless. An organization 70 so,
licit aid for the sufferers has been formed-
with VIM. Ellis, of Stoddardsville, treas
urer. The loss in bridges is about $40 900
which must DO borne By the county. Along
the Mud river the fires spread with snch
velocity that it swept down upon settle
ments before the inhabitants were aware
of their danger. The village of Mud
Run was totally destroyed. This
place was one of the most ex-
tensive numbering stations in northern
Pennsylvania. Five mills, with total ca
pacity of 100000 feet a day, were destroyed,
and not less than 30,000,000 feet of lumber.
Not building was left standing in tina
vicinity. When the fire swept down from
the mountains on the place, the wife of John
GetZ, wealthy lumber operator, lay dead
in the house awaiting burial. The funeral
services were being held. The advance of
the flames was so rapid that the house was
almost surrounded before the mourners and
their friends could escape. The body of the
dead woman was consumed with the house.
Thousands of acres of the best timber land
were ruined. The loss on Mud river will
reach more than half a million dollars.
Much of the property destroyed there was
insured.