The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-23
FOREST FIRES
PROGRESS OF THE FLAMES lcrkYED-YERY
SERIOUS MOUNTAIN FIRES AT MAUCH CHUNK
Tnau AmAvDN 20 Mo- % 1874


PROGRESS OF THE FLAMES crAyED-yERY
SERIOUS MOUNTAIN FIRES AT MAUcH CHUNK.
LAoKAwAxEN Pa, May "a, 1875.
The numerous fires which have for several days
been devastating the WOODS OF that region ofPenn-
sYlvanla which lies between the East Branch OF
the susquehanna River and the Delaware are still
alive. They made no great progress yesterday,
far as could be learned here, but seemed 70 be
lulled into merely smoking ana smoulderlng BY
the influence OF the atmosphere. There was no
rushing wind to hurrythem through the underDrush
and up 20 tile SUBMITS OF the highest trees wat
angry, roaring noises The smoke OF their sacrl-
ices ascending 10 the heavens did not totally blot
out the sun as IL has done on previous days. Sol
now and again peered through the dim clouds
and threw a glory OF lighG upon this region which
had been overnung with darkness since sunday
last In the forenoon the sun and the blue OF the
sky were obscured almost all the time, the heav-
as dark as IL they we're covered by
clouds presaging that thunder storm when the
people in tie burning region have been pray
ing for. In the afternoon, however the sun
light overcame the dusklness OF the atmos-
pheTe, and shOne brilliantly for the drst
time in four days. But even the fullest power OF
the sunlight could not dissIpate the faint which
the smoke threw upon the atmosphere. maze
continued all day, which relracted the SUMS rays;
50 LuhL even bHc sHdTptSI tyGu pcTSUHS COHiQ not
see great distance. fhis phenomenon was APP
parent even here, and down 10 places southeast
OF Port Jelvis, though there now no hres
within six or seven miles OF these situations. The
fires IN Pennsylvania are now all 10 the west or
the Shawangunk Mountains, ana there have been
no conhagrations between that range and
the Delaware River since Wednesday last
From sunday until Wednesday the flames ragged
furiously on the eastern side oil the mountains
and at one time seriously threatened TO destroy
this village. For three DAYS Lackawaxen was
surrounded by fire. The SUBMITS and sides or the
domed hill. on which was fought the nnai contest
IN the battle OF Minisink, between the lndians
under Brant, and the militia under Colonel 1rus-
ton, In 1879, was capped with IRE aud smoke. The
evidences OF these connagratlons are presented
by the present brown appearance OF the nils.
since the 1res burned out on Mednes
ddy there has been no fire on the eastern slupe
or the ShawangunK Mountains. on last sunday
there was a sll2ht connagratlon IN tue woods &C
the DEVILS Elbow, near Port Jervis, when IS
known to have been or Incendlary origin, for
three men were seen 70 start IL and were chased
but avoided capture. on Monday night the flames
from the underbrush caught a sawmlll and alter
ward a grlst mlli, store ana dwelling, and
destroyed them al raylors Mills, about five miles
southwest Of Lackawaxen. rms IS the site upon
which Horace Greeley's cnoice lell, wnen, about
thirty years ago. lie cast about him 10 iud place
Tor the occupation OF FOurlerte Phalaux. The
phalaux quilt tier dwellings, and lived there lor
some time, but It's members were unable 10 retain
their organization. They became dispersed ana
their property Tell into the possession OF the late
Rev. DR.. Taylor, rector OF Grace church III this
city. The buildings OF the Fourlerltes were al
lowed 10 lall INTO ruins but the two mills WHEN
are now destroyed were erected, aud thus the
place assumed the title OF raylor's Mills. Re-
Gently the property has been owned by some New
York gentlemen wnom nobody up mere knows by
name Al the mouth Of Ten Mile RIVER several
sawmills rave been destroyed, with 10 0U0 feet Of
lumber The flames nave also spread into the
wild territory OF Blooming Grove ana have created
conservation among the brute denlzens OF tnat
locality
IL has been noted that the flames have this year
a facility TO skip, wnlch they never seemed 10
have nad before. Iney are SAID TO have jumped
across meadows In several Instances; ana they
have ia some strange way Jumped over the Hills
at the east OF the Delaware River and have
alighted IN Sullivan county In this state, where
on Thursday night they emerged from tue woods
and destroyed Gllman's tannery near Monticello.