The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-05-29
DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.
Burning of 0soeola, Pa.

TrRoxE, May 2s.--Nine tenihs OF 0sceola
is burned, leaving scarcely enough ashes TO
mark where the houses stood The irelbroke
out at or near Taylor's saw mill, on Coal
run, u miles above 0sceola, burned his mill,
lumber, and houses, swept down the run %
the Moshannon creek, taking IN its course the
saw mill, lumber, and houses belonging 10 T..
{. Heines 4 c.; thence down the Moshannon
to the Bit mill Of the Moshahnon Land and
Lumber Company, three-quarters Of mile
above Osceola, burning the mill house and
about 2,000,000 feet Of manufactured lumber,
besides large quantity Of logs thence down
both sides Of the creek on the east side Of
the rear Of 0sceola, taking first that part call
cd Frenehville, sweeping over the centre of
the town, taking in its course the Prcsbyteri.
an Church and the public school, all the best
dwellings in the place, and all the hotels aud
stores on the west side of the creek.
AT the same time the fire was attacking the
Philadelphia col iery, owned by the Kittaning
Coal Company, burning the chute and all the
miners houses. Twelve railway cars belong
| ing to the same company, and the large gang
saw mill owned by the Moshannon Land and
Lumber Company, we're between two fires.
The lumber first took fire and was fought vi
gorously, but without avail. The 1yge mill,
as II is called, was about the last to take fire,
aud all is consumed around and about it, in.
GLIDING 100000 feet OF lumber aud the
finest saw mill, it is said, on the continent.
The large planning mill belonging to the Wal.
ker Brothers, the saw mill of John Milligan,
and the large steam tannery Of John White
were also burned. In the midst of the con
fagratiop thieves and robbers were plying
their trade, breaking open trunks and appro-
priating to themselves articles of value.
The work Of destruction was completed in
about three hours. The inhabitants were
obliged to fly for their lives and leave every
thing behind Soon after the FIRE burst out
the turnpikes and roads in every directio"
were mass Of flames, and there seemed no
way of escape until Mr.. Daniel Wood Of the
Pennsylvania Railroad brought train Of coal
cars, into which the men, women, and chill
dren were packed as close as possible, and
even then II was necessary to make four trips.
1t is estimated that 900 persons were saved
in this manner. A gentleman who was obi.
ged to take this means of escape says the
flames leaped up from the trees hundred
feet high. The burning brands kept falling
on the riders, and the men we're kept busy
putting out the fires on the women and thier
own clothes. The Catholic aud Methodist
churches were burned. From 500 TO 1000
people are homeless, and the restitution is
complete, the people having nothing to eat,
and no clothing except what they had on their
backs when they escaped.
. Hautzdale, five miles above the Moshan-
non Branch Railroad ll,s escaped pretty well,
only about fifteen houses being burned and
to the credit of the miners, even the violent
strikers worked like heroes to save the coal
shutes and Improvements connected herewith.
none Of which have been damaged.