The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-01
HAVOC BY FOREST FIRES.
GREAT DESTRUCTION or vALUA-
BILE WOODLAND PROPERTY.

he m the Port JerNts WV
Inhabitants to Fight Fire-The Flames
s,re,dipp in the Peupsyivanis Woods.
poRr JERvrs, Aug 3l.-For the past two
vseks travellers over the Erie Railway from
Nav York have noticed from nearly the begin
ming OF their journey q smoky haze nlling the
air md giving even to near objects In the land
,oape the blue, misty appearance generally seen
onlv In late Indian summer. This smoke In
prsases In density and its sunocating odor 10
more plainly felt as the train draws near tho
Delaware river, and, leaving the level lands OF
Jersey enters the forest covered bills OF Orange
bounty. At Port Jervis the air is thick with IL,
md Il covers vast sections OF the country. It is
The one topic; for great nres are raging through
lhe timber lands In every direction.
The nre in this Immediate vicinity started a
week ago Wednesday in a tract OF woodland
belonging to Mr.. John Walters in Cahoonzie,
between the little streams of the Shingie Kill
and the sterne XIII. about eight miles northeast
OF Port Jeryis. They are supposed to have been
the work Of incendaries whose only object
could have been spite against some OF the resi-
dents Of the neighborhood or pure deviltry. The
nres soon attained such proportions that on
sunday last the authorities took advantage OF
the law In relation TO forest Ores, and ordered
out tue Inhabitants near to and remote from the
fires TO aid In extngushing them. Tbs they did
with such effect, fighting II with back nres along
the line OF every wood. road. and clearing.
that after working INCREASINGLY from sunday TO
Monday night, they saved all dwellings In Its
path. and diverted its course towards the unin-
habited shores Of Big Pond
From Port Jervis riding up the bank OF the
Delaware, now so Insignificant a stream that
children can and do wade through its waters
from bank to bank, two and half miles away,
Il the little village OF sparrowbush. and there
was found Mr.. John Patterson. Road Commits
eioner, still covered with smoke and Crime from
his recent conflict with the flames He told
how ne had on sunday night taken two wagon
loads OF men up into Caboonzie to aid the dts
tressed farmers Of that region, and how he had
also been obliged to carry along a wagon load
OF watermelons to refresh his thirsty forces.
He spoke Of the intense heat and surocating
smoke into which, 10 their efforts to save barn
or dwelling. the men dashed, armed with heavy
pieces OF brush. fought the flames for mo-
ment, and then rushed out agaln for breath OF
air. scorched and blackcnsd with tho heat.
But" said he. John Walters 10 the man you
want to see, He has suffered most, and can
give you more particulars Of the nre than any
one else"
Northeast from sparrowbush, up the beauti-
ful valley of the Mongaup, over a broad, pleas
ant road, shaded with dense growth OF great
cbestnuts. oaks, and pines, winding up the
mountain side far above the bed Of the little
stream that could be heard foaming and tum-
bling 10 the valley below, and thus folio wing the
honeaup until 1t was Joined by the Shinaektl
tue old sasmill property Of Mr.. Walters was
rssched. and Walters himself was discovered In
front of bis comfortable low-roofed house
"Well, yes" said he. ats been big 1re and a
hard one to fght. I've fought 'em In Kansas.
where was one OF the Reecher ridemen in 81,
and I've fought EN- In Indiana, but I never saw
aworse one than this. You see everything is SO
dry that even The green bushes and leaves take
6re and blaze up like tinder. The pines are the
worst though. why, the nre will come and give
one leap into the top Of the taest, and then the
moss hanging from the branches flies on burn
ing and sets new hres hundreds Of feet away
Yes, had a narrow squeak OF 1t here, and II Il
hadn't been for the neightors, my mill enc
house must have gone sure. Como out and see
now near IL passed"
Going out OF the little yard, nrst wal
crossed the dry bed OF the mill pond
In which lay hundreds Of eels and other nsf
dead " First time l ever saw the bottom o.
H." said Mr.. Walters, "aDd have known IL fo
twenty years" Then crossing a narrow belt q
timber q grassy wood road was reached, aloni
the line Of which the feht for the pIeservaiioi
of the mill mad been made. Beyond II was th'
black, hot track Of the terrible Ore that stll
iurked and smouldered in the hearts OF stump
trees stood b.ackened and lesiess. Nothing
was living all Was dead. IN. very ground "
burned, and as MT. W dllcrs Dau edlu, IL udu III
deed been u narrow squeak for HIM III
Walters had some curloeity to see his yalu
Dfiyies over roads from which the trees hac
been removed but which could boast no othe
,mprovsment' being only intended Tor wlnie i,I'
OF lesfy woodland ana burned tracts Of desola
tion over bouldsrs and logs. aud choked D.
smoke-begrimed cd men. stationed here and Their
40 guard exposed points, the edge Of the swami
The once splendid growth OF cedars was vas
collection Of black, unsgntly stubs. The youni
,wss stlll nlled with a dense smoke. and through
II masses OF fame were here and there risin,
awaited transportation to the mill. As night
fall approached, smoke clouds, lighted by thu
In the distance. Paradise Is collection OF bal
adoren little frame houses and water tank, OF
a livelihood by making brick and ansrryinl
slate. The place VS. ,o fun S 81 smT9hs, Ti whiet
rs%sntlo % gorge on The ' Neversink river. Il wa
A-cert ined that tne worst Of the nres were fur
ther up tue line, and within three miles OF Mon
tioello.
Going TO the spot with Mr.. Leslie, the road
master, the reporter at length found himself n
front instead Of behind one OF the great fires
Guided by the dense volumes OF smoke tina
rolled above the tree tops, the party forced then
way through the woods, and were soon greetsC
by a dull, steady roar resemt ling that Of greA
cataract; Emerging into clearing and cross
ing the little Cushkiil, vast sheets Of flame were
heen extending along the crest OF ridg,
directly in front Of them. The flames leapet
spruoes or pines were eDyelopsd Ia lame at on,
Proat hisslng leap. and they sent flying emberi
far ahead, 10 in turn start new fires. Tall tTee
aud slender saplinPs could be seen swayed TO ant
fro IN the terrible heat. Monarchs Of the foTes
that had withstood many similar attacks wen
crashing TO the ground, their roots deep IN III,
soil having been burned on. Great boulder
were rent apart with noise ike the discharg,
of musketry. Above the IRE bats and nigh
BIRDS few and oiTcled with shrill cries, and a
length fell helpless victims. In its front rabbit
aud other small game Ned in snrght, and ser
pents crawed Kissing through the grass. Ever!
now aud then great gust OF wind hurlsC
volumes OF hot, stifing smoke into the faces o
tue party, compelling them TO beat nasty re
trest, and they frequently discovered that nre
behind them, set by nving smbers we're maxim
stealthy advances In their direction. Above
all through the whirling blackness, the SUI
gllred down like blood-rsd eye.
1hls Ore entered the swamp late In the after
noon, and there the men, aided by the mostur
Stiil remaining IN the ground and the subsldenc
OF the wind, arrested Its progress before l
touched tue wood piles or houses along the lin
OF the road. But II Is not out, and Is stil
smouldering, and ready to break out At any mo
ment II not carefully watched.
Ihe pleasant little town OF Monticello VIII or,
the air 70 usually as fresh and pure as that Of
mountain top u heavy with smoke, and som
cf the lnhaoitants declare that they can feel til
A. ~