The New York herald., 1879-11-01
WOODS ON FIRE.

NEARLY TWO MILES OF TIMBER LAND AT WASH
INGToN H. IaHTs SWEPT DY FIAMEs-sPARKs
FROM PASSING LOCOMOTIVES THE CAUSE.
The residents in the vicinity Of Fort Washington
were considerably alarmed yesterday morning by .
fro ignited in the woods tho Bennett estate bx
the sparks from locomotive on the Hudson River
Railroad The fire originated among the dry leaves
which Uttered tho ground. strong breeze
blowing from the northwest and drove tho fire in
the direction Of the residences situated Washing
ton Heights. Az the brushwood and trees very
dry the fro spread quickly, and 1t required the
greatest efforts of the members of Engine Com
pany No. 80 and Hook and Ladder Company
No. Is to keep 1t from reaching to the
houses on the heights or down the woods toward
Carnansvlc. No engine could be used. as there was
water convenient. The hrernen and neighbors
literally beat the flames out with sticks and branches
OF trees Tue dense volumes of smoke prevented the
work from progressing rapidly. and IN an incredibly
short space OF time mile of finely timbered
ashes. About thirty cords Of hard wood were con.
sumcd and n number OF fences Finally the hre
penetrated into the adjoining Potter estate ana here
finally pus out with tho aid OF hrc extinguish
ers.
ANOTHER coxyLAGRArIos.
At haf-past one \. M. passing locomotive started
another time ON the Potter estate.
The engine companies were promptly on tho spot.
but the hrc had gained considDabie headway The
violence of the wind drove tho flames to the estate
Of the late A. 4. Stewart. Cherry. chestnut, oak,
aSh and hickory were consumeu Iho natnes
in Liph trees were out OF reach. but the fremen
worked hard to control the hre by beating Il out
OF the underbrush. through which IL In such
eccentric angles that A. was matter of difficulty
10 keep track OF It.. The flames would bc subdued
spparently and would again break out with renewed
fury whol the nremen were attending to another
ouartor. When the fire reached the grounds Of
William Hays the "boatcrs' seemed perfectly help
less great wan the spread Of the flames under the
influence of the wind. Several of tho nremcn were
slightly burned while keeping the flames reach-
ing thB house OF senator tcclcsne. The timber and
bush surrounded the house three sides, and the
hre gradually crcpt to within ton yards Of tho
walls, The whole force OF tho iiremen was concen-
tratcd 1t this point. and q hard struggle ensued
betwoei them and the flames, In which they came
out victors. Tho OF tho hre altered, and it
veered 70 the north slightly. II at last quollcd
on the Hays estate. Tho conhagration devastated
nearly wo miles OF land The loss Il In i'm possible
to estimate. Residents OF Fort Washington assert
that tin frequency Of fires due TO the fact that tho
Hudsoi River Railroad has taken no steps to
preycn sparks flying from tho locomotives. On
"wednesday afternoon another irc started
from tie same cause but did not cause much dam
age captain Vetter. OF the Fire Department., said to
IA IiriLLD reporter 1.-THE Hudson River Railway
Company had better remedy this defect In their loco.
notivs or something serious will occur. IL q. nro
got siticient headway IL would sweep the whole
northrn part of the island, and Carmansvillo would
stand little chance OF escape. Every fall there In
recurrence of fires Ia tho woods, and IL L. with tho
greatet difficulty that wc protect the magnificent
Inansns which are situated on Warrington
.Hoiaht."