The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-09-22
Forest FIRES,

The pioneers who settle in the forests of tn
new world find themselves face to face will
an enemy. This enemy is the forest ITSELF
Giant pines, sturdy oaks, strong beeches, chest
nut and the underbrush are so many obstacle,
to be removed before the pillow can turn a fur
row. Even after these have been cut down
the windfall the stumps and roots must be re
moved, the branches and foliage Topped off ant
removed, and the fences built TO protect the
crops. Between August and November O
nearly every year there are several weeks O
warm, dry weather. The harvests having
been gathered the pioneer sets himself te
clearing" that portion of his many acres
which is Uttered with dead or fallen stumps
and bushes. The dry weather fayors him
The timber is infammable, the leaves dead
and in few weeks he is able to accomplish
by means of fire what only the. incessanl
toll of months would otherwise achieve.
At long periods of fifteen years there comes
a drought. With the exception of an occa.
sional shower, no rain will fall during part
of July, August and September Wells are
almost destitute of water, deep rivers are al.
most fordible the grass dries and turns red
the leaves fall prematurely from the trees
timber becomes finder the atmosphere is OF
a furnace heat-oppressive and dry, seeming
almost ready to burst spontaneously into
flames. Every year during the warm dry
season forest fires originating from the sparks
of burning bushes, from the sparks of saw
mills and locomotives and hunters camps
sweep away great deal OF timber, and here
and there an isolated farmhouse, barn full of
crops, the growing grain, burning even stock
and human beings. But in these especially
long dry seasons, the thoughtless settlers OF
reckless hunters will set fires to the brush
heaps. For days these will burn slowly. Sud-
denly the wind springs up; the fires start and
spread. Betorethey can be arrested they have
caught the tall timbcrs, the flames rush to the
top and envelope the tree in the twinkling OF
an eye. In few hours an acre or more OF
forest will be in flames and beyond all control.
The resinous boughs of pine, hemlock, spruce
and fir kindle with the touch Of q spark, and
produce heat so intense as 10 give great
Roadway. 1t will then dry the wood in living
trees to such an extent that they will readily
burn. After forest fire has been raging for
a considerable time it heats the air that moves
before it so that it prepares the trees through
A fire once under Roadway will generally con-
tinue in its course till an extensive clearing or
body Of water is reached.
Such fire occurred in 1871, on what is
known as the Huron Peninsular of Michigan.
The general outline OF the lower portion OF
the State of Michigan resembles mitten ;
which the Huron Peninsular answers very
well as the thumb. Ten years ago a large
portion of this was burned over, and on Sun
day and Monday, September 18th and 9Th of
this year, a two months drought, in three
large counties, containing population of 70 900
people, scattered over an area of 1 900 miles,
another and still greater tornado Off flame
broke out, and four or five days went roaring
back and forth across this land, destroying not
only the immense forests, but farms, crops,
barns, houses. 1t is estimated that at least
two thousand families, numbering 1900 per-
sons, have been rendered destitute. They are
without shelter, without clothing, without
food. Many of them had fine farms, full crops
gathered, some in the field, comfortable homes
and outbuildings, orchards of fine apples,
peaches, and plums; others saw-mills, grist-
mills; others merchandise and warehouses
All disappeared from the face of the earth,
leaving nothing but the ground on which they
stood. Between thirty and forty villages
and settlements were thus swept out of eXis-
tence, to say nothing of the many square
miles of forest destroyed
These fires, once started, travel with in
credible swiftness, at times faster than horse
can run. Their roar is like the roar of a
great cataract. They will come down upon a
settlement with scarcely any warning The
smoke is seen at a distance. 1t incleases-is
soon SO thick that the air grows dark. 1t be-
comes darker. Candles and lanterns must be
lighted in order to see or move. Suddenly a
deep red glare, turning everything to the
color of blood, bursts through this midnight
cloud. The heat becomes intolerable Great
sheets of flame tower overhead. Huge bombs
which are the resinOus pine knots and other
imflammatory pieces, seem to burst every
where, setting fire to everything they touch.
People run tor their lives, sometimes in vain !;
others hitchiug up their horses and mounting
their wagons drive furiously over the rough
roads, picking off the burning GOALS that fall
upon them, lashing the animals to the top of
their speed, and if not cut off by another fire,
driving down upon them from another direc-
ton, may escape to large clearing or q set
Element out of the way of the flames. Often
the fire comes so suddenly that they do not
have time to dress, but rush out with scarcely
but undergarments or light dresses
upon them. Young ladies who have great
abundance of clothing of every kind are
left with nothing except wrapper and are
compelled to go about barefooted. 1t seems
almost impossible that people having so much
around them could come away and leave it
without taking something with them Terror
and CONSERVATION seem to seize them, and
thew leave everything. few women wore
fonnd literally naked holding Their bahas
in their arms. Sometimes the onlv ref
NOE are the wells and the bitches Nv the
side of the road. Ten or a dozen people may
have been found in one well and in one case
a child was born under these appalling cir
cumstances. The heat is so great that per-
son standing in the middle of a field of TWEEN
ty acres would be roasted. Wherever the
people live near the great Lake Huron they
take refuge in the water. Even then the heat
is so intense that they throw water upon each
other to keep them from burning, and the
water is so tainted with the ashes that are
thrown into it that although they are standing
up to their necks in the Lake, they are almost
dying like shipwrecked sailors. of thirst
which cannot be quenched. Dead birds in
numbers float upon the lake, whittier
the flames have driven them and into which
they have dropped from exhaustion The
shore of the lake is lined with game-part-
ridges, quail, woodcock, squirrels, pheasants,
rabbits, white deer, and bears ale found
roasted in the woods.
Many persons are unable to escape. The
smoke sutfocates or the heat destroys them.
4. IN