Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-22

tensions were felt, but this sense of security
was shortliyed. The wind freshened, and
then, thick and black, the ominous cloud
drew near, while afar of it was redeemed by
the full glare of the fire beneath, and ftful
streaks of fame shot up and flashed across
it like crimson plumes. From the trains
rushing by on the railroad line great spaces
Of fire showed themselves through the trees,
and it seemed as though the flames were
rapidly eating their way through the wooded
district down TO the confines of the town.
AS the hours passed the excitement there in
tensiied. Gusts of wind drove the smoke
and flying embers across it, sparks began to
fall and the situation was growing more
perilous every minute. The people who
lived beyond the railroad track in the direct
line OF the fire were swarming out of doors,
and apprehensions began to be expressed
that If the wind did not abate or the fire
spend itself the roofs above them would be-
fore long burst out in flames. At noon the
clear sky was obscured by dark, threaten
ing pail of vapor, and the flashes in the
woods were drawing fesrfully near. Bust
ness by this time was suspended even in the
heart of the town, and messengers were
sent about to gather a force OF men to go
out and see what could be done to avert the
danger.
GETTING READY FOR DANGER.
The bells rang and the fire company as
sembled at their quarters. Forem an Living
ston was away, 50 Acknowledgement Thorpe
and Titus took charge, and j. r. Gulick was
deputized as a third assistant Under their
directions the whole available working force
of the place was mustered and moved off to
the burning woods. There is a single engine
in Babylon-an old fashioned hand m achine
and hook and ladder truck. In such an
emergency they could Of course be of little
avail, SO the men provided themselves with
leather buckets and went Of TO the road
which the fire would BE- first 10 reach At
this point the cemetery lies on one side, and
there are a number of shade trees in it which
it was feared might serve to extend the fire
downward. Close by is the residence of Mr..
Milton Ferry-a long, white frame house,
connected by a line OF shrubbery with
couple of barns and outhouses in dangerous
proximity TO the timber. On the other side
OF the road are a few smaller houses, and the
residence of Mr.. Byers is further up and Just
in the shadow of the woods. Within the
wooded district was the house of Arthur
johnson. He is gardener who, losing
his wife and two daughters in the
last six months, has led a somewhat
isolated life OF late with his two
little ones. A man named Hallock lives not
far off, and Silas Udell, the only ice-vender
in Babylon, had his icehouse in the neigh
borhood and had just been preparingiit for
summer use. No word had been received
from any of them, and rs the line of the fire
drew nearer it became evident that their
light frame structures could never withstand
that fiery onslaught. Another cause of
alarm was the disappearance of Mr.. Phoenix
Remsen, a wealthy resident of Baby lon. He
had started out in a wagon - look after
some colts of his at John Carlrs place,
beyond the burning district. He took with
him resident of the town, named Gus
Cornelius, and the two reached the woods
when the fire was sweeping through them.
Cornelius, overcome by the heat and smoke,
refused to proceed, and left the wagon,
but Remsem, putting his horse at gallop,
swept on and was lost sight of When the
fire company reached the timber il was
feared that harm had befallen him, and men
and horses were started off to skirt the
woods, while others pressed into them in
quest of hin.
CLOSE QUARTERS
While the excitement was at its hight |
horse and wagon burst from the smoking |
trees, and Remsen appeared with man who |
had been looking for him, safe and sound, |
but with his horse all singed after having |
twice run the gauntlet through the blazing |
forest. The fire was now drawing to the |
edge of it. The trees here were mostly |
young oaks, few pines growing anywhere |
except in the heart of the timber. The air
was fairly black with smoke. The town was
darkened, showers of sparks fell around and
the light woodwork of the houses might at
any moment burst into flames The towns
men saw that speedy action was necessary,
and they went to work in earnest. Along
The line of a creek which runs through
The confines of the town they set fire to the
grass and shrubbery and burned it up
10 the edge of the woods. To pre-
vent these saving measures doing any harm
4 force of men armed with leathern buckets
nd I'LL L. |
he burning brush and extingushed
he fire when the former was leveled to
he ground. Ir spite of this precau-
ionary measure the flames swept down upon
he residence of Mr.. Byers. His furniture
vas carried out, his valuables were removed
o place of safety, and then the water was
poured upon the frame work till it was
thoroughly saturated. Here Ziah Hicks,
olored gardener, was burned while fighting
he fire, but no one else in the course Of the
orenoon received any hurt. Mr.. Perry's
louse and barns were also thoroughly
lrenched. Considerable trouble was expert
rced at Oakland Park, a sort of picnic
round, where the frame structures and plat
orms were in danger, but it too was saved.
THE RUIN WROUGHT.
Meantime number of men had penetrated
he timber as far as Arthur Johnson's place.
hey had come too late. The house was a
ruin and its owner was off on a
Dad the fire had swept across with a few
hairs and barrel, all that he had saved of
is property. One Of his little Ones it was
t first feared, had persisted, but the child
las found safe in limb but dreadfully fright
ned. johnson had lost everything, but he
harity of his neighborE, who have started a |
Inscription for him, is likely to increase.
iallock had Jared no better, his hou se was
urned to the ground and he was found con-
eyiDg his family and an invalid mother to
1me place of security. Udell's icehouse
las also totally destroyed. In the heart Of
he woods are some shanties occupied by
egroes, and it is not known how they all have
ired A negro girl coming through the timber
tier the fire said she had to leave her home
nd fly for her life. but it is believed that
early all the harm done by the fire is known.
oward sunset on Monds ythe Baby Ion firemen
ere enabled 10 rest after their manly efforts |
he fire, as 1T approached the edge OF the |
mber had preyed only on the underbrush,
pent itself when it reached the area near | !
ne creek which they had purposely cleared | ,
y FIRE. But for their work there il is hard
, say what harm the fire might have done
Babylon. As it was, the excitement was
lstained long after the fame aud smoke
ad abated, and a watch was kept up at the
lreatened quarter long after nightiall. 1t
believed that several thousands of acres
ere uaversed Dy The lire, and that the
amage done the timber is very considerable.
Near Patehogue.
A fire which started in the neighborhood
Edenyille on Monday morning swept
trough the woods about here and destroyed
arge tracts of timber. EIDE nyille is quiet |
title place, a mile back from the line Of the
abroad, in district which is thickly
-ooded. How the FIRE originated in such
,cality cannot be diyened. and il is the
nininn of many of the residenfs tx. the