The Indianapolis journal., 1884-05-05
DISASTROUS FOREST FIRES.
Three Pennsylvania Villages Burned,
Causing Very Serious Loss.
BriSbin, Gilmans Depot and Thompson the
Inflated TOwns-Great Damage Else
where, with Loss of Life.
THE FOREST FIRES.
Three Pennsylvania villages Destroyed,
Causing Heavy Losses.

Causing Heavy Losses.
HoUTzDALE Pa, May 3-The fire which de-
stroyed the neighboring town of Brisbin is sup
posed to have originated half mile west of
Hoover Hughes & Co 8 mill, where some Hun
ground for cultivation The wind carried the
flames to the sawmills and they were quickly
swept away. The progress of the fire was then
very rapid thorough the town, and the inhabit-
ants were compelled to fly in every direction,
and in many cases without sufficient clothing
When the first alarm was raised the business
people placed every team at the disposal of
neighbors, and every bar-room was closed
The losses are definitely stated now to amount
to $3.50, 900, and an estimate of the total losses
puts the amount at 81, 036.000. Of this amount
Hoover, Hughes & Co. lose $3.50, 900; Opera house
(unfnished), $4,000; George Pearce, $4,000; w.
II. Phillips, So 900; /. & j. Somendinger, $lO,000
j. c. & j. w. Hooker, $15, 900; George Gould,
s., 900; George Rhoads, So, 500; Jones & Prosser,
1900; Church of God, $500; Moore s. Van
Dusen, i$3, 800; Henry Roach, $500; Odd-fel
lows Hall, $25, 900; NJ. Burns, So, 500; R. H.
Powell & Co., So 900; M. L. Cupples So, 500.
The number of families homeless and desti-
suffering for the necessaries of life Supplies
are coming in slowly, and the demand is great.
Anything that can be utilized in the shape of
provisions, clothing, money, will be gladly
accepted by the relief committee. Goods for
sufferers will be transported free of charge by
the Pennsylvania railroad. About $50 employees
of Hoover, Hughes & Co. are thrown out of
employment. in addition to about thirty at John
Maurices Mount Vernon colliery, and 170 at R.
H. Powell & Co.'S coliery Mrs. Donovan was
burned to death. The assurances are much less
than the losses Subscriptions have been libeP
ally given in neighboring towns Two thousand
persons have been provided with provisions dur
ing the day. The sufferers are mainly poor miners,
who were at work in the mines when their houses
were laid in ruins.
A Wilhamsport dispatch says 'The latest
reports here show that the forest fires in various
places have been extensive and very disastrous.
Along the Philadelphia G. Erie railroad. from
Driftwood west to Kane, heavy fires were in
progress last night Many cattle were reported
surrounded by tiames and q number of fisher
men had great difficulty in getting out of the
western part of Lyeoming county is burned
over. but the loss is not very heavy, In Tioga
county the fire was general Large quantities of
timber were destroyed along the line of the
Tioga railroad we'll many houses, barns
and other buildings The town of Thompson
was wholly destroyed, including the saw mill.
Loss over 100000 Seventeen houses were
burned in Arnot, entaiiing an additional loss of
$l5, 600. Two million feet of lumber was also
burned The fire. was fierce, about Nor
ris and Antrim. Considerable pine
timber was among the. property burned
in different parts Of Tioga county
The saw-mill of Andrew Kaull at Spring Run,
Elk County, was destroyed with two million feet
of lumber; no insurance. The saw-mill, logs and
lumber of DR.. L. NJ Otis, at Hemlock Station, in
the same county, were also burned. Loss. about
irciIp from ntaT.
and Clearfeld Counties to-day say the loss is not
as heavy was at first reported"
A dispatch from Emporium, Pa, says: '"The
forest fires in this section yesterday swept over
at least fifty thousand acres, destroying, so far
as ascertained, four large mills and some thirty
other buildings, besides an immense amount of
lumber and logs The people everywhere are
fighting the fires. The heat is intense and the
air is suffocating, while the smoke obscures the
sun The loss on mill property, lumber, etc,
amounts to $l00 600 The damage to standing
timber cannot be estimated"
Mount Carmel Pa, reports that the severe
wind-storln and fierce forest fires that visited
Northumberland county yesterday partially
ceased about mindnight To-day the mountains
for many miles are burning and smoking terri
| bly,. Farm fences. cordwood, railroad siIls and
other valuable property is destroyed The loss
will foot up thousands of dollars. Yesterday the
! forest fires were the most damaging seen here
within half century.
An Ashland Pa, telegram says: "The danger
from forest fires is believed over in this vicin-
ity -Four farm houses were destroyed. A man
named Westhoffer is supposed to have perished
with his house. Forty five to fifty square miles
Of timber land burned. The damage in the
burned district is estimated at $ll2, 600"
The Bluemountains along the northern bor-
der of Berks county are on fire in every direc-
tion and serious danger is apprehended. The
destruction of woodland is incalcuable. No
farm houses are yet burned People are fight
ing the flames
The forest fires at Moscow and in the Spring
Brook region are out Rhoads steam saw-mill
and several hundred cords of wood, several
thousand railroad ties and five dwellings burned
on Friday.
A Port Jervis, n Y dispatch says; 'The
entire village of Gilman's Depot on the Port
Jervis q Monticello railroad was burned yes
terday afternoon and last night. The residents
were obliged to fee for their lives, unable to
save anything. Not over half dozen houses
are standing in radius of five miles The fire
is still burning. Gilmans tannery and saw
mills were destroyed. The whole settlement
was owned by him. Loss, $4,000 Two rail
road bridges were also burned"
Near Kingston, n. Y, forest fires were raging
all day Saturday. A large quantity of timber
land was destroyed in the Catskills. Many fires
are extending from West Hurley and Pine Hill
South of Mattawan, n. j., the fires in the
pines are still burning, with apparently greater
Vigor than ever The damage cannot be esti-
mated The woods at Bronentow have again
started, and the farmers are fighting the flames.
The loss there is placed at nearly $50 000 Be-
tween a, 900 and 5000 acress have been devas-
tated. The fire originated from careless burn
ing of brush by one of the wealthy farmers.
The losers will try and hold him responsible.
The huckleberry crop. which brought hundreds
of dollars to the poor people of the vicinity, is
entirely destroyed.
OTHER FIRES.