Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-05-07
The Great Forest Fires.
THE BURNING OF BRIsBIN.
FoUTZDALE, CLEARFIELDl }

For some days past the woods in the
vicinity of Brisbin and Houtzdale have
been on fire in different places, but no
decided move was made towards stamp
ing it out and it gradually grew nearer
to the town of Brisbin. This morning
a heavy gale from the westward set in,
and blew the flames in the direction of
Hoover, Hughes Il Co.'S mill. Men
were promptly put to work fighting the
fire fend, but without avail, though
the hose which has always been kept
in readiness for an emergency of this
kind were playing on all parts of the
mill About twelve o'clock the whistle
sounded an appeal for more aid, and
the most strenuous eXertions were made
to save the structure. but the greedy
flames seized upon the immense lumber
piles.
THE TOWN IN PLANES.
Brisbin is situated between two hills,
the mill being at the western end of
the town, an with steady gale blow
ing the flames from house to house it
was but short time until the space
between the hills was a seething mass
OF fire. We have no means of estima-
ting the loss, but it is enormous.
Hoover Hughes d Co.'s mill and lum-
ber yards and stores, Simon Dinger's
store, Theogt Hall, and at least two
hundred and fifty other buildings were
burned. But few people saved any
thug, and the scene is agonizing in
the extreme. Several sick persons
were taken from their houses with
great difficulty Over one hundred
families are bereft of everything in the
world, save the clothing they wore.
Mrs. Donavan, an old and respectable
lady was caught by the fire and burned
to death
AID FoR..THE HOMELESS THOUSANDS.
HARRISBURG, May 3.-A telegram
was received at the Executive Depart
ment to-day to the effect that 5000
people have been rendered homeless by
forest fires in the vicinity of Houtzdale
Clearfeld county. An appeal was
made for tents to shelter these people,
which Gov Pattison forwarded. The
tenly.were shipped this afternoon.
Aloug the Philadelphia IL Erie rail-
road, from Driftwood west to Rome,
heavy fires were in progress last night.
Many cattle are reported surrounded by
the flames, and number of fishermen
had great difficulty in getting out of
the burning territory. A large terrific
ry in the western part of Lycoming
county was burned over, but the loss
was not very heavy. In Tioga county
the fire was general. Large quantities
of timber were destroyed along the
line of the Tiaga Railroad, as well as
many houses, barns and other buildings,
The town of Thompson was wholly de-
stroyed, including a saw mill. The
loss is over $l50,000. Seventeen
houses were burned in Arnot, entail
ing an additional loss of SIS, 900 Two
million feet of lumber was also burned.
The fire was fierce about Morris and
Antrim. Considerable fine timber was
among the property bnrned in different
parts of Tioga county.
THE WELCOME RAIN.
ERIE, Pa, May A heavy rain
has been prevailing along the line of
the Philadelphia and Erie railroad
throughout the forest fire district dur
ing the past twelvs hours. The confa-
grafton, which was beginning to enkin-
die with renewed fury in the vicinity
of Emporium, Heating, Sterling, Ridg-
way and St. Marys, was at once arres-
ted, and at 5 p. NJ. the water rolled
down over the mountains in sheets,
quenching every bit of fire. A local
rain Saturday saved the Clarendon oil
district