The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-05
FORESTS In FLAMES.
Great Fires Destroying Property in
the Eastern Mountains.
adeIphia and New York;
Two Villages Con.
sumed.

PoRT JERv1s, N. Y, May 5.-Tbe entire
village of Gilman's Depot, on the Port Jeryis
& Monticello railroad, burned Friday after
noon and evening. The residents were
obliged to flee for their lives, being unable to
save anything. Not over half a dozen
houses are left standing in a radius
Of five miles. The fire is still
burning. Gilman's tannery and saw-mills
are totally destroyed. The whole settlement
was owned by him Two railroad bridges
were burned. The total loss, so far as known,
is 100000.
ALTOONA, Pa, May 5.-The town Of Bris-
bin Clearfield county, was totally consumed
by fire Friday afternoon, including the large
lumber yards and mill houses of Hughes g.
Co. The loss is estimated at Sl50,0 to $780,
900. Fully insured.
PHILADELPHIA, May 5.-The atmosphere
in this city is thick with the smoke from
forest fires, which are sweeping over the
more westerly portion OF the state. A dis
patch from Easton says the mountain fires in
that sections are assuming alarming
proportions, fsSsnd hundreds of people
are out fighting them on the north side of
Blue mountains, near Wind Gap, and
On the PocOno mountains. In the afternoon
fire broke out in the woods near Penargyl,
and is still burning furiously. The woods
are very dry, and leaves, lying thick in tho
low stubble, give tho flames abundant mate
rial to feed on. This fire is quarter of
mile west of Penargyl, and is burning toward
the town. There is no serious danger OF the
place catching, however, unless the wind in
creaseS in violence and carries tho sparks to
the houses. The smoke in all this section is
terrible and people can hardly breathe.
They go about with handkerchiefs over their
eyes and faces Lights are scarcely visible
half a square off, The Pocono mountains
are on fire in many places, and the flames
are raging fercely, especially on the top of
the range.
New YORK, May 5.-Forest fires in the
country round about fill the atmosphere here
with smoke. Middletown, n V, reports the
mountains north and west of the Shnwan-
gunks and Catskills on fire A strong wind
is blowing and it is possible to
see only a short distance No dam
age is reported yet, but the danger
to isolated farm houses and barns is great.
Clouds of smoke and ashes fill the air. The
fire is also raging on Storm-King mountain,
near Cornwall, and in the highlands west of
Hayerstraw The air of Newburg is filed
with smoke and ashes, and burned leaves are
floating about. Much damage to standing
timber is unprecedented.
ELMIRA, n. Y, May 5.-A report comes
from the mining town of Arnot, Toga
county, Pennsylvania, that about score of
dwellings and both mining stores were
burned The flames were ignited by the
forest fires now raging in all that section.
Elmira has sent firemen and apparatus. The
homeless families will find shelter at Bloss-
burg.
WASHINGTON, N. j., May 5.-An extern
siye contiagration is raging in Blue noun
| tains, twenty-five miles from here. The wind
carries the smoke in dense clouds over this
part of Warren county. At 5 o'clock in the
afternoon it became completely dark, and a
smoky pail, almost suffocating, rests over
the town. The inhabitants are alarmed, and
the mayor has requested number of men,
bers Of the fire company TO remain on duty
during the night.
New YORK, May 5.-Forest fires in the
country round about fill the atmosphere here
with smoke Middletown, N Y, reports the
mountains north and west of the Shawan-
gunks and Atskills on fire. Fires are
near Cornwall, and in the Highlands west Of
Haverstraw. A large tract of valuable
woodland is burning about three miles from
Matawan, N j., threatening number of
residences Farmers are fighting the flames
ASHLAND, Sehuylkin Co., Pa. May s.
The danger from forest fires is believed to
be over. Four farm houses near this place
were destroyed. A man named Westhoffer
is supposed to have persisted with his house.
Fortyf to fifty square miles of timber
lands were burned. The damage in the
burnt district is estimated at S112, 600
READING, Pa, May 5.-The Blue mount
aims along the northern border of Berks
county are on fire in every direction. Seri-
GUS danger is apprehended The destruction
of wood land is incaIculable No farm
houses have yet burned. The people are
| fighting the flames.
| SHENANDOAH, Pa, May 5-The fire is
still burning, and has extended over two
miles in the country. Prompt action by the
people saved the houses.
New YORK, May 5.-The inhabitants 1
this city were given the benefit of an atmos
pheric phenomenon seldom witnessed on sea
and more seldom still on land. Owing to the
density of the atmosphere, the smoke iron
the city furnaces and the field and fores
fires from adjacent counties, settled down il
q lowering and dismal canopy over the city
The sky was obscured with a threatenin.
cloud like moss, which was plainly
enough not cloud, and which is alncs
identical with an appearance sometimes seeI
at sea during calm, and is always viewet
with great alarm by sailors as an unfailinI
sign of an approaching cyclone. After night
fall the moon shone directly overhead bloot
red. The phenomenon attracted much at
ton, and not few were of the opinion tina
some dire disaster was foreshadowed by tn
strange appearance of the moon and sky.