The Portland daily press., 1884-05-05
LAID IN RUINS.
$1,O36,OOO Swept Away by Forest
Fires in Pennsylvania.
One Thousand Poor Miners and Families
Homeless.
A New York Town Almost BIotted
Out Of Existence.
Fires Also Raging i'm New Jersey-Sever-
al Persons burned TO Death Ina the Penp-
syIvania Fires.

HoNTzDALE, Pa, May 4.-The known losses
| by fire at Brisbin amount to $380,O00, and the
| total loss is estimated at 81 036 600. OF this
amount, Hoover, Hughes & Co., lose $4,000.
| The number of families homeless and desti-
tute is about ], 900, most of whom are suffering
ing in slowly, and the demand is SO great that
anything that can b9 utilized in the shape OF
| provisions, clothing or money, will be gladly
accepted. Goods for the sufferers will be
| transported free of charge by the Pennsylva-
| MIA railroad. About $50 employees of Hoover,
| Hughes & Co. are thrown ont of employment,
| in addition to 80 at John Maurice's, Mt. Yer
non colliery, and 40 at R. II. Powell 81 Co.'s
| colliery. But one death has occurred thus far,
| that of Mrs Donovan, who was burned to
death during the confagration. The insur-
ances are much less than the losses. Subscrip-
tions have been literally given in the neigh
boring towns. and 1000 persons have been pro-
vided with provisions. The sufferers are
mainly poor miners, who were at work in the
mines when their houses were laid in ruins.
KINGSTON, N. Y, May 4.-Forest fires still
| continue hereabouts, and 1t is reported that
two men lost their lives while fighting the fire
in the Shawangunk mountains. In the Cats
kills, large mill owned by man named
Keator, was destroyed. Hussey Hill, in the
town OF Esopus was all ablaze last night and
today.
PORT JERvIs, N. Y, May 4.-Rain has been
falling all the afternoon, extinguishiDg the
forest fires in this vicinity.
WlLKEsBARRE, Pa, May 4-Moderate rain
fell in this section during the entire day, ex-
tinguishing the forest fires on the mountains
along the line OF the Lehigh Valley railroad,
from Bear Greek to White Haven.
MATAwAN, N. j., May 4-South of here the
fires in the pines are still burning, apparently
with greater vigor than ever. The damage
cannot be estimated.
At Marlboro the fires are nearly out in the
woods, but at Brown Town they have again
started, and the farmers are fighting the
flames, The loss there is placed at nearly
$4,000. Between 1000 and 5000 acres have
been devastated. The fire, it ia asserted, orig
mated from the careless burning of brush by
one of the wealthy farmers and the losers by
it will try and hold him responsible for the
loss. The huckleberry crop, which brought in
hundreds of dollars to the poor people in this
vicinity, is entirely destroyed. The smoke in
the streets here is again gathering quite thick.
PORT JERvIs, N. Y, May 4.--Gilman's Sta
ton was almost blotted out OF existence by
fridays fire. The losses aggregate 50,000,
most of the property destroyed being that of
Mr.. Gilman. At an early hour Friday morn
ing Alfred Gilman was Informed that disas-
trous forest fire was raging about four miles
west of Gilman's, towards the town OF Forest-
bury, and was requested to send number of
men to prevent the spread of the flames. Mr..
Gilman sent number of employees to help
fight the fire. All day these men fought the
fire, bat were unable to check it, aud by pm.
1t had driven every one before it, and arrived
within two miles of Gilman Station. About
this time strong wind from the west set in,
and the fire ragged with renewed violence, end
travelling at rate of three miles an hour, it
compelled those who were fighting it TO run
for their lives; then climbing the mountain
which overlooks Gilman Station on the west
the fire descended the side, and in less than
half an hour what was once the busiest ham,
let on the line of the railroad was reduced to
ashes, not q stick of timber being left to mark
the spot. So rapidly did the fire spread after
reaching Gilman'S, that the inhabitants did
not have time to save aug OF their personal
property. For time. SO dense and sitting
was the smoke and so intense the heat that it
was all the people could do to save their lives,
and they abandoned everything. On the west
side OF the railroad track, where the fire enter
ed the town, were the steam saw mill ,Gilman's
store, post office and depot, two comfortable
dwellings, school house, ice house, store house,
for leather, and large pile of lumber, while
on the east side were large planning mill, ex-
tensive iannery, two blacksmith shops, three
large sheds used for storing hides, Mr.. Gill
mans house, large boarding house, and two
other houses and Two large barns. All this
property was destroyed within an half hour.
In all, Is buildings we're destroyed, &c 600 900
feet of lumber, aud fouF fat cars belonging to
the Erie railroad, which were laying on a sid
ing opposite the store aud were loading with
lumber All the buildings destroyed were
owned by MIR. Gilman. The destruction OF the
store left the inhabitants fin bad position, as
they are now unable 10 purchase clothing or
provisions. One hundred and fifty men are
thrown out of employment.
The fire caused loss to the Port Jervis and
Monticello railroad OF $1,000 The track for
half mile was burned and many of the rails
were twisted cut of shape aud the road was
blocked all day. The damage will probably
be repaired by Monday. The fire has burned
over tract of country about two miles wide
and ten miles in length and it is still burning
on the mountains aud in the valleys which
lead toward this village.
EMPORIUM, Pa, May 3.-The forest fires in
this section yesterday, swept over at least 50,-
600 acres, destroying, as far as ascertaned,
four large mills and some 80 other buildings,
besides an immense quantity of lumber and
logs. The loss in mill property lumber, etc.
will amount to 100000. The damage to
standing timber cannot be estimated.
ASHLAND, Pa, May 3.-The danger from
the forest fires is now believed to be over
Four farm houses, with outpuildings and
stock were destroyed. An old man named
Westhoffer, living near here, is missing, and
is supposed to have persisted in the flames, as
his house was burned. From As to so square
miles of timber land have been burned. The
damage 10 property in the entire burnt dis
trict ia 6stinlated at Sl12.000.