The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-05-09
FOREST FIRES
Raging Throughout the Various
Parts of the Country, Causing
Untold Damage.
Strong Winds Fan the Leaping Flames,
And the Inhabitants Compelled to
Flee for Their Lives-viIIages
Entirely Destroyed.
A rows DESTROYER.

A TOWN DESTROYED.
SCRANTON, Pa, May 2.-The branch
works of the Moosic Powder Company at
Jermyn were destroyed yesterday afternoon
by an explosion, and one workman was
killed and two badly injured. The ex-
plosion was caused by the forest fires,
Which are raging furiouSly on all the
mountains in this region. The flames
swept down upon the works with such
rapidity that no possibility of checking
was afforded. The storehouse, in which
large quantity of powder was awaiting ship
ment, was the first building attacked. The
force of the explosion shattered the other
structures. The works were situated near
the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company's
Railroad. Two buildings owned by this
company were blown down and timbers
thrown upon the railroad, delaying trains
for long time. The Powder Company's
loss is about $4,000.
Forest fires are raging with great severity
at Tobyhanna, and vast timber interest,
as well as many houses, are endangered.
Dense clouds of smoke from the fires hung
over Scranton all day, obscuring the sun and
alarming the people.
about Wilkesbarre lately, but the first seri-
Gus damage was reported this afternoon.
White Haven and the neighbOring hills
caught fire, and for time the town was in
great danger, owing to strong wind. The
fire department of Wilkesbarre, with the
whole population of the place, subdued the
fire.
At California, numbering town near
White Haven, fierce fire started and eleven
houses occupied by men in numbering were
burned. The bridges on the Bear Greek
branch of the Lehigh Valley Railway were
destroyed; also the stables Of Albert Lewis
u Co., lumber contractors. Eleven horses
! also persisted. In this fire large quantity
/, of valuable timber was destroyed. The
total loss is estimated at $4,000. The fire
is now under control.
Near Ashland, extensive fires are raging
and the Ashland fire department has been
ordered in readiness for service at the State
Miners Hospital. Workmen are now fight
ing the flames near the building. The loss
to timber tracts will be large.
A heavy windstorm visited Northumber-
land County to-day and famed to increased
fury the forest fires. The works of Charles
Woods and 5000 cords of charcoal were de-
stroyed. The fires also ignited a culm bank
at mine Hill Gap Colliery. The mine is in
danger and 800 men e.thrown out of en-
ployment Towns are befogged by smoke
from the burning mountains.
HONTZDALE, Pa, May 3.-The fire which
destroyed the neighboring town OF Brsbin
is supposed to have originated half a mile
west of Hoover, Hughes & Co.'s mill,
where some Hungarians set fire to brush to
clear piece of land for cultivation. The
wind carried the flames to the saw mills
and they were quickly swept away. The
progress of the fire was then very rapid
through the town, and the inhabitants were
compelled to fly in every direction, and in
many cases without sufficient clothing.
Wien the first alarm was received the
bus Tess people placed every team in the
town at the disposal of their neighbors, and
every bar-room was closed.
The losses definitely stated now amount
to $3.50, 900, and the estimate of the total
losses put the amount at $1,036,0 900. OF
this amount Hoover, Hughes & Co. lose
$15O,0O0; the Opera House (unfnished)
$4,000; George Pearce, $4,000; w. Fl.
Phillips, S3, 900; F. g. j. Somendinger, $10,-
900; j. G. 81. w. Hooker, $4,000; George
Gould, $1,000; George Rhoades, $500;
Jones & Prosser, $4,000; Church of God,
$500; Moore & Van Dusen, $500;
Henry Roach, $500; Odd Fellows Hall,
$25, 900; M. Burns, $500; r. Fl.
Powell & Co., $4,000; M. l.. Cupples,
$500. The number of families homeless
and destitute is about one thousand, most
of whom are 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 or money will be gladly accepted
by the relief committee Goods for the
sufferers will be transported free of
charge by the Pennsylvania Railroad
About one hundred and fifty en-
ployes of Hoover, Hughes & Co.
are thrown out of employment in addition
to about thirty at John Maurice's Mt. Yer
non collery, and one hundred and seventy
at r. III. Powell & Co.'s colliery. Mrs.
Donovan was burned to death. The insur-
ances are much less than the losses. Sub
scJiptions have been literally given in
neighboring towns, and persons have been
provided with provisions during the day.
The sufferers are mainly poor miners who
were at work in the mines when their
houses were laid in ruins.
WILLIAMSBURG, PA, May 3.-The latest
reports here show the forest fires at various
places have been extensive, and very de-
structive. Along the Philadelphia and Erie
Railroad, from Drifthead west to Kane,
heavy fires were in progress last night.
Many cattle are reported surrounded
by flames, and a number of fisher
men had great difficulty in getting
out of the burning territory. A large
territory in the WESTERN part of Lycom-
ing county is burned over, but the loss is not
very heavy In Tioga county the fire is
general. Large quantities of timber were
destroyed along the line of the Tioga Rail-
way as we'll as many houses, barns and
other buildings. The town of Thompson
was wholly destroyed, including saw mill.
Loss, over 100000. Seventeen houses
were burned in Arnot entailing an adj
ditional loss of $4,000. Two million feet
of lumber also burned. The fire is fierce
about Morris and Antrim. Consid-
cradle pine timber is among the property
burned in different parts of Tioga County.
The saw mill of Andrew Raul at Spring
Run, Elk County, with two million feet of
lumber; no insurance. The saw mill, logs,
and lumber of DR.. l.. M. Otis, at Hemlock
Station, in the same county, were also
burned. The loss is about $4,000; insur-
ance $4, 900. The reports from Center and
Glearield counties say that the loss is not
as heavy as was at first reported.
EMPORIUM, Ia, May o.-lne FOREST uFeS
4 this section yesterday swept over at
east $4,000 acres, destroying, as far as as
certained, four large mills and some thirty
other buildings, besides an immense NUM-
Der of lumber logs. People everywhere are
fighting the fires. The heat is intense, and
the air is sutfoeating, while the smoke OBJ
scures the sun. The loss on mill property,
lumber, etc, amounts to 100000, and the
damage to standing timber cannot be esti-
mated.
READING, Pa, May 3.-The Blue Noun
tains, along the northern border of BerkS
County, are on fire in every direction, and
serious danger is apprehended. The de-
.struction Of woodland is incalculable. No
farm houses have yet been burned. The
people are fighting the flames.
KINGSTON, n. T., May 3.-Forest fires
have been raging here all day. A large
quantity of timber land was destroyed in
the CatskilIs. Many of the fires are ex-
tending from West Hurley and Pine Hill.
MOUNT CARMEL. Pa, May S.-The
severe wind storm and fierce forest fires
! that visited Northumberland county yeSter-