New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-04
A VILLAGE GONE IN AN HOUR
THE WORK OF THE FIRES IN THE FORESTS.
oIIMAN's STATION SWEPT OUT OF EXISTENCE
MANY FAMILIES HOMELESS.
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MANY FAMILIES HOMELESS.
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PORT JERvIs. May 3.-The most disastrous flre
which ever occurred in Sullivan County took place
Yesterday when little village on the line OF the
Port Jervis and Monticello Railroad known as
Gman's Station, was almost entirely oIotted ouI
of existence, causing a loss to W. W. Gilman OF
ST 80 OOO throwing 100 men ont of employment,
ard rendering homeless and penness number OF
families.
At an early hour on Friday morning Alfred Gilman
was informed that disastrous forest tire was raging
about four miles west of Gilman's toward the
town of Forestburg and was requested to send
number of men To prevent the spread OF the lanles
rs it threatened to burn large tract OF valu-
able tmbered land. Mr.. Gilman sent O number OF
employees to help fight the fire. All day long the
men fought the fire. unable to check it, BIZ 2 p. m.
il had driven every one before it and arrived with
in two miles of Gilman's Station.
AIDED By STRONG WIND.
About this time a strong wind from the west set IN
and the fire ragged with renewed yolence and trav-
cling at the rate of three miles an hour. compelled
those who were fighting it 10 run for their lives.
Climbing the mountain which Overl0oks Gilmans
Station on the west il descended tho side, and in
less than half an hour what once the busiest
hamlet on the line of the railroad was reduced TO
ashes not a stick of timber being left TO mark the
spot. So rapidly did the fire spread after reaching
Gilmans that inhabitants did not have time to save
any oftheir personal property. For time 20 dense
and sitting was the smoke and intense the neat
that it was all the people could do to
save tleir lives, let alone their property. They
abandoned everything.
THE COURSE OF THE FLAMES.
On the west side of the railroad track, where the
fire entered the town, were a steam saw-mill, Gill
no bo oct oftic apdt ba IL
Portable dwellings. the schOol-hOuse, Ice-house,
store-house for leather, and large pile of lumber
On the east side of the track were large
planning mill, an extensive tannery, two black
smith shops, three large sheds used for
storing hides, Mr.. GIlman's house. large
boarding house and two other houses and two
large barns. All this property was destroyed
within half an hour. In all eighteen buildings
wero destroyed 20,000000 feet of lumber and
four fiat belonging to the Erie Railroad which
were lying q siding opposite the store, and
were loading with lumber. All the buildings de-
stroyed were owned by Mr. Gilman
MANY RENDERED DESTITUTE.
Among the employees who lost everything were
Harman Rudolph John Leonard, Andrew Camp
bell, Johu Tarpey, James McGarvey, John Murran,
John Turns, Michael McFadden. and Lynn King.
These people lost everything. At tho last moment
they attempted TO save their personal effects but
the heat was so intense that they dropped every
thing in their anxiety to their lives. After the
fire passed 1t was found that the tops of several
trunks which had been thrown into the mill-pond
were burned 10 the water edge
The destruction of the store left the inha' tants
in a had position, as they are now unable pur-
chase clothing or provisions, There were many hun;
gTy mouths to feed this morning, and little TO feed
them. One hundred and fifty men are thrown out
of employment.
MR.. GILMAN's LOSSES.
A. Gman's estimated his fathers loss at $150000,
but states that Indirectly 1t Will be much larger, as
he will lose the entire seasons work and thousands
of dollars worth of timber standing on his tract of
70. 600 acres. almost all of which was burned. He
lost $50 600 worth of leather alone; 10000 00o feet
of sawed lumber s.. 900 worth of goods in the
store l 800 cords of bark of the value of SO per
cord while the planning mill was furnished with
machinery to the value of $4,000 aHd his own
residence and its contents could not be replaced l0r
less than 50 0O0. All that was saved from TIE lirc
portion OF inc DOCKS hlu accouItS "HlCD
An idea of the rapdity OF the spread of fire may
be got when It is stated that MIR. Gilman did not
even have time TO visit his own nouse, ana ms goa
watch a small quantity of money and other
vauables, kept in a safe IN the store, were
abandoned and the safe door eft open.
The fire caused a loss to the Port Jeryls and Mon
ticelo Railroad of $1,000 including four Hat cars
and two BRIDES. The track for half a mile was
burned and many of the rails twisted out or shape
The road was blocked all day, passengers, bag
or -,c express and mail matter being transferred
The damage will probably be repaired by Monday.
The fire, up o tins afternoon, had burned over
tract of country about two miles wide ana ten
miles IN length. 1t is still burning on the mount ans
and In the valleys which lead toward this village:
Everything is dry that IT buns like tnder, and
nothing short of a heavy rain viii stop the prog
ress of the flames This village is now enveloped
i'll a cloud OF smoke, making 1t dlicuIt TO breathe