New-York tribune., 1891-05-01
FOREST FIRES STILL RAGING.
PEOPLE CROSS THE NORTH RIVER IN a
PANIC.
GREAT DESTRUCTION IN NEw-JERsEY FROM n
CENDIARY FLAMEs-MANY VILLAGES
THREATENED.

|
| CENDIARY FLAMEs-MANY VILLAGES
THREATENED.
| Lakewood N j.. April 30 (Specian-At intervals
during the last five days Lakewood has been almost
surrounded by forest Hres most of which believed
10 have been incendiary. Although the village has
not been invaded by the fires the damage TO surround
! ing property has been fully 100000. The first fire
OF consequence started at Squsnkum five miles north
east OF here on Saturday morning, and running in
southea serly direction swept through to Hebertve,
Ave miles away, destroying some valuable timber and
| two three cranberry plantations The fire at one
time came close to Cedar Bridge that some OF the
inhabitants left their houses and hurried to Bursve,
on the north side of the MetedecOnk River Mrs.
Benjamin Field fed for safety with her child In her
arms. On Tuesday another fire, which almost
certainly OF ncendary origin started west of Rdgway,
four miles southeast Of here crossed the railroad track
and swept onward toward Toms River seven miles
| from where it began. Great damage is reported
along its path. At time the dynamite works
near that village were threatened. Last night fire
broke out at Maple Root Branch, five miles southwest
of here and burned over of several thousand
acres, almost up to the houses at Whitesvlle
Yesterday afternoon another fire, ineendiary almost
beyond question, started miles east Of Cassvile
| and seven miles west of Lakewood and burned to
within a mile of Manchester, eight mics from here
To master this fire fifty men from the machine shops
of the NewJersey Southern Railroad at Manchester,
and nearly many farmers and laborers, turned
out lnlS lre was Sllll DuIuIub loICHoOh W
judicious back firing and working throughout the
night IL is now under control There have been
large number Of other fires started In the WOODS
Several hundred of cedar timber which sod less
than year ago at 5000 an acre. are completely
destroyed, and thousands of acres OF oak ana pine
timber is burned. The nearest approach that any
of the fires made to this village was tie one & w' tn
broke out at Mounts Crossing. For uIne tne
valuable dwelling houses, barns and outDulldlnss Vi
James Williamson and A. 5. Mac6ean were III I'M,
minent danger and the house of Dr. Williamson Oh
I was This Is two miles rom
Lakewood.
Point Pleasant April 3OAnother fire started in the
woods two miles north of Point Pleasant and raged
all day yesterday and last night burning thousands
of cords of fine timber belonging to J. G W. Havens,
superintendent of the SewJersey Life saving Service
| A. Downey, George Lecompt, Charles Maxon ana
| Others The flames reached the house OF captain
J Joseph Harvey, which consumed. -Four barns
several small buildings and fences were destroyed
The people In the vicinity became panic stricken when men
they saw the flames sweeping toward their homes ana
property. They turned out In large nInofrs, anu; ana
although suffering geaY w G Se e smoke they brave
fought the flames Tonight the fire Is believed M o 10 Df
| has passed The flames burned over the best Gran
berry bogs in cedar swamps and the owners OF ine Do
will lose heavily. II is thought that the loss VIII reach
| 100000.
Bay Head April 30.-Sparks from the chimney OF
c. Morton's house between Herbertvlle and Lakewood
to-day started fire in the pines in that vicinity.
The fire swept through valuable standing timber for
1
smoke were terrible and the residents OF tie set'e
ments on the line Of the fire became greatly alarmed
and fed from their homes. The fire deVouIed every
thing in its track. Boathouses. ice-houses and the
houses Of C. Morton and j. Herbert were DESTROYED
property The houses Of George W. johnson, A. Daw,
son, r. Parker. Charles Osborne j. b. Gl,ora vnu anu
the flames reached Barnegat Bay they also DESTROYED
Shore The total loss is ronghy>es mated at 100000
5000 acres Of the best cranberry bOgs Ill ts locahy
| have been destroyed.
Atlantic City, April 3oA fierce forest fire has been
| raging in the pines and cedas near Oceanville In
the last twenty four hours several hundred acres OF
valuable timber have been destroyed During the day
the fire has been making rapid headway toward tho
village Of Oceanve That place is in danger of being
| residents. The house Of J. B. Carmen has been de
sir0yed 1t is the worst forest fire experienced in this
section OF NewJersey for twelve years or more Ih5
fire is believed to have been started by spark from
| locomotive.
Egg Harbor, N. J., April 80 cspeciaD-FOrest fires
have destroyed thousands OF dollars worth Of valu
able timber To-day the FIRE driven by heavy wind
swept the greater portion the city park consisting
Of over 400 acres Of heavy mher lny9lyng W los
lighting the flames but they forced oretea by the
intense heat and rapidly of It's progress and spread
| belonging to Peter Goeble. The alarms of the city
fire department summoned hundreds OF people TO assist
dwelling adjoining the mills was burned. and summer
| home valued at $4,000 belonging 10 MIR. Josin,
Piladelpnla utHlSycu
| A portion Of South jerseys best hunting grounds
| have been sacrificed apd rabbits and small game
perished in the flames The fires not under control
and are working their way rapidly 10 the farming
| district causing great anxiety
PleasantvIIe, n. j., April 3O.-A forest fire started
at Pomona at II a. IN. to-day. and burned over an
area Of five by seven miles Of standing timber. The
! flames ON reaching ConOvcrtOwn burst through the
pines on the west border Of the town and destroyed
about fifteen dwelling houses. stables and Outbuild
| ings with most Of their contents. The damage IS
| estimated ut $4,000.
Another fire started the woods tonight on tn.
outsrts of West Pleassntvie: 1nTning the house OF
Wesley Abbott The fire is still raging. The damage
by forest fires today is the greatest ever known IN
| Atlantic County.