Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-10-17
FIGHTING FOREST FEps
Methods Used by Farmers =. -,
Their Devaxtatfns- NuscE

hethods Used by Farmers r.
Their Devas tating Purv. ch
There are precious few citv -,
who know just what a fores, FeopH
and what tough Job it is IN 80, 1'o
such flames as have been lighted ~ =
pennsylvania and Michigan II =
says the New York Recorder ,r,
smoke Is suffocating in It's dens,.- -
II Is blown by the wind before NJ
vancing fire-by a wind that mo- w
any minute change and carry ~.
DANES in another direction N 5ara'
tate homes which have been tbonrI,
safe from its fury.
The woodmen and farmers 49,,
have cleared small tracts in the a,I
derness are working, 6ybtinq -
Cling to vanguish the foe. II isaba,
tie to defend the home from invssio.
by an enemy who knows not pitv ava
whose onward march is blacllens5 ~
ruins such as no conqueror ever le.
behind his advancing army Tbar
know not the drills and system q,
regular tiremen and have no fire an
glnes or hose, generally no water n
help them in the ray, but they wors
to better advantage than could n.
most proficient fire company used -
city fires. 1t is like frontiersmss
lighting Indians who put to blush ~
most efficient soldier. A captain /,
chosen to direct the struggle. He "a
generally a landed proprietor n,
while woOdmen are eager TO follow
they fear to lead in the heroic meas.
ures which are often necessary. such
as back-tiring on the timber that is a,
yet unscathed by the flames. Besides
such man has feet horse which
hearing the ominous roar of aameN
can run mile after mile ia terrific
haste bearing warnings and commands
10 outlaying detachments and al such
time minute saved often deter-
mines the fate Of communities He
Is too, an experienced forester He
knows where the streams run and tbs
wood roads lie; where the trees GROW
In tangled thickets and In omen -.
lands where clearing have been made
and where In cedar swamps the fire
will reach its b cry tongue sllyward.
licking up as it rushes on, their tail
swaying tops with fury that mortal
power Q" cunning can not stay.
The leader does not pause long after
assuming command. Already he has
thought over the ground and has de-
cided on the road or brook where the
fire must be stopped. In bis hurried
ga!lop to the scene he has watched the
rising smoke columns and with his
trained eye divided the width and
distance of the flames. Quickly he
finds out who have brought shovelE
with them. These he dispatches with
oroers to dig a way through the strip
OF untrodden forest that is ignited be-
hind them on the side next the fire.
Then other men with axes are set TO
cutting brushes OF cedar hemlOck and
pine which are used by boys and the
men who have come unprovided with
means of fighting IN beating out the
flames that leap the eartn barrier uuo
threaten to destroy the very woods
they were kindled to save. Sometimes
they spread too fast to be quenched
and then the fre-fghters must beat
retreat and recommence their work
miles distant in advance OF the new
fire.
When the couuter-fire is successful
1t burns against the wind. slowly ad-
vancing to meet the other. As soon
as it has burned far enough TO secure
that safety of the woods in its rear tho
fre-fghters, leaving it unmatched con
tinue the work of counter-firing until
a. last two blazing belts of equal
width are burning toward each cc7er.
The smoke is dense "a the heaviest
fog, and a roar like Tire surf on a rock
pound coast fills the ears with its
1read noise No other sound save the
loarse cries of the workmen is heard
he birds have flown away and the
A9rrilied animals scamper into the
rhickets beyond.