The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-05-06
RAVAGED BY FLAMES.
Millions of Feet of Timber
Destroyed.
Several Towns in Immi-
nent Danger.
The Fires Still Defy Efforts 20
Check Them.
New Jersey and Pennsylvania
Forests Suffer Badly.
No Lives Have Been Lost So Far as
Yet known.
No Lives Have Been Lost So Far as
Yet known.

PLEAsANTvILLE, \. J.. April 30.-The
fercest and most disastrous fire on record
in Atlantic county for thirty years is rag
ingtodsy in the vicinity OF Conoverton and
Republic and the heavens are IL
Illuminated like noon day. This morn
ing the pines in the neighborhood
of the places mentioned took fire from
spark from an engine. The heavy west
erly wind which was blowing at the time
famed the blaze and the flames soon
spread to the large pines. and in a short
tune the whole forest south OF Pomona
was like raging furnace.
The air is filed with smoke and fiying
sparks. Amid the roaring OF the rushing
flames could be heard the thunder of the
falling pines and oaks. The path of the
fire steadily widened and the flames
spread in several directions completely
enveloping the cedar swamps.
BY a change of the wind the town of
Abesecomb was saved from destruction,
but the fire was turned from its Old path
into the midst OF some of the most valua-
bic young timber in this section. Grad
wards ConovertOn and by zoe Ock this
afternoon had reached the outskirts of the
town.
What few men were in town seized
branches, sticks or shovels and hurried to
the wOOds-hardiv knowing where they
were going or what they were going for.
a panic had ensued among the women in
the town. They rushed about madly
and asked each other what they
should do. The fire had driven the men
who were fighting it back almost 10 their
own doors. Finding their efforts to get the
fire under control useless the men turned
their attention 10 their homes.
The flames at this time were not over a
quarter OF mile distant. Il did not take
long to remove their household goods
across the street and down into
the open fields. None too
soon was this accomplished,
as the fire burst out OF the woods and ig-
nighted the houses. which were soon re-
duced t. ashes. y strong westerly wind
allied in the destruction.
All the wooded land in the direction of
the Shore road was burned over; the fire
worked its way in a northerly direc-
ton. About o'clock the wind
had gone down, which assisted the
efforts made to get the fire under control.
still it was hard work, the water being
scarce and many OF the men out in the
bay clam and oyster dredging. The fire
gradually worked its way to the town OF
Port Republic.
1t is estimated that the loss in timber
alone will exceed 100000. The fol-
lowing is known to be included in
the destroyed properly: W Getz's house
and furniture; Fred Getz, one horse and
stable with contents; Charles Mathes,
stable and contents: Turner Smith, house
and household goods. About dark fire
broke out Just west of Pleasantvlle.
West PleasanUvilie is now $3.50 D. M
surrounded by fire.
MILLvILIE, y. j., April 30.-Bailevtown,
which WAS completely surrounded by the
forest flames Tuesday and Yesterday. has
not yet been heard from, but it is thought
10 be all right, as the few people who re-
side there have had great deal of exne-
rience with such fires and have undoubt-
edly saved themselves by back-firing.
The smoke from these fires has been so
great as to obscure the sun in many sec
tons. Farmers coming into town
state that they drove for miles
through clouds of dense smoke
through which they had TO grope
their way, although thev were miles from
the fire. A damage of SS5-u00 TO timber is
already reported here. One fire has al
ready burned over 1000 acres.
\ fire was started in the forest below
the Williamstown junction on the At
lantic City railway this morning. Hun
dreds of acres of wood have
been destroyed, but most of the
farm houses were saved. Toward
evening the fire divided and tonight the
main branch is burning furiouslv in the
neiehborhood of Hayes mill near Atco.
ing the flames and endeav0ring
to save the buildings in their
course. The other branch of the fire is
sweeping through the avenues in Chisel-
hurst The section men on the railroad have
been fighting the fire all the afternoon. and
residents are fatigued and discouraged.
A fire above Crew Road destroyed thou
sands of acres of woods and big scope of
cedar swamp early this morning. This
town ami surrounding towns are covered
with cloud OF black smoke. 1t is rumor-
ed that thirteen houses were destroyed
near Absecon today.
READING, Pa, April 30-Destructive
fires are still raging on Blue mountain.
Fire on South mountain has covered an
area six miles long by two miles wide.
The air is still flied with dense smoke.
ST. CLAIR, Pa. April 3C.-Broad noun
tain is on fire above this place. as is also
the mountain behind it. The flames have
already covered a wide area and are
spreading rapidly. The atmosphere is
dense with smoke.
A disp atcn from Bellefontane, Pa, says:
The forest fires continue to rage in
this vicinity with most destruc-
tive fury. Millions of feet of valuable
timber have already been DESTROYED and
it is reported here today that every saw
mi on the mountains between Belle
fon,aine and Lewisburg have been
burned"