Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-05-07
MILES OF FOREST FIRES.
Trees Ablaze Near Reading and in Vari-
Gus Parts of New Jersey


READING, Pa, April S0.-The forest fires
in this section of the state have destroyed
thousands of dollars worth of valuable
timber. The fires on the mountain in the
vicinity of Reading have been subdued,
but destructive fires are still raging on the
Blue Mountain. The fires on the South
Mountain covered an acre six miles long
by two miles wide. A number of farm
buildings were endangered but heroic
efforts saved them. The air is still filled
with dense smoke The fires originated
through the carlessness of men and boys,
and from the sparks of locomotives.
MLLy1LLE, n. j., April 3O.-Three of
the big forest fires which have been raging
i'll this locality are out and the other two
are thought to be under control. The
damage done cannot he fully estimated
until the smoke has cleared away, so that
the owners can go over the properties.
Careful estimates tonight of the fire
which has ragged since MOnnay, southwest
OF this city places the loss at $4,000, di-
yided among about thirty property owners.
The two fires in the direction of Beaver
Dam, which blended with the Rosenhayn
confiagration, yesterday burned over seven
thousand acres, and the aggregate loss will
reach S25,OUO. This fire was started by
burning brush, and the people whose
tracts have been devastated are indignant
at the Clreessness, and threaten legal
measures The New Jersey laws on this
subject are particularly severe. Bailey
town, which was completely surrounded
by the forest flames Tuesday and
yesterday, has not yet been heard from,
but is thought to be all right as the few
people who reside there, have had great
deal of experience with such fires and have
undoubtedly saved themselves by back
firing. The smoke from these fires has
been so great US to obscure the sun in
state that they drove for miles through
clouds Of dense smoke, through which
they had to grope their way, although
they were miles from the fire. These fires
will pass into local history as the largest
and mos devastating that have ever visited
South Jersey.
WATERFORD, N. j., April 30.-A fire was
started in the forest below the Williams
town junction ON The Atlantic City rail
road this morning. Hundreds of acres of
wood have been destroyed, and il was
with the greatest difficulty that several
farmed houses were saved. Toward even
ing tho fire divided and tonight the main
branch is burning furiously In the neigh
borhood Of hay and mill near Acto. Hun
dreds Of men are out lighting the flames
and endeayoring to save the buildings in
its course. The other branch of the fire is
sweeping through the avenues in Chisel
hurst, but is now confined to the woods.
A number Of houses we're saved with diff
Guilty.
The section men on the railroad have
been lighting the fire all the afternoon,
and the residents are fatigued and dis
couraged. The fire above Grew Road,
which destroyed thousands of acres of
small woods aud d big scope of cedar
swamps early this morning, is now under
control. This town and the surrounding
towns are covered with cloud of black
smoke 1t is rumored that Ii houses were
destroyed near Absecon to-day.