Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-11-24
THE CYPRESS SWAMP FIRE
How the Destructive Fires
Originated.
MANY THOUSAND DOLLARS LOST
The People Around Gumboro
Are Much Excited.
Story of the Origin of the Recent Cy-
press Swamp Fires--The Great Loss to
the Agricultural Population aud to
Timber Interests.
Special Correspondence Gazette and Journal.

Special Correspondence Gazette and journal.
LEwEs, Nov. 22.-The recent fires in
Cypress Swamp, Dagsboro hundred, this
county have been very disastrous to the
growing timber and land in that produce
tive agricultural section of our county.
For many years quantities of oak and
fallen timber have been embedded in the
low loose soil of the swamp, so that the
sap of the timber had many years ago de-
cayed leaving the heart OF the cypress TIM
Der several feet below the surface. This
timber is dug ont BY the shingle makers of
the swamps in the summer and fall seasons
and made into shingles, proving a very
profitable business to the owners of the
timber and laburers engaged in the work.
There has prevailed a custom for many
years to set The loose turf and trash of
which the surface of the ground is com.
posed for several feet on fire so that the
cypress logs could he discovered aud taken
out for the purpose above mentioned.
This is done in the summer when the
weather is hot and the ground is very dry,
the usual summer showers coming ON to
eXtinguish the fires before any serious
damage TO standing timber and other prop
erty occurs.
The past season in consequence of the
unusual drought prevailing the rains
which generally come did not mnterialize
and so the fire could not be controlled.
The fires were started about one mile west
of Frankford about July 18th last and
continued until the heavy rain storm Oc-
curing November 9th. The track of the
fire steadily heightened and widened until
its northern end reached near Millsooro
and its southern limit touched nearly the
Maryland line, while it extended from
near the town of Frankford, Dagsboro
hundred, westward, to point near Gum
borO.
The question of putting out the fire early
became a very serious one and soon re-
solved itself into one of personal safety as
well as the safety of farm houses and stock,
The lighting Of the fire by ditching and.
other appliances was kept up night and
day in some localities Tor some weeks.
Three tenant houses were burned and the
town of Frankford was at one time threat
ened with destruction.
The loose soil was burned in many
places to the depth of from three to six
feet which will render il sterile for MANY
years. Large tracts of live and growing
timber were burned over completely kill
ing the trees.
The amount OF damage has been esti-
mated at from 5000 to $1,000. The value
of injured ground bui ned over cannot be
| estimated and will amount to u loss in
production of several thousand dollars for
| number of wears. Hundreds of acres of
huckleberry bushes were destroyed which
will take some years to replace. The
amount realized yearly from this fruit
| gathered by the residents of the swamps
and shipped from stations on the 3. a +.
| railroad is quite large.
AT times during the fires the smoke was
| so dense that men Gt work shucking corn
could not see each other 10 feet apart,
extending as far north as l4ewes and at
times enveloping the track of d.. Nj. & V.
| railroad near Georgetown. SO that the
| fences along the track could not be seen.
Many thrilling scenes during the progress
OF the lire occurred and many We're fright
| ened from apprehensions of personal
| damage. No lives were lost and only a
few persons were slightly injured.
The remains OF George L. Pool who
| dicd in Philadelphia, on Saturday last were
| brought here on the noon train yesterday
! and inferred in the NJ. Il. cemetery. Mr..
| Pool was q native Of this place and for
merly taught school here. lie removed to
Philadelphia about 80 years ago and was
an experienced and expert bookkeepei in
one or two large wholesale grocery houses
for several years. He has been an invalid
| for 10 years. His age was 81 years and he
| was unmarried
| The reopenng of the NJ. t. Church here,
! which WAS 20 have taken place next sun
day 9th inst, has been postponed until
| December llIh.