The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-28
STORIES OF FORREST FIRES.
Bears Eatine FIsbes Bouea n ths ronas-
Snakes n the FIsu-es' vsn.

from me FtfsONiVh Dfpntcn. ID
Black Tears ~feasting on parboilcd hsh IL me
Of the sequels to the recent fires that ragged IN
the lumber districts Of central Pennsylvania.
John McCurry, who lives near Driftwood, tells
OF this strange incident in back woods life:
terrific fire had swept over a low-lying dis
trict about a half mile from the Susnuehama
River. devOaring the fallen hemlocks and un-
derbrusb with q fierceness that was startling.
The second day after the FIRE, when the ground
had become cool enough to allow traversing,
McCurry started into the burned district to look
after some park piles. He followed n deep ra-
vine for a mile or more. when his course
changed and he made his way In the
direction of the river. In May last, when
this stream overlooked its banks and the
twenty feet of extra water deluged the narrow
West Branch Valley. 1t formed lakes and ponds
where before had been dry land. In one par
ticular spot. which was much lower than tho
surrounding country, being naturally swanrv.
feet in depth. This water was kept auite fresh
by the constant accession made by n strong
hbremmcdW in ~ All sides by rRododendropn Dh swa Mns
hemlock, and water birch. In addition to tho
interest attached TO this pool because OF its very
fish. Lumhcrmen who stood nv its edge on sew
eral occasions snw the unmistakable movements
Of quite large fish In its murky depths. They had
been carried in with the strong sweep Of water
during the May flood, and were caught in the
Jaw Jaw the Tef tsh ~" declared Jared a that hHstot they we We're "e earn we of
This pond was directly in the wake of the. re.
cent forest fire, and It's botdcrs OF hcmloCk and
birch fed the flames in their mad race across
country. As Mct'urry nearcd the pond. but be-
fore he was in sight Of 1t. hts attention. was at
tracted by q low growing, much like the noise
made by z dog when EnawinE bones. Climbing
was now within fifty yards Of the pond. was
surprised to see two monster black bears huSily
engaged dcvouring something. at the waters
CHun N a Y fhn nniF NInA nUi1EnflN nGNntI nE
the others movements. for he. kept ny a con-
slant chattering as he chewcd at some white
was some time before McCurry could determine
what the bears feast consisted Of.
lunge into the water and waded carefully across
the pond to where something lay floating on the
surface. When bruin picked thu. object, up, Nc
wadcd back to shore and began deyouring his
prize: u was SOME time before the bears had
they shambled or across the burned district In
the direction OF greener lands much, 70 the
chaRrin or the Young woodsman.who aside from
,o MSh ,n the sGar, had aSo departed M,ho Me- made
tention. to the pond. He found on the surface Of
the little lake several dead fish. The water was
6 nrss q w i,sslT ~ snd HIN the r true ,S S,snsti a.. soon Sod
heated the water in the pond. to such a degree
that the fish died and foated to the top. The
bears In their meandcrings discovered this feast
of fish and helped themselves.
Another incident OF the recent forest fires in
tnp Ilne I retk region IL related by sam tnrpp-
bell. who works in the woods near Biackwehs.
sam. was one OF acrew OF men sent out to " back
fire" fight fire with fire.. and he declares that
their experience was most thrilling. While set
ting fire to IA thicket that crowned a rocky ridge.
he and his crew were startled to find themselves
suddenly in the midst OF a lot OF rattlesnakes.
The forest fire was advancing up the side. OF the
hill at a rapid rate. Its whfstling, whirring
sound as II devoured the hcmlock tops was ter
rifle, and the men were bent on building a line
OF fire to start toward II, hoping that when tho
subdued for lack of material on which TO feed.
countereG the snakes. The ground seemed to
be literally alive with rattlers. the reptiles
in the direction of a rocky blur not
all equipped with high-topped leather boots and
paid little heed to the snakes. stepping on them
as though they were but harmless old sticks.
Campbell says that the rafting made by the
reptiles could be heard above the roar OF tho
distant flames. The back fire" made by the
I Were i burned d To- death (. w When sr"W the names Gna 'a aGyy
vanced 50 close that the snakes saw further
escape was impossible, they would coil up in a
tongues of liame. then relapse, when the heat
them, a moment later to be devoured.
Campbell also tells OF a, strange sight which
he and his men saw on this trip. They were
crossing a strip of burned ground when the at
tention Of one OF the men was attracted by a
The crew stopped to investigate. About twenty
feet above the ground on a large limb near the
Of the tree sat q full-grown catamount,
sdvancing forest fire. TIE Kitten seemed almost
dead, while the parent cat" was apparently
swished her tail nervously to and fro and gazed
down at the men as they huddled around be-
come In contact with something soft. and glanc-
Ing down discovered the half burned body OF
kitten. The mother had evidently failed
~ having done so had lost her hold on one, and
he fell TO death In the fire below.