The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-04
Men, Women and Children
Run for Their Lives.
The Scene Drove Terror to the Hearts
of the Inhabitants.
Fire still Burning Fiercely and Wall
liable Property Swept Away.

BRADFORD, Pa, June 4.-Elk County
has experienced a number OF destructive
forest fires, but those of Sunday and yes
terday surpass them all. The fire at Rus
sell City last night was one that drove
terror to the hearts of the five hundred
persons who inhabit the place.. At 10
O'Clock brisk west wind sprang up
and famed the burning underbrush
and timber into one solid mass of fire,
covering a stretch OF three miles in width.
The people were about exhausted from
fighting the flames for the past three
days, and were forced to flee for their
lives.
The flames spread so rapidly that the
people had to leave everything and run to
the clearing, two miles distant, to High
land Corners.
Many women fell exhausted and were
trampled on, but reached Highland
in safety. Nothing Is left of the
once hustling little place. The
fire is still burning fiercsly
among the oil wells. The Northern Oil
Company have 20 oil wells and a number
of tanks burning at this place now, and
there is no abatement of the
fury OF the flames. 1t il
impossible to estimate the loss. The
woods leading to Ciark's mills are one
mass of flames on both sides Of the
road and how the people who lived
along the road could have escaped
is beyond comprehension. There is no
communication of any description with
this place and no news Is obtain
able but there is no doubt
of everything having been burned
in the path of the fire, as there was no
protection OF any kind. Every available
man is out fighting fire.
There is fire in every direction and all
efforts to check it's progress seem
futile. Coon Run, three miles
from Russell City, which was
wiped out yesterday, was y entirely
obiiterated. The place consisted OF 27
buildings, pump station, schoolhous.
and sawmill. A. b. Fowler, superin-
tendent of the Northern Oil Company
says while he ard his men were at work,
"backing fire." a sitting breeze came up
as il by magic, and in less than the time
it takes TO tell it, the fire was upon them.
They ran 10 the town and aroused the
people to flee for their lives. Men, women
and children made a wild race for the
railroad track, distance of Ave miles,
while the flames played havoc with be-
longings. ft
The Northern Oil Company lost 30 Of
its wells at this place, and large num-
ber of camp rigs that had been
built for new wells. About 20
tanks OF oil were consumed
lent energy to the flames. Tho Elkerton
Company also are heavy losers. The pipe
lines lost both their pumping
stations, with quantity of
crude oil. The loss will be
very great. No estimates can be made
until the fires abate. The fire at West
Kane, which threatened the de-
struction Of that place, Ia
now under control. The damage
done was the burning OF nine oil well
rigs owned by the Griffith estate, one
engine honse, one dwelling house. The
fire reported at Knapp's Creek
is still raging and baS
done n large amount OF damage. Inc uro
has spread to Bells Camp, and 35 of It's
wells are now on fire. Reports from
Duke Centre, state that the entire valley
is on fire and the loss to the lumbermsn
will be enormous.
Kansas Branch, It is feared, Davis City,
Summit City, Dallas City, Oil Valley,
Limestone, State Line, Derrick City
and Red Rock are all In
IL, and unless rain falls soon there n no
telling what the result will BE-
The sky Is black with smoke and the
mountains are invisible on all
sides and the heat is in
tense. Not an idle man can be found.
Nothing has been learned from West
Branch, where brisk hrs
Is burning. Everything st
Sugar Run, including sawmills and DWELL
ings, were burned, and nothing remains
OF the place. The fire at Brookston is still
burning fierooly, and there is no prospect
of controlling tho spread Of tho flames. IL
Is impossible to get more men, and the
6re a. N, akin0 sanid pYoOress.