Evening journal., 1895-09-14
JERSEY FOREST FIRES.
Egg Harbor City Threatened
With Destruction.
MILES OF FORESTS ARE ABLAzE
A Trains wild Dash Through Walls o
Flamo-The Passengers Crouched on th,
Floor as Tongues of Fire Leaped Through
the Windows.

ATLANTIC CITY, Sept. 1i.-Forost flr@
are again raging in this vicinity, and 6
vast amount OF valuable timber has beer
destroyed. The fire began at Riga, short
distance from Baron Hirsch's Hebrew col.
ony. Several narrow escapes from deatf
are reported in the outlying sections, ano
10 Is feared the place will bo destroyed.
The train containing the officials OF the
county court and large number Of law
yors and litigants dashed through the
blaze. Engineer Connolly supposed that
the arca Of fire along the tracks was not sc
great as it turned out TO bo, and the result
was that every car was blistered and tn,
woodwork charred. The passengers threw
themselves prostrate ON the floor OF the
cars and remained in this position until
they were out Of danger. They could hear
the glass in the windows crack.
Engiaeer Connolly put on an extra hea0
Of steam as the train approached the flames
and dashed through them, although sOmC
OF the passengers tried to persuade the
conductor 60 stop tho train rather than
make such foolhardy attempt. Engineer
Connolly was determined, however, and
nc ran his train through.
Ono Of the passengers said that the sus.
pcnso was terrible, and that the situation
cannot bo fully appreciated by person
who has not had the actual experience.
He says that while he and the other pas.
songors We're lying ON the floors of the car.
they could hear the glass I'm the window,
crack, and that once several panes fell out
entirely.
Tho flames came through tho window,
Ike the tongues of giant sorpents, snarl.
ing and Kissing Tho heat was something
terrific and the black penetrating smok,
Of the blazing pine, imprognatod strongly
with pitch, was almost suifooating
Although only 80 seconds elapsed from
the time that the train entered the flame.
until it emerged, those who were aboard
of it do not care for the experience again
Flames Overiake a Woman.
Jacob Seaman. wealthy cigar dealer
OF Philadelphia, went to RoeRa TO look al
some ground with view to purchasing
He was in an open field and the flame
cropt upon him SO steadily and with suol
great rapdity that he was obliged 90 ruI
for his life. Mrs. Mary Maratsky lived in
an humble dwelling which she had built in
"a clearing of the woods enrly In the sum
mcr.
She saw the forest flames approaching
A'i ANNA' H'AAA' tNAN AAHftNA'A WANH Aff' ANNi
of saving few Of her household effects
and her dress caught Ere AS she ran Chi
breeze famed her garments into flames
She was terribly burned and had TO h
takon to the city for treatment.
A number of narrow escapes are report
ed. last night there was no sign OF IN
fires abating, and, II the wind does no
die out, today may furnish tale of dcy
/ nafnfipu lnrnfaforn unnuaulod iu tln his
tory of forest fires IN the state
A mile from Egg Harbor City the foros
IL all ahaze and the situation Is NOR
dangerous now than &c has been at an.
time during tho summon, for there ha
been no rain In weeks. The timber Is a
dry as though It had been In a kiln. Tn
wind Is high. with no sign of ahating
It Is impossible TO see the sky on nocoun
of the dense clouds of black smoke tina
hang like a pail over the city The pictur
is magnificent TO one who can hchold
calmly, bat the people whose livos an'
property are in danger are awe stricken.