Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-08-24
many MILES on FLAMES
Alarming Progress of Forest Fires
in New Jersey.
EATDEsTRUCTIoN OF PROPERTY
1t IL Estimated That the Various Confa-
erafiops VIII Cause Damage Amounting
TO Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars.
The Supposed Work OF Incendiariea

1t IL Estimated That the Various Conna-
erations VIII Cause Damage Anountsns
to Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars.
Tho Supposed Work of Incendiaries-
CAPE MAY. Aug. ai.-A forest fire Gov
ering 200 acres of valuable timber is burn.
| ing betweeH Cape May Court House and
| Goshen. The residence and barn of George
Borton We're destroyed by the fire. A high
wind famed the flames all day, and the
| few farmers who are attempting to check
the progress Of the Gre have had little
success
1 Reports from other places in South Jer-
sey show that there arc many miles OF
flame sweeping onward. A terrible forest
fire has been raging in New Jersey since
Monday morning between Atco and Taun-
ton. How the fire broke out is not known.
but IL started close to Andersonville, and
has burned out thousands of acres of val
liable timber cranberry boys and tho
jackson meadows between that place and
Oak Knoll. Crowds of men from Med
ford and the hamlets in the vicinity OF the
flames have been fighting tho fire for
hours. The reports from the scene arc
meager, owing to its distance from tele-
graphic stations. but it is said the West
Jersey cranberry boys arc burned. Tho
fire spread to the extent of three miles,
burning every hing before it, houses,
barns and outbuildings and the cranberry
boys of Henry Thorn, Dr. Richard Brad
dock and Japhet Bowker.
There is the greatest feeling among the
people in the vicinity OF the fro. Huckle.
berries grow in abundance on burned
ground, and some of the cabin jewellers,
who make their living by picking berries.
it is said, occasionally set fire to bush
lands regardless of consequences, and it
is believed this fire is Of ineendiary origin,
and the citizens have appointed COM
mittee to inquire into the cause.
Joe Anderson, a charcoal burner. who
had just arrived from the scene of the fire,
was seen by reporter at Berlin. He said
the fire had mysteriously started near his
homo ut Andersonville, and that the cab
ms of several charcoal burners were de
stroyed, and that "A number of cranberry
boys had been burned over cntailing a
loss of many thousands of dollars. The
fire now threatens Oak Knoll, Crows
Foot and other hamlets, and everybody il
out fighting flames and trying to stop
their course by back firing.
A big forest fire is raging about fifteen
miles from Cape May. Tho corn crop is
in great danger, and will bedestroycd I'M
less rain puts out the fire.
Considerable valuable lumber in the
woods at Mays Landing is being burned
by forest fire. A big crowd OF men and
boys are fighting the flames to prevent the
fire from spreading to Mays Landing
proper, where the residences are located
Tho forest fire in the vicinity of Abse-
com is still burning Many of the men
who were called out of church on Sunday
to fight the flames arc still doing SC, but
the flames continue to spread
Tho forest fires which started near
Toms River on Sunday. and to which
but little attention was paid, are spread.
ing and now threaten serious loss. Mon
day night strong northwest wind sprang
up and the flames were driven towards
the farms along the Manchester pike and
threatened for hours to reach the farm
buildings. The farmers, aided by yolan-
teers, fought the fire all night. Three
hundred men worked throughout the
night in relays Valuable timber was
burned, but the efforts of the fighters
were entirely directed toward saving the
tlopo anu L ESlNTuhy inc Wlnu
shifted and the flames were driven to-
ward the Lakewood road, but not toward
the village. II the wind holds 1t win carry
the flames into the extensive cranberry
boys, which are dry and will burn
The fires near Egg Harbor City are still
burning fiercely and have more Roadway
than at any time before despite the fact
that hundreds are fighting the flames. The
flames are now headed directly toward
Mckee City, and there are many houses
in the path. A drcnching rain is about
all that will save eight or ten buildings
which are in the way Entertainments are
being thrown up in places to stay the
fire
1t is estimated that the various forest
fires will do damage amounting to hun
drcds Of thousands OF dollars.