The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-08-21
MANY MILES or FLAMES.
Alarming Progress of Forest Fires
in New Jersey.
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY

IL Ts Estimated That the Various Confla-
grations WIN Cause Damage Amounting
to Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars.
The Supposed Work of Inoendiaries.
CAPE MAY. Aug 21-A forest fire Gov
ering 200 acres of valuable timber is burn.
ing between Cape May Court House and
Goshen The residence and barn of George
Borton were 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 fire have had little
success.
Reports from other places in South Jer
sey show that there are many miles of
lame 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 bogs and the
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 the fire for
hours. The reports from the scene are
meager, owing TO its distance from tele-
graphic stations, but it is said the West
Jersey cranberry bogs are burned. The
fire spread to the extent of three miles,
burning everything before it-houses,
barns and outbuildings and the cranberry
bogs of Henry Thorn, DIR. Richard Brad
dock and Japhet Bowker.
There is the greatest feeling among ths
people in the vicinity of the fire. Huckle.
berries grow in abundance on burned
ground, and some of the cabin dwellers,
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 incendiary origin,
and the citizens have appointed com
mittee to inquire into the cause.
Joe Anderson, 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
home at Andersonville, and that the cab
ins of several charcoal burners were de-
stroyed, and that number of cranberry
bogs had been burned over, entailing a
loss of many thousands of dollars. The
fire now threatens Oak Knoll, Crow g
Foot and other hamlets, and everybody is
out fighting flames and trying to stop
their course by back firing.
A big forest fire is raging about fifteen
miles from Cape May The corn crop is
in great danger, and will be destroyed un-
less rain puts out the fire.
Considerable valuable lumber in the
woods at Nays 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
The 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 are still doing SO, but
the flames continue to spread.
The forest fires which started neal
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 sprane
| up and the flames were driven towards
| the farms along the Manchester pike anC
! threatent@ for hours to reach the farm
/ buildings The farmers, aided by volun
teers, fought the fire all night. Three
| hundred men worked throughout tht
night in relays Valuable timber wa
| burned, but the efforts of the fighters
were entirely directed toward saving the
crops and buildings. Yesterday the wine
shifted, an' the flames were driven to
ward the Lakewood road, but not TOWARD
the village. If the wind holds it will carry
the flames into the extensive cranberry
bogs, which are dry and will burn.
The fires near Egg Harbor City are still
burning flercely and have more headwa!
than at any time before despite the fac
that hundreds are fighting the flames. Th
flamss are now headed directly toward
Mckee City. and there are many house
in the path. A drenching rain is abou
all that will save eight or ten building
which are in the way. Embankments ar
being thrown up in places to stay tn
fire.
1t is estimated that the various fores
fires will do damage amounting to hur
dreds of thousands of dollars.