The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-19
FlERCE FOREST FIRES
Are Raging In All Parts Of New
England.
A HEAVY RAIN NEEDED TO PRE-
VENT GREAT PROPERTY LOSS.
Beautiful Lake Walden a Victim of the

Beautiful Lake Walden Victim of the
Flames-City of Calais Surrounded by
Girdle of F1ames-Many Other Places
Suffering From Same Cause.
Concord, Mass, May 18.-Fire started
this noon In the woods surrounding Lake
walden, and was one of tho feroest ever
known here. It burned over more than
one thousand acres Of woodland and de-
stroyed hundreds of cords of wood. The
stately pines that sheltered the site of
Thoreau's hermitage on the shore Of
Lake Walden were destroyed. and the
beautiful park way, owned by Mrs. W.
II. Forbes was burned over. The extreme
drought of the month and high wind of
today made it impossible to do much
more than protect the buildings located
near the woods, many of which were in
danger. Some outbildings were con-
sumed. The fire crossed Walden street,
Sandy pond and the old Cambridge turn
pike, and burned through Lincoln to the
Lexington line. Some of the principal
losers in Concord are the estate of the
late Ralph Waldo Emerson and Z. T.
Wood.
| Plymouth, Mass, May 1S.-Another
| disastrous forest fire has been rigging all
| day in the woods west of this village.
| strong wind is sweeping the flames down
toward the town. The fire enoroached on
the clearings and ran over part of ST.
Ioseph's Catholic cemetery. The fire
| at IN RrnvVn'G
branch making way toward the settle
ment of Oakridge.
Havelhill, Mass, May 1S.-A serious
forest fire occurred in the east section of
this town this afternoon. The fire caught
near County BRIDGE" on land owned by
George G. Elliott, and spread rapidly
eastward. The blaze was extinguished
after several hours of hard work. About
| fifty acres of land were burned over and
many pine and other trees were de-
stroyed, also three hundred cords of
| wood. Loss about $500.
Peabody, Mass, May 1s.-Disastrous
forest fires burned over miles of wood
land In West Peabody this afternoon and
evening. At one time eight fires were
burning in as many different places. It
is feared that the fire will destroy every
thing in its path from Lynnfield Centre
to Peabody town farm, before it burns
out. Hundreds of cords of cut wood were
consumed and several small henneries
4 and outbuildings near farm houses. One
fire has burned all the way down from
North Andover, has crossed Newburyport
and Boston turnpike in this town and
is shifting around towards the Lynn
| woods.
South bingham, Mass, May 1S.-The
forest fire which has bean raging here for
several days started in with renewed
vigor to-day. Hundreds Of acres of
valuable woodland have been burned
over. An army of men hos been fighting
the fire all day. 1t has not burned as
far as the Norwel1 line. This afternoon
the fire burned the house owned by Mrs.
Hines. Her household goods were totally
destroyed. 1t is the worst forest fire
which has visited this town in years. The
loss to woodland will amount to several
thousand dollars.
| Gloucester, Mass, May 19-After work
ing all day, the department. succeeded in
checking the fire in West Gloucester
woods from spreading to valuable
estates me near by and destroying any build
400 and 500 acres, much of which is
valuable timber land.
Reading, Mass, May 1S.-One of the
most extensive forest fires that has 90
CURED here for a number of years is
burning in this vicinity. The fire started
near the Wohurn line and burned down
through Wilmington, Reading, North
nearly eight miles. A large amount of
wood was destroyed. A number Of acres
of forest, fences and other property were
destroyed by the flames and tonight it is
raging as fierce as ever. 1t is report ed
that one house and several outbuildings
were destroyed. At late hour the ire
was under control. Two houses and a
barn at Lynnfleld were burned.
North Reading, Mass. May 1s.-Seven
houses, two barns were burned by the
forest fire today. Loss over $780, 600. About
a. m, brush fire startod the flames
which high wind carried to every part
of the woods which were as dry as tinder.
Nearly every man in town responded to
the alarm, but in spite of their labors,
the spread of the flames was rapid.
Manchester, N. H., May 1S.-Lack of
rain is causing serious damage in this
vicinity Firemen have been busy all day.
extinguishing forest fires in the suburbs
and at Massabesio. Acres of woodland
were burned Half of the Amoskeag
mills were closed this afternoon because
of low water. Other mills will be
affected If the rain does not soon come.
Calais, Me-, May 1S.-A heavy shower
last night checked the fires which have
been raging ON all sides the past week.
| II unUreuS Oh men nave peeu uSnulnB
them the last four days, to keep them
from the settlements along tina railroad
and river. Last evening there was almost
a complete circle around the city in some
places the flames coming within four
miles Of City hall. Unless heavy rain
comes very soon nothing but the river
will check the spread Of the flames.
Parkersburg. W. Va. May 1s.-Forest
} fires in the vicinity of Davis have been
raging more than fifty hours. The loss
exceeds $500, 600. The indications are
: that the entire country, including towns
, and villages will be destroyed unless rain
prevents. Families are fleeing from their
mountain homes Most of the tract is
thu property of Matte and McLure OF
Pittsburg.