The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-09

SmolderinG Fires That Brenk Forth in
Spells of Dry Weather.

Stretching south from Hackensack and hor-
dered by the New Jersey and New York Rail-
road on the west at the foot Of the ridge ex
tending north from Rutherford. is an extensive
eNpanso OF bog meadow known as Tho
RIsers." Why thus designated or why the
word is apparently in tho plural has never
been satisfactorily explained. In newspaper
printed in hackensack about forty years ago
the editor made this venture:
81 Its origin cannot be definitely traced. but
the name has existed for n large num-
Der of years. and was applied beyond
tho memory Of our Oldest inhubtHnt. In
some OF our old records the word is written
'Rysa.' 1t is said the named is derived from
the Dutch or Holland language and was origin
ally applied to the tall and rising bushes pacu-
liar to that soil. under the name OfrVsGS hence
we now have Ryser or Riser This derivation
some have gussed it was an Indian name. but q
guess m,ss that II was Chinese might be us well
The public road running along the ridge is
sill known as. roihy road. and Polny is given
in Dutch as bog meadow hence road Of he
iconoclasts called the road Terrnce avenue, but
ast month at the THst OF Edwpra Z Poor
land, the Hackonsack authorities. Ey formal
TSso,S9n The ancient
marched over IL on his retreat from Fort Lee.
and i is still bordered by several old stone
:, Bit Whatever there may be in the name. the
Kisers was; or were. at the period above quoted;
covered with a heavy growth of wood and
famous place for hunters ahounding in small
game. number Of oldest inhabitnnts," tell
remarkable tales OF trapping ra hbits and foxes
and OF sharing large birds III the Risers when
they were boys. The place was also a wonder
iuilhuckleberry patch and was rich In poison
Along in the ,nftes large par. OF the tract
saw money in the standn ans timer and began
T. convert it nto, cash. With the removal OF
the trees and bushes came movement to re-
claim the meadow 10y drainage, which was to
lature., This project failed, but, the meadows
began to dry up. aud an enterpr!sing foreigner
discovered that there was a good article of pent
in the hog. and he utilized 1t for fuel.
II was ABOUT ,M, this his time some thirty or more
apd every summer since the Riser lres have
become an annoyance to residents for soyera.
treme drought the fires burn nercely. the flames
lenping many feet into the air. and dense. clouds
tho landscape. On several, occas ions the south
wind has carried he smoke into Hackensack
IN such dense clouds that it resembled heavy
log and caused great annoyance to everybody.
The peculiar odor OF the smoke 10 such that the
native residents promptly detect it and explain
Rlsers ailre"
The fires now come so regularly with a dry
spel! . OF unusual Duration. but not entitled to
tho term drought. that many persons believe
they are never Quenchod. smouldernR many
feet beneath the surface. and breaking forth
as soon as there ID n lull in the operations Of
natures sprnkling cart.
In the early DAYS OF the recent drought
smoke began to ascend from the very heart of
the Risers. nearly q mile from any hahitatiOn.
and in places where men never venture. Dur
ing all he weeks Of high temperature and dry
atmosphere the Risers blaSed and smoked. and
1t required more than an ordinary shower to
temporarily subdue the flames to that coudt-
ton where the smoke ceased to rise like tho
vapor from hot springs. Even at the present
time the " Riser smell " is conspicuous for long
distances across country.
On the south the Risers are bounded hv
MoOnachie q dist rlct devoted TO truck farming
which II also carried on lesS extensively on the
| eastern border which is partly within the
corporate limits OF liackcnsAck. On several
occasions families whose homes encroach moro
closely upon the hogIand have been forced to
leave their humhl" hahitatons and seek safety
from the flames in flight.
IL Is said to be a life risk for any but one
familiar with the Risers to attenpt crossing
them IN the burnt section. Remarkable stories
are told Of the depth to which the fires have
penetrated. creatng immense beds OF ashes in
| when ordinary sized houses would sink from
| view.
Two years ago on effort was made to build @
| road across the most accessible par of h,
| Rsers. n stretch OF about one milo. hut work
| was stopped after expanding $1,000 filling ir
! with dirt and stones The road is used I'm dry
weather, being q shortcut TO Little Ferry. bu
| It Is by many considered extremely dangerous
! being supposed to be only II crust OF earth over
| the burning bog,