The Portland daily press., 1899-07-06

Peaks islands. BY means OF q. dory two
lines Of hose were then brought on shore
and carried mp the beach where they were
connected with the lines which had been
stretched ON shore. One Of these lines
was taken up over the ridge behind the
Tolman group Of cottages and the work
OF drowning out the Gre In these woods
continued. The other line Of boss under
the charge OF Assistant Engineer Hodg.
don and Capt Parker Of Ladder Q, was
taken up by the ruins OF the Chapman
house and thus into the woods. The fire
had BY this time cleared out the woods
all around the Chapman house, burning
the heavy growth Of spruce trees TO 8
crisp snd had gone tearing along towards
the thicker growth beyond.
some three or four hundred feet from
the Chapman house was the cottage Of
Mr.. Kennedy Of Hyde Park, Mass. This
cottage stands right in the thickest part
Of the woods with only small clearing
around It. Here about O'Clock the fire.
men made a stand and succeeded by hard
and very hot work in preventing the de-
struction Of this building, which was un-
occupied. The fire having stopped in this
locality the iiremen proceeded to drown
il out by giving the woods for square
mile In extent drenching which 10 has.
not had this year. In fact this whole ex-
tent Of territory was made into perfect
uuag mire OF mud. for 1t Is In this way
that one Of these fires can be stopped in
suoh dry weather as We have had for the
past season. The fire scorchsd the out
buildings of the Kennedy cottage and APP
preached dangerously near the cottage it,
self, but the tremen kept the buildings
we'll wet down SO that the flying sparks
could do no damage.
THE FANNY G. TAKES A HAND.
About O'Clock the tow boat. Fanny g.,
which is equipped with strong pumps.
arrived and gave to the fire boat much
needed supply Of fresh water for her boil
srs. Then by the orders Of Chief Eldridge
she was moored astern of the fire boat and
sent line of hose on shore. This was
taken up into the woods near the first
stream and the little tow boat then pro-
decided 70 show what she could do In the
way of pumping water. Her, efforts were
a surprise to many as the stream she
forced through the long line of hose was
almost as strong as one Of those from the
fire boat. With these three streams the
work went briskly forward. For acres
around this section where the fire has
done so much damage the woods were
drenohed, the dry earth absorbing the wat
er almost as fast as ID could be pumped
through the pipes.
Ii
IL this time" said Chief Eldridee about
8 O'Clock when the firemsn were begin
ming to think they had been working
long enough. I'VE win give this IRE a
quietus that will set the minde Of the
cottAgers here at rest for d time. II 1t
takes week to do it.
And 20 the fire boat and her consort,
the Fanny g. continued to pump water
through the long line of hose which were
laid IN aud out ahsonsh the blackened
tree trunks faRflnto the night and the
tired firenep inued to haul the hose
around oyg pugh glound with only
srcs sssnt Vas the generous GOTTA.
a and with very little rest.
OTHER FIRES RAGING.
About o'clock fire started in the
woods fully half mile to the windward
OF the fire about the Chapman house in
the thick woods near the shore. Hardly
had this fire got well under way when
still another fire broke out an eighth OF
mile still further, towards Cushing's
island. These fires were evidently of
incendiary origin. 1t is the belief of the
island people that they were started by
some malicious persons who delight In
this excitement they cause among the
jewellers In the summer homes on the
island. These fires were both ON the land
owned by Mr.. Braokett. who lives In
Gardiner and at first were very near the
shore. The woods at these points are very
thick. the dry brush and fallen trees COW
ers the ground TO the depth of several
inches. Dense black smoke whirled
skyward from these fires which worked
rapidly inland and along the shore to-
wards the Chapman house. The only
cottages they endangered last night were
those Of Mr.. Gould which stands near the
shore not far from the Chapman house,
and the cottage of Mrs. Christopher Way,
which had narrow escape from destruc-
uon TWO years ago 1t was impossible
for the fremen to do anything towards
extinguishing these fires last night and
they continued to burn fiercely through
the night. The wind was fortunately
blowing from southwesteriy direction
greater part of the evening. but about
midnight II began to swing around to the
east driving the fire before it towards the
centre OF the island. This endangered
many cottages far from the scene of the
fires on the back Of the island as the
sparks are carried long distance by the
wind and everything is as dry as tinder..
Before these fires reach the outskirts OF.
the cottage district it is-iikely that the
fire boat and the Fanny q. will be moved
up the shore of the island towards til g
southern end and will then be able to be-