The Portland daily press., 1900-07-02

spreading. Some of the fremen when
not engaged in carrying hose or relaying
the lines, were engaged in figh ting the
flames with juniper bushes and the like
and did very effective service in that way.
The men worked hard all the forenoon
and at noon the fire was still raging and
by this time about thirty acres of wood
land had been burned over. Some of this
land was the same that was burned over
year ago, but for the most part the fire
seemed to charge out a new course for it.
self. Several times the wind in changing
temporarily famed the blaze in an OPP
posite direction from which it had been
directed, and the appearances were that
the fire would work its way back into
the center of the island, in which event
several cottages would be endangered.
Fortunately the wind did not remain
long in that direction and the blaze was
again famed back into the woods and in
the direction Of the back side of the isl
and. At noon the fremen were furnished
with a lunch of sandwiches and hot
coffee. The boys continued to fight the
fire along into the afternoon and the
prospects are that the fire, now that it has
become well started, win continue to burn
for perhaps week.
Considerable difficulty was experienced
at the commencement of the fire as the
hose was weak and would not stand the
pressure and kept breaking out in
places.
After working without cessation the
firemen finally at about seven O'Clock in
the evening managed to get the fire ur-
der control. But the flames were by no
means extinguished up to midnight Sat.
urday evening when Captain Hodgdon,
who had charge, stated that Engine
would probably remain at the island all
night and that it would take 2I hours
more before all damage had passed.
1t has been a fierce fire., said Cap
tain Howe of the fire boat. sit got
good start before we had arrived on the
scene and on account of the thickness of
the woods there has been a great deal of
difficulty in getting at it. These woods
are closely grown together and the Won
der is that even a rabbit could get through
them. But we have kept right at our
work and tonight can say that we have
made excellent progress. The only way
to do has been to meet the fire and 60 pre-
vent it from spreading up towards the
hill. This we have done. The tract of
woodland which we have been through
and in the most of which the fire has
been raging must cover six or seven hun
bred acres. We have used up part OF
nine lines of hose. The cottagers and
other people on the island have Of course
been no little alarmed over the condi-
tions but since we have been putting in |
our work all fear that the fire would be |
communicated to any houses has been |
dispelled. At no time in fact has there |
been any danger of any cottages being
caught and everybody on the island can
rest perfectly easy tonight"
EARLY in the evening Assistant David /
S. Ray Of the department went down to
the island and made thorough investi-
cation of the state of affairs He followed
the entire length of the hose, passing
hr ough the dense thickets and over the
rocks and lodges About 1900 feet OF
hose had been laid, the most that has
been used in any confagration by the de-
partment of Portland for many years
Assistant Ray was much pleased with the
work Of the firemen in layin 6 the line of
hose through this rough piece Of terrific
ry. He was also gratifled with the excel
lent order that had prevailed in fighting
the progress of the fire. At intervals Of
some twenty or thirty feet over the course
Of over q mile between the fire boat and
the end of the line of hose, one or two
men were stationed SO as to be ready to
pull the line back and forth. These m en-
them were from the city. They had gone
down to the island early in the forenoon
and remained steadily at their work dis
playing the utmost grit and determine
ton, At noon lunches were brought to
them from III. [. Bsackett, the proprietor
OF restaurant on the island