Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1900-05-03
local CORRESPONDENCE

During Friday and Saturday last the east
ern slope of Big Piny Mountain was laid
bare by one of the fiercest and most destruc-
tive fires that has ever visited this region OF
country for half century. Including fenc-
ing. and every inhamable thing, from the
western border OF the farms of Leonard and
William Flohr, Z. N Gall Jacob Eigenbrode,
John Root and Josiah Flohr to the summit
OF the mountain was eaten up by the angry
flames, and now the scenery of Piny Noun.
tain Slope, with its rock beds and cliffs, shorn
timber and net work of wagon roads and by
ways may be reckoned unto that of the pres
ent day Palestine. Those owning land in
the burnt district are Leonard and William
Flohr, Mrs. E K. Rouzer, Jacob Willet, ST.
mon Weller, J. w. Creeger, G. N. Gall, ia
cob Egenbrode, J. r. Stoner, John Root,
Daniel Zentz, James Kielhollz. E. A. Fry,
Josiah Flohr, F. N. Wihlde and others
Those sustaining loss aside from standing
timber and fencing are VIM. Flohr, lot of
posts and rails; Jacob Eigenbrode, about 70
cords of fire wood and cords of single
wood j. W. Creeger, locust and chestnut
posts; james Kielhotz, 8 cords of wood; E
A Fry, $50 rails, G. N. Gall, 40 cords wood;
r. Stoner, 100 cords wood rails and posts;
D. w. Zentz, 40 cords wood; Josiah Flohr,
Let rails, and F. n. Wilhide. 60 cords wood
and lot of posts and rails The property
and losses mentioned are confined to that
portion of the scourged district extending
from Leonard Flohrs to- the north eastern
limit of Josiah Flohr's farm, at which point
the progress of the flames along the base of
che mountain was checked, but further up
the fire extended on into Eylers valley. 1t
was with great difficulty that Mr.. Shindle.
decker's dwelling was prevented from burn.
ing. and so uneasy was the family Of Mr.
Jacob Elgenbrode that they removed furni-
ture from the dwelling and provender from
the barn. Next in most danger from the
fire was Mr., Roots barn. Fortunately, all
were saved
A splendid roadway has been opened lead.
ing from East Main st. direct 10 our FIGURING
mill. This, the patrons of the mill will be
glad to know es heretofore it required
considerable creeping and crow hopping
along the railroad in order TO reach it, cay
nothing about the danger attending.
Mrs. Nicholas Lohr, residing two miles
east OF town, is disabled by dislocated hip.
The result Of fall.
Both Mr. and Mrs A. Orndorff, Of Roddys
are partially disabled; the former from cuts
and bruises received by falling from q hay
NOW, and the latter from a spralned ankle,
the result Of a misstep from the porch.
Fifteen or twenty bark pceers employed
by Mayor j. w. Crccger, LETT here Monday
for Lou 'on County, Va, where Mr.. Creeger
has job of bark peelng in progress
The peach bloom ih this community is
profuse to the extraordinary and it looks as
if we can have peaches In season for the
mere asking,
Chas. Wilhide, son Of A. r. Wilhide and
residing on the J. c. Eyler farm, in Eylers
valley, was severely kicked by a horse Fri.
day last,
A SUBLIME PHENOMENON. On the 2Sth
Of this month phenomenon will take place
that which nature presents none more beau
tiful-a total eclipse Of the sun, though in our
latitude, down to the southern portion ofthe
State of Virginia, it will only be a partial
eclipse. The subject of a solar eclipse is in
trinsically 50 interesting one and rendered
still more SO BY its occurring within the
month and at a comparatively short distance
from here that it cannot be considered out of
place to make q few remarks about the cause
and appearance OF this sublime phenomenon
Of nature. We may nationally suppose that
every one of our readers knows that the
shadow Of globular body like the moon is
a cone. The length of this shadow is about
equal to the distance Of the moon from the
earth, being alternately little greater and a
little less. 1t is matter of course that this
shadow Of the moon caused by the sun cant
fall upon the earth unless the moon is in a
straight line between the earth and the sun;
consequently, u oOihl CChIoO Cal thhC piuCC
only at the time Of new moon, which occurs
on the 29th Of the month at $50 a. M, East.
ern Standard time. If the orbit of the moon
were in the plane of the ecliptic We should
haye solar eclipse at every new moon, but
the moons orbit is inclined to the eclptic at
an angle of about s.. The possibility of a
solar eclipse and its kind depend upon sever.
al contingencies, namely: upon the position
of the earth with reference to the two points
in VIII ich the moon and the earth's orbit in
tersect and which technically are called the
moons nodes, and the length of the moon S