The evening times., 1900-05-18

BALTIMORE. May 1s.-In the rural dis
tricts Of Maryland there has been during
the past ten days a desperate conflict with
confagrations have appeared from tine to
time. but few who have not been eye-wit-
nesses Of the thrilling scenes realize the
character of q battle with the destroying
element which sweeps over large areas
and threatens whole villages.
The following graphic description Of the
forest fire in the mountains near Flint
stone. Allegany county May Is. is given
BY E. Lee:
Last Sunday. May 13. about II o'clock
a m. as our .ieopIe were returning from
Sunday school. smoke was seen rising on
the north side of Martins Mountain.
, which seemed to be from a fire in Pleasant
Valley. For a while IL booked like smoke
from burning building. Then it was dis
covered TO be forest FIRE The smoke
was watched by all in our neighborhood.
and none perhaps suspected IL nearer to US
than thirty hours. Yet We knew fully that
IL would come ard we were already be-
| ginning TO plan operations against it. We
did not think the fire would reach our side
Of the mountain until in the night or per-
haps the next day. The character OF the
Gre was wild, furious. very strange. and
deceived every one OF US.
AT o'clock the flames had crossed the
mountain top and were descending the
southern slope toward US IN a narrow
string. which We took 10 be men firing
against the original flames / hurried on 70
the mountain and met the fre, tut was
aStounded 10 ind no one there. and the
flames furiously turning in little patches
Just as IL some demon was setting the woods
on IRE. | saw the blaze kindle up like
spontaneous combustion coming out CT the
ground l then hurried away 10 tell what |
saw and the danger We were in
AS ran down the side OF the mountain
saw one Of the demonlike b,azss fully
a quarter OF a mile from my other f-e |
ran on 10 Ensiey HartsOcks and fcurd he
and band Of men had gone 10 the seere.
l found the ire within fifty yards OF his
mountain field. and at the same tine his
fence was burning at the foot II the hill. I
knew the men were trying 20 step the fire
on the mountain. near the top. and were
being deceived by the clouds of binding
smoke / started to them. and at ore time
l had TO actually run from the flames [,
save myself from burning Just at this
Juncture the flames had driven the men
out OF the mountain and they hurried 10
a 10
OF country about one-half mi,e wide. Tea b.
ing from Cemetery Hill and Buck Ridge d
the top Of Martins Mountain. was burning.
/ ms strip of FIRE, which was nearly two
miles long and a half mile wide. caught in
about forty minutes. and all Of il seerei
10 be burning at once.
The furious and deafening roar OF ths
names, the sitting clouds OF smoke and ihe
heat and danger OF the fire bafie des rim
tion. and viii never be known TO anycne
Who cid not see IL: neither would aovous a
believe the truth Of its description il IL
could be told. We have read ard heard
many dreadful stories about forest and
prairie ires. and thought the truth va
strained every time. but today We fully be-
,ie1e the Neraclty OF every FIRE story We
have ever heard.
When the fire crossed the ton Of the
e mountain men went on both sides 10 fire
against II. n a very few minutes they
were beaten back by the flames. Very som
II was clearly seen that nothing could be
done except cut the inside fences to pre-
VeLt he hre II possible frsn oyerrunning
ne larns and destroying everything. The
outside fences were given Up to the flames
and every md was turned and bent on
saving the buildings II was only by the
most daring and persistent Efforts on the
part CT everyone that these were saved
After the fire had descended the mountain
Il WIS stopped on che side at the Balti-
more Pike and on the other at the pipe
line without difficulty
We have seen many a forest FIRE and
well remember the days OF our youth when
We oiten fought them day and night. bat
| never nave We seen and other FIRE SO
furious as this one. Every man. woman.
and child that was able to hand a cup OF
water was in the fray and 50 wisely and
nobly and cOurageously did his and her
individual duty that our houses and stables
were saved from the devauring eiar,e,t