Bridgeton pioneer., 1900-05-03
FOREST FLAMES.
Roaring Flames Sweep Through the
Great Forests of Cumberland
County Thursday.

But brief description can be given
of the fire. 1t is the most disastrous
that has occurred in recent years.
Hundreds of acres of timber land was
burned o7er, thousands and thousands
of dollars worth of property was de-
stroyed, and the victorious march of
the tlam& continued for miles and
miles.
As. near as can be learned, the fire
had its oigin just back of Fairton.
A farmer, George Fisher, was burning
brush. A sudden whirlwind came
along, caught up blazing pile and
carried il into the woods. The dry
leaves and underbrush were like pow
der, and the tiny blaze swept into a
great blaze, and as result the fire is
still onward marching.
The flames spread through the
woods toward Millville, away across
to Centre Grove. On and on, the
winds from the northwest carrying
the fire on in the direction of Haley
vile. Out of Fairfield, into Law
renee, then Downe, and Millville
townships the march continued.
AS night fell, the wind increased
and the danger increased. James Ev-
eringham will have cause to remem-
ber the fire. He is only one of many
whose experiences were disastrous,
but his will serve to Illustrate. He
lives off toward Centre Grove, and he
with his employees were working in
the fields. They noticed the flames
surrounding them on all sides, and
thought of the buildings and the hay
stacks. The latter they gave partic-
ular attention to because of their
highly infiammable nature. The for
est flames crept upon the Eyeringham
place and everyone was watching for
sparks. But one spark escaped atten-
tion until it was too late. 1t lodged
upon the roof of the barn and in a
little while, hole had burned
through, the fire dropped into the hay
NOW, and in almost a moment the
entire barn, with its contents were
destroyed. The farm where Evering-
ham lives, is owned by William M.
Brown, of Cedawille.
Eli Earl, who is a wood dealer, was
a heavy loser by the fire. Down in
Centre Grove he had over one thous-
and cords of wood piled up. 1t rep
resented not only the material but
there was one dollar in cash paid out
for every cord. 1t was in the path of
the flames and every stick was de-
stroyed. How many other thousands
Of cords were destroyed will probably
never be known, but here and there
the wood carefully cut and piled, is
nought but ashes.
Fighting Forest Fires.
The great fire gave a Pioneer re-
porter rich experience. Down in
Downe township, something like six
miles from Cedarville, William O..
Garrison, of this city, had over nine
hundred cords of good oak wood piled
up ready for market. This wood as
it remained there awaiting the carter
was valued at 81 so per cord. Mr.
Garrison could not learn Thursday
afternoon whether his wood was
burned, and last night he determined
to learn. He went to the seat of the
firing battle, and Pioneer re-
porter accompanied him and his son
Francis. The party went to Cedar
vile upon the trolley car and there
hired team. On toward the fire was
the drive. After going out on the
main road past the Cedarville station
for couple of miles, the horse was
turned into the road to the right
leading to the Bailey farms, property
owned by Mrs. Edell. What a mag
niticent panorama it all was. The
horse was being driven directly to
the flames. The sky was lighted up
for miles. Off toward LummiS' mill
the fire was raging, and the forked
flames could be plainly seen leaping
skyward. That was off to the rear of
the carriage and the horse was driven
on toward the main fire. A couple of
miles and the side line of the fire was
reached. 1t was little blaze leap
ing here and there, jumping the road,
but no attention was paid to that.
That was only a rear guard. The
main army of fire was away on in
advance. OF course the little side
line of flames, had to be beaten out
SO that the frightened horse could be
led blindfolded through it, and then
the journey continued on. What a
magnificent scene over there toward
the south east. AS far as one could
see there was sea of fire. 1t danced
and moved onward. Magnificent
There the flames strike a clump of