New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-10

standing timber sS6S93; number of fires 316;
expense of fighting fires, Sal $50.
In 1900 1888 acres burned over; damage to
standing timber, $12,499; number of fires 121;
expense of fighting fires $4,000.
In 1901, number of acres burned over 7.1SO, Of
which the State owns 454; value of standing
timber destroyed, s2,S35; cost of fighting fires
$4,000. A large number of the fires of 19Ol
occurred waste or barren lands, on which
there was no merchantable timber and very lit
tie tree growth, which accounts for the seeming
Cisproportion of value Of timber destroyed
It is interesting to note the causes of fires in
lie North Woods. Take the year 1900, with lZi
fres for instance Railroad locomotives head
Tie list. with twenty-one fires to their credit.
Nineteen fires resulted from clearing land and
llirteen were inCendary. Hunters started eight
fires and fishermen five, while tobacco smoking
was responsible for six Among other causes
were: Lightning 8; campers, city boarders,
tramps and berry pickers, each; woOdchOppers,
hee hunters telephone linemen, children at play
Fourth of July fireworks and burning house.
each The cause of thirty fires was never
Aiscoyered.
Fighting fires is dangerous work. but by ex-
4rcising great care in managing the force 1t IS
seldom that lives are lost. In 1900 one man was
burned to death while fighting fire in Greene
County in the Catskills. He was surrounded py
fast travelling flames before he was aware Oh
his danger. AMI could not escape them About
twelve years ago an old man lost his life While
working for the Forest Coihihissioh he'A '
: aaterskiu Hotel
Here is a graphic description by a forestry Of
-, Of . contest with the flames in the Adiron-
lacks:
If was the middle of August and the forests
v-ere dry as finder. We were out in the WoouS
Irveyfng when We noticed a dense smoke
mile or so to the right Fastening IN that ol-
rection we found marsh on fire mat may
s1and like paradox, but you would not nave
considered it SO had you been there TO 1eel the
IT flames in your face and the clnders 1alhng
over YOU The marsh was called in re-
fnembrance of former years when 1t was COW
tred with water. At this particular time it sus-
tanned a growth of Labrador tea moss ana
sphagnum moss
AT first we cut bOughs and tried to peat out
the fire. but the wind famed the flames, and II
soon got around u.s. 1t was evening before help
arrived and by that time there was a fire line
two miles long We fought hard all that night,
being helped by the dew and absence of wind
by morning had the fire confined to a hard
wood ridge which number of fallen logs ana
stumps blazing. 1t was decided to sur
round the ridge with trench, and, tired as we
were every one went TO work. Before the trench
was completed another wind reached the scene,
and the fire was soon out of bounds. Several
of the workers almost cut off and had to
make dash through the fire line to reach a
point of safety
During the day messengers had summoned
almost the entire college force, about one hun
bred men, and We began the battle anew. There
were four or five miles of fire line to be defended
l,v this time and Director Fernow spread out
like an army attacking in extended order. a
hundred could not do the work of thousand,
however and the fourth day found the fire
burning with strength than ever We
-h;ew up bitches away ahead of the fire in
ig-c of stopping it in the hardwood ridges,
vIere tie wind is powerless. This did no good.
rs the fire got into the young timber, near
the marsh, and ran like race horse. Some of
tie men were badly burned in attempting to
get out Of the way and others were forced to
take refuge in a neighbOring lake. 1t was a
OF firefighterS. there