The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-05-06
DESTRUCTIVE FOREST FIRES.
Many Thousand Dollars Worth Of Prop
erty Licked Up BY Last
Weeks Fires.


Weeks Fires.
The destruction wrought in this Sec
ton by forest fires last week is almost
incalculable, anything like an accurate
estimate being out of the question. Oil
regions aud lumber communities were
the heaviest losers, while individual
losses to farmers was also very severe.
Over about Stewart Run, in Harmony
township, The loss to farmers was quite
serious. VIM. Mckee, d. +. Carson, w. s..
Clark, Henry Yarnell and others losing
considerable in growing timber, ties,
fences, etc. From that neighbol hood the
fire swept over the leases controlled by
Elmer Fleming q Co., practically wiping
out everything on the properties. 1t is
estimated that the Titus, Church and
Homestead leases sustained losses in rigs
(l6 of which were burned) rod lines and
pumping powers which Mr.. Fleming es-
| Inmates will amount to about $4,000.
| This does not include loss of production
by delays in getting rugged up again.
| Other properties were threatened but by
hard work and shifting winds they were
saved. Timely rain OH Sunday saved the
Grove and Miles leases, on Dawson run
from annihilation.
J. d. w. Reck, ever near Pinev;lle, in
Warren county, sustained loss of about
$1,000 on rigs. power, rod lines, etc on
his oil lease.
| FARM BUILDINGS TOTALLY DESTROYED.
S.E. Church on Church Hill, Hickory
township, sustained the most serious loss
of any individual in this section. Fire
starting near Little Hickory swept fur
iously over the hill taking everything in
its path Ex-Commissione w. A. Con-
nelly's farm barn, standing several rods
from the woods was fired, and so rapidly
did the flames spread that he was unable
to save scarcely anything, horse which
he had Just taken to the barn being burn
ed to death, also about 80 bushels of seed
oats.
s. E. Church, living just beyond Con-
nelly, lost every vestlge of building on his
place. AS evidence of how the flames
were carried by the wind, it is said his
barn was located fully 80 rods from the
woods, and yet it seemed no time until it
was enVeloped in flame. Mr.. Church oc-
cupied the old homestead, once the prop
erty of his father, Ira Church, and the
| 4 Ill .,1 lac,
Besides the residence, two large barns
and all other outbuildings were entirely
swept away. Four head of young cattle
and all the contents of the barn buildings
were burned, only team of horses and
harness and two or three head of live
stock being rescued. Very little of the
household goods were saved. Mr.. Church
carried about 81, $50 insurance, but that
will not cover much more than quarter
of his loss, which falls heavily upon him.
Mr.. Connely's Joss will be in the neigh
borhood of $500 or 5000, with no insur-
ance, we believe.
JENKs AND HOWE TwPS.
Losses were heavy in the lumber woods
of jerks and Howe townships. For a
time on Thursday it looked as though
the town of Msrienville would again be
wiped out, and the entire population was
out fighting the frey elements. Fortu-
nately, however, no buildings were
burned in the town. Wagner & Wilson
lost shingle mill, located near their
plant below Marienville, and about
!, ,OOO, 900 feet of logs in the woods.
Amsler & Campbell, at Loleta, lost a
double shingle mill and about 100000
feet of logs in the woods, which is per-
haps the heaviest loss of any individual
firm in that section. vi along the T. V.
railroad heavy losses were sustained, the
ire being widespread.
In Howe township. the Forest Lumber
Co., at Iron City, lost between 10000 and
6CO, GOO feet of logs. VIM. Hart, at the
same place, lost a shingle mill and 800, 900
shingles. The Forest Chemical Works
at Lynch, lost from 600 to 800 cords OF
wood. About two miles of the Watson
Lands Lumber Co.'s logging railroad
above Mayburg was burned. In all five
shingle mills ere burned in jerks and
Howe townships.
Orrin Boyd, employed on Harts mill
at Iron City, was driven into pond OF
water 70. safety, and while there barrel
of oil standing on the bank above him
bursted, and the oil spreading over the
water took fire, and Boyd was seriously
burned about the head but will recover.
While the losses have been very great
it is still wonder there were not more,
the winds for two or three days oI
the latter part of the week were blowing
a gale almost constantly, and the dry and
inhamable condition of the forests was
out of the ordinary for this time of the
season. The good down-pour of rain
shortly after noon of Sunday was God
send to mankind in these regions, and
possibly ere another dry spell the ver-
dure of the forests will be sufficiently
advanced to make great fires impossible.
His Foot Badly Crushed.
Last Thursday morning about 1000
o'clock, while the freight on the S. IL T.