The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-08
New York Forest Fire Advances
Southeastward, Leaving Fair
Estates Black Behind 1t.
HEAVY INDIVIDUAL LOSSES.
Five Hundred Men Employed at
S. Per Day to Fight the Flames
on the Rockefeller Property
Whitney Estate in Danger.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Utica, y. Y, June 7.-Ernest johnson. su-
perintendent of VIM. C. whitney's 5000
acre preserve near Little Upper Lake. ar
rived in this city to-day after two weeks
spent in the region where the fires are now
the hottest and most uncontrolled.
When he left the woods the fires were
advancing southeaStward. from the foot OF
Long Lake. at the mouth Of Cold River.
Johnson said the fragmentary reports Of the
forest fires sent out so far have given but
a faint idea Of the great devastation the
fire demon has wrought in Herkimer, Frank
lin. Hamilton. Essex. Oneida and st. Law
renee counties. which comprise the 1000
square miles Of what Is known as the Adj
rondack region.
The Paul Smith preserve. In Franklin
County. consisting Of 5000 acres. and most
OF it bearing Young trees. has entirely been
burned over. Five hundred men, Of whom
$50 are hirsd by the State. have been work
ing night and day to check the fires from
spreading.
FIRE FIGHTERS FAN FLAMES.
In the line OF the irresistible march OF
black from its fiery steps are the forests Of
John Anderson OF Newcombe. the Racquetts
Falls Land Company. Norwood Lumber
Company and the International Paper Conn
pany on st. Regis River.
The Rockefeller preserve has been burning
two days. The superintendent Of Rockefeller
has been authorized to hire 500 men at S
day to save his estate. but, while the men
apparently work to subdue the flames. It is
no secret and Is openly charged that some
of the men are tanning the flames in order
to make the job last longer.
On August A Lewiss estate. near Horse
shoe, half in Hamilton and half in st. Law.
renee counties, eco acres have burned over.
and 5000 acres on DR.. webb's possessions.
5000 acres on the C. R. Christy place and
i.Wo o, acres s on w: T. Whitneys estate: 2
been laid waste.
The heavy loss of 10000 cords of alcohol
Company is being added to every day by its
trees and cut wood still burning
One of the most serious losses last week
The 6dsn Of New Of ss f
was on the Whitney estate At II o'clock
"Wednesday morning Superintendent John
son sent man TO the place to assure him
that part Of the preserve and none could be
seen in that locality. At ) o'clock that aft
ernoon a cellar wall. some charred timbers
burn were the only evidence Of $4,000
lodge that had stood there at noon.
PINE IREE SPREADS FIRE
The most dangerous tree in the Adiron-
dacks is the pine tree. 1t is the one tree
which lumbermen most dread In case Of
fire. For miles the fire may sweep along
the ground and then will suddenly come to
dry pine trees whose trunks are full of
dry pitch. Like a flash of powder the
flames will climb the trees a hundred feet.
and a gust OF wind will blow sparks from
the burning mass half mile.
II such sparks fall on dry place a coll
umn of smoke will rise as though In an
swer to the fiery signal from the tall pine
and a new recruit is added to the army Of
smoke and fame spots.
1t is so the fires spread. The mountains
are usually covered with black spruce
trees and the ground is mat three feet
deep of rotting leaves and limbs. DUR
they call it The fire burns this DUR.
away from the tree roots and the trees Oft
en- fall. This is devastation as complete az
though college Of forestry had visited tho
place.
Mr.. Johnson is positive the fires originate
ed from the railroads. He said that % far
mention has only been made of the loss that
the wealthy have sustained Hundreds OF
cottages and camps belonging to people OF
moderate circumstances haye been de-
stroyed.
In conclusion. he stated that, while tho
nres may go down in the absence of wind,
they will continue TO break out until rain
comes 10 goodiy quantities