The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-09-24
FIERCE fos.tST FIRES
They are Raging all Around us and Only a
Heavy Rain can Subdue Them.

Heavy Rain can Subdue Them.
Forest fires were raging last week in eight
of Names sixteen counties, and IN sixteen
| Maine towns. Villages were threatened ana
all New England was in a smoke pail. Navl-
cation all along the coast was rendered dah-
perous and Friday the watchmen az the varl-
GUS marine observatories were unable 10 make
out the different craft that passed. The bos-
ton Globe reports that vessels 'nward-bound
ran at reduced speed and took all the precau-
tions customary in thick fog. In the western
part of Massachusetts the smoke was even
thicker than in Boston
From the roof of the Odd Fellows building
in this city last Saturday afternoon Chief Engl-
neer /. T. Clough counted five distinct fires,
north and east of Belfast, the nearest, that in
Brooksville, evidently raging furiously Thurs
day and Friday the air here was hlled with
smoke and the heat was intense Saturday
change of wind cleared the atmosphere, but
smoke hung all along the eastern horizon.
The Belfast fire department was IN readiness
to respond to call at any time' and news
from the fires was awaited with intense in
terest.
fire asst week near the village OF Simon
ton in Rockport swept away the farm build
ings owned by Mrs Edward Ingraham and oc-
cupied by Dana Gray The loss was $4,000. The
Carleton farm was in danger and the whole
village of Simonton was threatened. Camden
and Rockport fremen were fighting the flames.
Another fire was burning over wide range of
woodland in Warren and sweeping toward
Friendship.
The summer cottage of Prof. W. G. Tousey of
Tufts college, and set of farm buildings, were
burned in Brooksvile, and at last advices about
l 600 acres of woodland had been burned over
and the fires were still raging man who came
over from Brooksville Monday morning said
that the only buildings burned were those above
mentioned, the ice houses at Sargentville had
escaped and the report of the burning of no.
tel was incorrect. He said that most of the
houses stood in open spaces and he did not appre-
hend any further losses in that direction; but
only heavy rain could stop the fires. Large
timber land owners who have knowledge of
the location of the fires place the loss in Han
cock county at $25O,OOO, and some say it may be
twice that.
The residences of United States Senator
Eugene Hale and Chief Justice L. A. Emery
were greatly endangered Saturday by the for
est fires which had been raging in the vicinity
of Ellsworth for several days. Crews of men
were Immediately sent to protect the property
and after long and strenuous fight they were
able to report at night that the fire was under
control.
1t was rumored last Saturday and Sunday
that the Point Lookout clubhouse at Isle au
swept by fire, the people having made their
escape in boats; that the big hotel at Carver's
harbor, Vinalhaven, had been burned, with
much other property, etc.
The return of the steamer Castine last Sun
day night from an excursion to Vinalhaven set
these rumors at rest There was no sign of a
fire at Isle au Haut and the only building
burned at Vinalhaven was small cottage own
ed by Cleveland Sleeper of Boston. The village
was seriously threatened at one time, and a
steam fire engine was stationed in the out
skirts, and the whole fire department and many
citizens turned out to fight the advancing
flames. A change of wind sent the fire in an
other direction. There were three fires, one in
the Pequod district, another in the Burpee
woods and the third at Big Landing. The fires
were still burning SUNDAY afternoon.