New-York tribune., 1908-09-28
IN THE FIRE ZONE.
Roar Of Flames Accom- paniment to
Paragraphs Popular Ditties.

Hurricane Y Y sept &c lSpeciaD On Wednes-
dav morning llr1her7nan working on the side OF
Mount Hurricane discovered smoke rising from
The woods a few miles north. and IN the direc-
-i0n Of Bls Crow Mountain. He reported this
fact 70 his boss and messengers were hastily sent
u warn the people below 70 call out the fire
warden ot rhe village Of Keene Lumbermen
were known 10 he working near the fire. and word
was sent 70 them of their danger. This was the
first notice Il the FIRE which has been burning
steadily ever since. reducing five thousand acres
@ shady forest 70 ashes. There were three
homes IL the fire zone. those OF A1essrs. Tool.
Warren and Sexton. but on Wednesday the danger
70 these places was not imminent and an effort
was made 70 save the lumber which had been
cut IN I5e woods near the fire BY Harold Walter.
Al dav Wednesday the men fought fire with
the desperation and courage which make one
alwavs thi-k Of forest fire a battlefield.
Al The u2ourraineers speak OF fighting fire as If
4 were living thing On Wednesday evening
mos - the men returned 10 the Tool homestead
for food and rest but two three remained in
TIE woods 70 guard from destruction some sev-
enrF-fve cords Of cut puIpwood- Two men were
going Up with pack basket OF food for these
-nen and the writer went with them L was
tournev - about q mile and half before the
precious pile Of lumber the burning Of which
would spell ruin 10 8Ir. Waltons plans was
reached After traversing mile Of this trail
The roaring q the FIRE came 10 the ears, faint at
first bur continually increasing in power-a deep,
neractng sound which was broken only by the
cracking Z limbs the thunder Of falling trees
Occasionally a red glare sprang up
The men sought We're sitting on the trail waiting.
and. although the day had brought most of their
rlzns ro -aught they We're stiu cheerful All
around the trees had burned 70 ashes, and now
through tie dusk the charred stGT1ps gloweG and
cracked Near by lowered rocky ledge, with
trees s--- burning or il gentle breeze sighed
through The forest and instantly thousand red
r-r- -Fa air
fro-n one tree 10 another. q bush bazed UP. and q
Threatening c-ackie announced that the forest was
only waiting fare I'd again whenever the slight
esr breeze wandered through il Meanwhile the
woods we're steadily burning round about
The writer returned 10 the Cock and Devil
cottage a-d cooked supper. From the veranda the
fire could be seen. lighting up the northern sky
NoV and then. when q great pine tree caught fire.
tle flames leapeS1 Up into the air far above the
tree tops throwing a luri5 light over everything
Although The night vas moGnless and the stars OBJ
sc1fed bv the smoke. one could see plainly enough
% walk along The roads and trails several miles
from the FIRE
On Thus5sv the are-fshting forces were much
increased and. the fire only three-fourths OF
faile from the houses. II necessary 10 begin
digging z trench about them. There was no water
within mile. the springs and brooks having dried
u IN tina droutt- The water for cooking and drink
ng had 70 be carted up the steep incline from
hurricane Lodge TO Nod0neyo. the group OF
eings mentioned before are called
~ nlghtfau the men began struggling in from
Ue firing line Supper was served by Mrs Tools.
Rho had that day cooked probably hundred
meas Then the phonograph brought out on
'le Feranda, where the tired men lay about, some
ssleeT. others talking Of the days work others
listening 70 the merry tunes ground out by the talk
nag machine. All the doors were open and men
lTlfted through the rooms continually, coming in
tFon The Are Half a dozen men sat about the
@-icIel nnUnctllng q late supper.
through the noise Of the phonograph reminiscent
u he BoWery al midnight. and the hum Of voices
o'lic De family heard the low OF the ad'
E&hcing fire. As the lumbermen passed in and out
VI lie room one caught snatches Of the converse