The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1908-10-09
IN forest FIRE Zone,
Graphs Description Of the Ad-
l'onaack conhauratIon.


f''~~e'@Pu~ TopulAr Dtttioa
On recent morning a Iumberman
who was working on the side of
Mount Hurricane, in the AdIrondacks,
discovered smoke rising from the woods
4 few miles north and In the direction
OF Big Crow mountain. He reported
this fact to his boss, and messengers
were hastily sent to warn the people
below to call out the fire warden of
the village Of Keene. Lumbermen
were known to be working near the
nre, and word was sent to them OF their
danger. This was the first notice OF
the IRE, which has been burning stead
hy for some time, reducing 5000 acres
or shady forest to ashes, says a Hurri-
cane On. " special dispatch to the
New York Tribune. There were three
homes In the fire zOne-those OF Messrs.
Tool, Warren and Sexton-but the dan
ser to these places was not imminent,
and an effort was made TO save the
lumber which had been cut In the
woods Near the fire by Harold Walter.
All day the men fought fire with the
desperation and courage which make
one always think OF a forest fire as
battlefield. All the mountalneers speak
OF lighting fire rs II 1t were a living
thing. In the evening most Of the men
returned 10 the Tool homestead for
food and rest, but two or three remain
cd In the woods TO guard from destruc-
ton some seventy-hve cords Of cut
pulp wood. Two men were going up
with q pack basket Of food for these
men. 1t was a journey OF about q
mile and half before the precious pile
Of lumber the burning Of which would
spell ruin to Mr.. Walters plans was
reached. After traversing a mile Of
This trail the roaring Of the fire came
10 the ears, faint at first, but continual
ly increasing in power-a deep. menac-
ing sound which was broken only by
the cracking Of limbs or the thunder OF
falling trees. Occasionally q red glare
pprang up.
The men sought were sitting on the
trail waiting. and. although the day
had brought most Of their plans to
naught, they were still cheerful. All
around the trees had burned to ashes,
and now through the dusk the charred
stumps giowed and cracked. Near by
lowered a rocky ledge, with trees still
burning on 1t. A gentle breeze sighed
through the forest and instantly a
thousand red CLEANS shot through the
dusky air. sparks leaped from one tree
10 another, a bush blazed up, and
threatening crackle announced that the
forest was only waiting to fare up
again whenever the slightest breeze
wandered through Il. Meanwhile the
woods were steadily burning round
about.
From the veranda Of the Cock and
Devil cottage the fire could be seen
up the northern sky. Now
and then, when a great pine tree
caught FIRE, the flames leaped up into
the air far above the treetops, throw
ing a lurid light over everything. Al
though the night was moonless and the
stars obscured by the smoke, one could
Gee to walk along the roads and trails
several miles from the FIRE.
The next day the fire fighting forces
were much increased, and as the fire
was only three-fourths OF a mile from
the houses 1t was necessary to begin
digging a trench about them. There
was no water within a mile, the
springs and brooks having dried up In
the drought. The water for cooking
and drinking had to be carted up the
steep incline from Hurricane Lodge to
NOdOneyO. as the group of buildings
mentioned before are called.
At nightfall the men began struggling
in from the firing line. Supper was
served by Mrs. Tool, who had that
day cooked probably 100 meals. Then
the photograph was brought out on the
veranda, where the tired men lay
about, some asleep, others talking OF
the days work, others listening to the
merry tunes ground out by the talking
machine All the doors were open, and
men drlfted through the rooms contin-
ually, coming In from the fire. Half
q dozen men sat ABOUT the kltcnen
a late supper.
Through the noise Of the photograph.
OF the Bowery at midnight,
and the hum OF voices could he family
heard the low roar Of the advancing
IRE. AS the lumbermen passed In and
out Of the room one caught snatches
Of the conversation, mingled always
with the metallic melody from the We
randa.
"Hello. Jim! How's the fire up your
Wayr'
Say, I'm starved. Haven't had a
bite since
"Jerry. that's a good one. Play 1t
again"
1--WE came near being cut or up