Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-04-05
1000 ACRES FOREST
MOUNTAIN LAND HIT
BY ALL-DAY FLAMES
Volunteers Finally Get Contro
Last Night BY Back
Firing.


A forest fire, started yesterday
morning on the west side of the
mountain back OF Hedgesville, swept
eastward on the mountain, crept
over the ridge last night and WAS
burning on the east side last night
when control of it was finally re
established by about forty volunteer
fire fighters who destroyed its ma
terial by back-fring During It's
ravages the flames swept approx.
mately 1000 acres, it is estimated
confined to timber, large and small.
The fire started, it is alleged. on
the farm OF Mr.. Spike, newcomer
to the section. who is said to have
started burning some brush on his
own land and then deserted the Arc
In the meantime it spread and be
fore the danger was sensed il had
secured a good hold over coneid.
cradle range, burning towards the
east. II was fought yesterday after
noon and last night by neighbors In
the section. During the course OF
the fire it burned over portions of
the land owned by MIR. Clarence Ma.
son, Charles Eversole and James Dill
lon, damaging the timber almost ex
clusively. Fences were saved as
were also some fruit trees in the
path OF the fire.
Late yesterday evening Sheriff
Dean and Fire Chief Quinn went to
the scene in answer to call for
help.
1t was said at noon today that nc
great further danger was seen in
the fire unless a wind springs VI
and fans the smouldering embers IN
to flames again. Much of the tim
her of sturdier build is still burnina
but the path of the fire on the
ground has been cut.
Raging Near Hancock.
Hagerstown, April 5.-Seores o
men were hurrying in response Il
telephone calls for help last even
ing from several large orchard com
panies near Park Head, just below
Hancock. where a fierce forest fire
was sweeping along the side Of the
mountain, threatening not only tho
destruction Of the valuable orcahrd
properties, but many houses as well
A small handful Of men late yester
day afternoon, before any help had
arrived from the surrounding dis
trict. formed human barrier to
the flames. Just as they we're about
to set afire two houses Of employees
OF the Milestone Orchard Company
The fight against the fire, which
had already burned over stretch
OF timber land skirting valuable
peach orchards of the Milestone Or
chard Co and the Park Head Or
chard Co, three miles in length, is
being directed by Forest Warden A
J. Fulton, who personally was at
the head OF small party OF men
yesterday afternoon.
One Building Burned.
Already one small building, a
small house used by apple pickers
and lumber men. has been burned
This building was located within the
stretch of timber land and as there
was no clearing about it, it was i'm
possible to save It.
The fire yesterday afternoon had
worked its way close to the proper
ties OF Dick Gladhill and Frank Bry-
an. and it was there that the small
group Of fire fighters made their
stand late yesterday afternoon ard
succeeded in diverting the oncoming
flames toward another section -
the woods. The home, barn and
haystack Of Abram Fink, farther III
the mountain were threatened last
night and when 1t was realized that
more help would be needed to stem
the tide of the flames. calls for aid
we're dispatched by telephone and
by a man on horseback to the raHf
bv countryside. Many OF the men,
who fought all during the day We're
nearly exhausted yesterday oyoning
and by nightfall tn 20 the
fighters we're being .-.ce0 by
freeh men who had responded to
the call for help.
Started On Sunday
The fire started on Sunday in
some tall dry grass along the West
ern Maryland Railroad near Park
Head. it was stated by one OF the
orchardmen At that time trackmeu
made the discovery it was said and
fought the fire. which was very
small They evidently Thought they
had extinguished the blaze. Sunday
night, the fire started again and
driven by a brisk wind. worked its
way M the side of the mountain
near the Park Head Orchard co
orchards. Yesterday morning, it was
discovered that the fire had reached
large proportions during the nigh.
and employees of the two orchard
companies turned out to fight it, bu
met with little success in checking
it.
Scores of peach trees, which skirt
ed the forest We're burned, ii wac
said. It is impossible at this time
it was said to estimate the loss