The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-04-14
LET 'ERB URN,'
HILL MEN SAY
IN WOODS FIRE
Poke Fun at State Fighters
of Blaze, Then Rain Puts
Out Flames.
SAGE ADVICE OFFERED
Plough and Pray Workers
Told by Veterans of
Former Fires.
SAGE ADVICE OFFERED
BY DANIEL NJ. KIDNEY

Rain and the terrain halted the
Morgan county forest fire over the
weekend, just as the hill-billieS
had predicted.
On Saturday, Ralph Wilcox, state
forester, and as many men as he
could enlist from the conservation
department, rushed to Monrovia to
try and halt the flames which we're
ravaging the hills about four miles
to the east.
An S. Q. S. call had been sent
Wilcox by H. c. Bickel, Indianapo-
lis, who recently purchased 100 acres
in the hills and spends Week-ends
in his new cabin there.
Bickel had been able to interest
but one man in the hills in any ef-
fort to halt the fire.
Let Her Burn!"-Advice
Wilcox arrived with his men
armed with fire extinguisherS, fire
rakeS and torches for back firing.
His crew included several able-bod-
led Statehouse newspaper reporters,
who worked like Trojans to aSSuage
the flames, while the hill folk stood
by and laughed at their efforts.
Let her burn" advised Ralph
Owens, veteran hill man, who had
plowed a furrow around his house
to keep the flames back and then
continued to pillow for his spring
corn planting. He only halted when
the horses were about overcome
with the smoke.
Let her burn" Owens repeated,
might as well get rid of them there
leaves. They'll just be blowing
around anyway"
Noting the frantic activities of
the white shirted folks, Owens in
CURED casually who they we're.
When informed he said, How come
they knew about this here tire?"
"Then Pray for Rain
Bickel admitted telling them and
the hill-man offered some sage ad-
vice.
Been quite a spell since this
place was afire last time" he de-
clared in the voice of authority.
Most four year. We used to come
out and fight the fire too, when we
had county supervisors and before
we knowed better.
Just let her go, she'll stop when
she comes to Sycamore creek, I'M
less the wind sets in right and
blows her over to yonder hill. If it
does all your raking won't stop it
neither.
BEST thing for to do is to plow
around your house and then pray
for rain. Better get on a hill afore
you start praying, for when rain
comes these hollows are poor bust
ness"
"Stay in Own Wilderness"
Learning that Wilcox brought in
some f1re-f1ghterS from the Brown
county forest reserve, Owens offered
the opinion that they had better
stay and fight fires in their own
wilderness"
Speaking Of Brown county he re-
called WiicoX'S plan for moving out
the hill-folk and making huge
state supported forest preserves.
The plan was preached as a solu-
ton to state-aid problems, on *he
grounds that the townships were
unable to pay for their schools.
Might put that plan into effect in
Chicago" Owens offered. II heard
they are a lot more broke than down
in these hills. Maybe they ought to
tear down the high buildings and
give the land back to the Indians.
We've learned our lesson and are
not going broke any more Nobody
wants to leave the mills after they've
been here for centuries"
"Just Let Her Burn"
Hours of futile f1re-f1ghting by
the city folks" and shutdown came.
Owens rehitched his team and
plowed his way three miles home
from the hollow he was planting.
Wild Bill Stafford came home to
find his tumble down cabin par
TALLY burned. Owens had saved
what remained single-handed.
I'D have liked TO save the barn
too, but there she was. burned fiat
to the ground" he had explained.
Wilcox today said he would take
Robert Humes, state police chief, to
Morgan county Tuesday TO investi-
gate reports the fires were started
purposelv. Although Sundays
rains curbed the fires. Wilcox said
danger of further spread is not
! over.