Evening star., 1947-10-25
Schuden
Continued From First Page.)

land in the southern sector, where
other renowned residences stand.
On both sides OF Eden street. and
on Forrest street and Oak and Pros
pect, the desolation stretches for
miles-not streets in the urban
sense, but lovely, winding. tree
banked roads. The end Of the trail
is a handsome f1rehouse, with an
artistic do-dad in bold relief on the
front.
For light and life, that is the place
to go. Except for the fires in the
tall evergreens and on the summit
of imposing Mount Cadillac, there
is little light on Mount Desert Is
land. ...... ..,.-. .....
But the ornate firehouse is seeth-
ing inside, and on the outside the
Red Cross Is pumping new life into
/ 900 fire fighters with meat and
drink.
Battle in Shifts.
These men 60 out In shifts to do
battle with an indefatiguable foe
They come back with scared faces
that q weeks growth Of beard re-
fuses to hide.
Most of them are volunteers, and
they keep coming back for more.
They Chamber into dozen Army
trucks and set of for another joust,
not too certain of victory.
They look at the sky and see the
moon-the night of the Gath con-
secutive rainless day-and an
nounce: "Only rain can lick these
fires"
In the corner of a little room sits
Fire Chief David Sleeper, who hasn't
had a genuine wink since Monday
Spread before him is map of the
island, ominously sketched in with
red pencil where the fires have been.
How is it going chief?
He croaks out a surprisingly
courteous answer-so hoarse he asks
you to wait while he calls one OF his
stronger-voiced lads. And then in
his everlasting weariness, promptly
forgets you.
That's how it is inside the fire.
house. Outside, the leading figure is
omnipresent John Ash, garage
keeper and Red Cross leader. With
amazing vitality, Mr.. Ash seems to
keep everything clicking smoothly
But underneath, he is not happy.
Certain Ruin Has Come.
"We are ruined" he says with
finality. "The day OF the mansion
is over. Who wants to rebuild on a
prairie? And If these people don't
rebuild, who pays Our taxes?"
Mr.. Ash is an outstanding citizen.
and he was speaking for perhaps
10000 others who have earned their
bread principally by keeping the
summer guests coming back for
more.
Not far away is the dark, deserted
downtown district, at the foot Of
which 1900 islanders crowded the
docks two nights ago and prayed for
deliverance from flames that whip
ped toward them with sudden fury.
They almost all got out-not the least
of these dramatic moments. They
got out because the wind shifted
again just as the flames licked the
business district But they left be-
hind upward of $50 charred rem
nants of homes. No tall chimneys,
out warm place in the wintertime.
Most of the evacuees-they may
reach 1850 from all nearby areas
can be found in Ellsworth, 20 miles
across Frenchmans Bay and into the
mainland. Some of them went
there with the help Of Coast Guard
boats, three of which still stand in
readiness outside the glowing island.
Some went by truck and some by
the motorcade OF rs buses that
slipped into the ember-strewn woods
One 16-year-old girl got out with
o. fractured skull and possibly
broken neck. The evacuation truck
she rode collided head on with a
jeep. -Four soldiers also were in
jured, and a warrant officer died.
without Hospitals.
When the girl was taken to Ellis
worth, she was placed on delivery
table in a l2-bed nursing home. AL
the other beds were taken in the
only excuse for a hospital in q place
with population Of 5000. Con-
trary to common practice, the two
most seriously injured soldiers were
sent on 26 miles to Bangor, and the
remaining two kept at the nursing
home.
Ellsworth doctors cited this to