as to the landing place. Guided by the excited voices of a 

 crowd of people gathered there, and with the valuable assist- 

 ance of the searchlight a safe landing was finally made. 



i 



Here : was informed that the fire was on the other 

 side of the State line point about three miles away. Hy in- 

 formant, a large fat man, with bare pate that shone in the 

 glimmering light appeared unusually anxious to wield an axe on 

 tho fire line. Several others who crowded into the boat, when 

 asked if they were going to fight fire, did not respond with 

 such alacrity but finally said they were, obviously in 

 preference to being left behind. 



The voyage around the point though tempestuous was 

 Uneventful. As we rounded the point the fire burst upon us 

 with savage splendor. Reaching from tho lake shore far up the 

 steep hill the writhing, leaping tongues of vivid flame 

 greedily licked up the branches, and curling and twisting, 

 sent showers of sparks high into the air. In the inky water 

 the reflection flashed and shimmered. To one with no experi- 

 ence or stomach for strenuous labor it seems an impossibility 

 to cope with such gigantic forces. But anchoring the launch 

 we disembarked armed with axes and shovels, and commenced the 

 difficult ascent over rooks and brush. 



My amateur fire fighters were very chary about getting 

 near the fire and when the flames with a crackling noise ran 

 up the branches of tall trees they betook themselves with much 

 haste to a distance to watch the display of pyrotechnics. They 

 would not remain stationed in separate places but kept horded 

 together at my heels whether the tasks allotted were completed 

 or not. 3y keeping at them, however, and with the efficient 

 help of one or two employees of the Brockway Hotel one side of 

 the fire was hemmed in with a pretty fair fire line by 12 

 o'clock. At that time a general exodus for the Brookway Hotel 

 commenced. By a small show of authority Just enough men were 

 held to combat the fire until morning, and a promise of rein- 

 forcements for that time was obtained. After a trip to 

 Brocrrway for refreshments the fifjht was continued until morn- 

 ing with the result that the fire was completely surrounded 

 by a narrow cleared line. 



Here the strategic move was made that nearly lost 

 the battle. Depending on promised reinforcements from the 

 land side and leaving an attachment on guard, the naval forces 

 withdrew to the base of supplies. Like Bluoher at Waterloo 

 the land forces failed to arrive on time. The guard wholly 



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