132 NINTH REPORT OF THE 



fire, and sometimes doing other work. He called out lots of men to come to 

 help him. He wanted me to say that I called them out so that they would get 

 paid from the town and State. I refused to do that. I told him that I would 

 not lie for him or for any other man, and that is the reason why he makes the 

 complaint. I wish you would write to any officer in this town and ask him about 

 my work as firewarden. I will do what is right with all persons, but I will not 

 lie for any man, and I know that you don't ask me to do it. Please let me know if 

 there is anything wrong and I will correct it. 



Mr. A. C. Hickok, Corinth, Saratoga County. — The fire started about eight 

 miles west of South Corinth. It was reported to me at a time when the air 

 was very smoky; ashes and burned leaves were falling thickly. Everybody was 

 frightened and supposed the woods all around us were burning up. I telephoned 

 District Warden Eggleston to start at three o'clock the next morning, with all the 

 men he could get, and look for fire. He was busy nearly all night ordering out 

 his men. The next day he traveled over a large territory, but finding only 

 this one fire, which was soon extinguished, he concluded that the smoky condition 

 was due to fires outside of the town. 



Mr. Horace Webb, Edwards, St. Lawrence County. — There were springs 

 and small streams in the woods from which the men carried water. They also 

 dug ditches, where practicable, and used dirt to cover and smother the fire. Men 

 were kept constantly on the watch, and yet it would spread to some extent, 

 usually during the afternoon. 



Mr. Edgar Reed, Degrasse, St. Lawrence County. — The men fought fire until 

 midnight, some of them without any supper. 



Mr. J. F. Evans, Fine, St. Lawrence County. — The past week has been the 

 worst time for fires that I have seen in years. The entire woods in the west half 

 of this town, and, in fact, clear to Cranberry Lake, are on fire. The New York 

 Central Railroad started seven fires on one run last week from Carthage to 

 Oswegatchie. This fire is burning from the line of the railroad and Bear Lake 

 clear through the woods. I have had out nearly seventy men at times. 



Mr. Emery P. Gale, Piercefield, St. Lawrence County. — Have you any funds 

 on hand to pay these men? There should be some way provided to pay men for 

 fighting fire. These poor men have to live by day labor, and it is hard to make 

 them wait until the following winter for their money. 



Mr. Arthur Flanders, Hopkinton, St. Lawrence County. — I came out of the 

 woods on Friday night (May thirtieth) for the first time to get a day off since 

 May eighth. I wish you would come here if you can, as there are about 4,000 acres 

 burned over, mostly lumbered land. There is very little timber land burned. 

 When you telephoned me from South Colton to meet you on Sunday I did not get 

 the word until afternoon. I was seven miles away in the woods fighting fire, and 



