342 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



them out of the way. So I set them on fire, and the fire ran onto George Virgel's land, but did 

 not do any damage to timber. It only burned the leaves on the ground. I went to put it out, 

 but the rain extinguished it. I live on Lot 86, Township 15, T. & C. P. I have occupied this 

 land and paid taxes for twenty- three years, during which time I have never had a fire get out or 

 do any damage; neither do I want to have any such thing occur. 



Mr. H. B. Linstruth, town of Croghan, Lewis county, N. Y. : 



April 13, 1898. Burned over about five acres, owned by United States Leather Company. 

 The fire was caused by John Phillabaum, who set fire to a brush heap at his door so that he 

 could get out of his shanty. The fire got the start of him and so his neighbors turned out and 

 helped to put it out. I have charged for two days' attendance by myself. The flames were 

 extinguished by whipping them, throwing dirt on the fire, and removing all leaves and rubbish 

 from its course. 



April 18, 1898. About five acres burned over on lands belonging to Theodore B. Basselin; 

 no damage; cause of fire unknown. Lots of men own sugar bushes in vicinity, and so they 

 turned out their forces to help stop this fire. 



July 12, 1898. One acre burned over; no damage. Caused by the burning of an old log 

 fence, and the wind drove the fire wild. We had to work hard in order to get it under control. 

 All the neighbors turned in and carried water. 



Mr. Duane Norton, town of Greig, Lewis county, N. Y. : 



April 12, 1898. Number of acres burned over, about six hundred; located on Brantingham 

 Tract; did not include any State land. Cause of fire: set by Frank Barker to clear a potato 

 patch. I called out a large force of men, cleared the ground ahead of the fire, and back-fired 

 some. Number of days' labor by men called out, sixteen. I cannot make an estimate of 

 the damage at present, as the fire ran over the ground very fast, and the earth was moist 

 under the leaves. I think it did but little damage to the timber, except where there was dry 

 material around the butt of the trees. Mr. Barker is not responsible for anything, and if we 

 should arrest him we could only lock him up, in which case we would have his family to care 

 for. I think I have given him a good scare, and if he behaves in the future I would advise 

 letting him off for the present, at least. 



Mr. Edward Burdick, town of Lyonsdale, Lewis county, N. Y. : 



April 11, 1898. About three hundred acres burned over; no State land; no standing tim- 

 ber burned. Cause not known. Back-fired early in the morning and watched it through the 

 day. Seventeen men called out. It took more men to fight this fire on account of its being on 

 both sides of Pine Creek, with standing timber. all around it. It started on old burned ground 

 on which there was nothing of any value. We stopped it before it got into the green timber. 

 Fires do not burn deep so early in the season. 



Mr. Stephen Waldron, town of Watson, Lewis county, N. Y. : 



April 11, 1898. About one hundred acres were burned over, on Lot 213, Watson's W. 

 Triangle; no State lands. Damage to standing timber estimated at $100. This fire was the 

 result of carelessness in the use of fire for clearing land. From the circumstances it would seem 

 that it was intentional. The man had no permission from me, nor was I notified of any wish or 

 intention to set a fire. This matter should have attention from the Commission, as the parties 

 were well advised of the law; but they have no respect for it. 



