102 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



Lake, in reply to one sent him that morning, informing me that the fires in his 

 vicinity had broken out again and were under alarming headway. I accordingly 

 took the night train south, and passing through Albany the next morning arrived 

 at North Creek that noon, August 20. 



An eighteen-mile drive brought me to Indian Lake where I again found the fires 

 burning fiercely in several places. They were on the same ground as those which 

 occurred when I was at Indian Lake on August 7th, and which were nearly extin- 

 guished by showers two days after they started. But at that time the men left the 

 ground without completing their work, which, aided by the dampness after the rain, 

 would have been easy. Some sparks were left smoldering in dead timber or old 

 stumps, or in the duff, which, after a few hot, dry days, were easily fanned into 

 flame by the wind. 



Acting under instructions, I employed all the men I could get at two dollars per 

 day, not including board. These men, as fast as they were hired, were sent to 

 different places, most of them under charge of Mr. Carlos Gilson, a justice of the 

 peace, who, by virtue of his office, is authorized to take charge of a fire in the 

 absence of the firewarden. In the meantime, Mr. Robt. B. Nichols, a district fire- 

 warden, drove rapidly through the settlements on Township 15 and other parts of 

 the town warning out men. A sufficient force was soon organized, and the fires 

 were checked in their course. The next day there were heavy thunder showers and 

 continuous rains, which extended over all northern New York, bringing a welcome 

 relief from the serious dangers which threatened the woods in every direction. 



The danger, however, was not wholly passed. The rainfall was heavy and con- 

 tinued for a day or more ; but still the fires were not completely extinguished. 

 From each burned and blackened area smoke could still be seen in various places, 

 showing the existence of lingering fire that was ready to break out again as soon as 

 dry weather would permit. To guard against this contingency it was necessary 

 that some men should remain on watch at each burned district. 



It was impossible, by any ordinary means, to completely extinguish these 

 smoldering fires. The sparks not only clung to the old logs and stumps, but they 

 burrowed in the ground out of sight. To completely extinguish these lurking 

 embers, it would be necessary to dig up the entire burned area. Little could be 

 done except to watch the ground night and day, extinguishing the little flames that 

 started up here and there, and wait patiently for the fall rains that came at last, 

 and with their long-continued downpour drenched the land completely. Then, and 

 not until then, was the last fire fighter and watcher allowed to go home. 



I have explained here the necessity, in a dry season, of keeping " watchers " on 



