Conservation Commission 95 



of the Underwood Club was saved. The fire was confined to the 

 areas previously burned and advanced over this area. It finally 

 endangered valuable property in the vicinity of St. Huberts. The 

 commission, appreciating the situation which might develop had, 

 through the Hon. Peter G. Ten Eyck, representative in Congress, 

 secured an order from President Wilson directing the United 

 States army to assist in this work. The Superintendent of State 

 Forests, who was on the ground, learned that a portion of the 

 Eifth Infantry was on a march through the Adirondacks, im- 

 mediately communicated with the commandant, and, within a day, 

 three companies of soldiers were upon the ground assisting in the 

 work. Later, three additional companies were detailed to this 

 work. The troops rendered most efficient service in constructing 

 fire lines, setting back fires, and patroling trenches; they were 

 faithful, vigilant and energetic both night and day. 



This fire covered approximately 30,000 acres and, in some 

 places, was fully ten miles in length and four miles in width, but 

 there were large areas within this radius which were not burned, 

 and the damage of the fire was confined to about 375 acres of tim- 

 ber land. The accompanying illustration gives a fair idea of the 

 character of the land where the fire occurred; the region, being 

 almost entirely an old fire slash, was an ever present menace, and 

 now that a large portion of the debris has been consumed and fire 

 lines erected, fire protection in that locality has been greatly in- 

 creased. The most regrettable feature of the fire was the loss of 

 a human life. One of the fire fighters from the mines at Mineville, 

 while digging a trench along the edge of the burned area, was 

 struck by a fallen stub and instantly killed. 



The other fire which was not immediately controlled, originated 

 in Lewis county on the night of August 18th, and was caused by 

 a burning building. A heavy wind, which was blowing at the 

 time, scattered the burning embers from the building and the for- 

 est was ignited. All available labor was employed to protect the 

 remaining camps and the forest fire escaped. This area, like 

 that in Essex county, had previously been burned by the fires of 

 1903 and 1908. Two forest rangers with a large force of men 

 were almost immediately on the scene and did all they could to 

 control the situation, but, on account of the hiffh wind and the drv 



