Report of the Forest Commission, 97 



think that the fire is likely to keep on burning through the night and to-mor- 

 row, the woods are so dry. 



The second fire seems to be off toward Middleboro, and is burning at a 

 furious rate, but no word can be had as to the extent of country burned over 

 or damage done. 



Attleboro, May 16. — This town has been surrounded all day by burning 

 woods, and in some cases the fires have caused serious damage. The most 

 destructive was the one at East Mansfield, which burned fully over 2,000 

 acres of old woodland, destroying great numbers of pine and oak trees, besides 

 hundreds of cords of wood cut last winter. Another fire at West Mansfield 

 also did considerable damage. The long continued dry weather with the high 

 winds has rendered everything very inflammable. 



Seekonk, May 16. — The forest fire set by tramps at noon yesterday about a 

 mile north of Perrin crossing, on the Indian Point branch of the consolidated 

 road, burned over 1,500 acres before it was subdued at an early hour this 

 morning. A gang of 150 railroad section hands and others fought the blaze 

 over 12 hours. 



Sandwich, May 16. — The woods of Plymouth county seem doomed to 

 destruction by forest fires, and unless there is a rain storm within 24 hours, the 

 country in and around White Island Ponds will be entirely devastated. 



For weeks but little rain has fallen in this vicinity, the ground is dry, the 

 trees are backward in their growth, and everything in the woods is in the 

 most favorable condition to furnish food for the flames. 



The fire which broke out in the woods north of Sagamore is still burning 

 to-night. The villagers fought it all day. No alarm has been felt for the 

 village itself, as the fire is now about five miles away. By reason of the wind 

 changing several times during the day, hundreds of acres of valuable wood- 

 land have been swept over. At one time the fire made quite rapid progress 

 toward Little Herring and White Island Ponds. 



Franklin, Mass., May 16. — An extensive forest fire has been raging in 

 Wrentham and Norfolk for two days. 



To-day another started near the railroad at City mills, Norfolk, and hun- 

 dreds of acres were burned over. The house and barn of John F. Wall were 

 set on fire to-day and consumed with part of the furniture. The loss 

 will be several thousand dollars. The fire in the woods is still burning. 

 The Glenwood mill is in imminent danger to-night and strenuous efforts are 

 being made to save it. 



Maine. 



Forest Fires Causing the Loss of Thousands of Dollars in Maine. 



Phillips, Me., May 14, 1894.— The loss by forest fires in Coplin plantation is 

 many thousands of dollars in valuable timber, principally spruce. Coplin is 

 bounded by Eustis on the north, Mt. Abram on the east, Lang plantation on the 

 west and Redington on the south, Bradstreet Bros., of Gardiner, Me., being 

 the owners. The fire has also caused a heavy loss in Lang plantation, owned 

 by Lawrence Bros. , of South Gardiner. 



In Redington township forests are burning. 

 13 



