*
Errol to Colebrook, N.H.
1903
June 15
(no 7)
incalculable damage throughout northern New England
although they have been by no means so widespread and
disastrous as the newspapers have represented. They are now
all out, of course. Just before the rains came they
covered the entire country with a pall of smoke so dense
that even at Boston & New York City the sun cast no
shadow and distant objects were obscured. For four or
five days after I reached Bethel the smoke was so
thick and rank that one could not see any object,
however large & conspicuous, at distances much exceeding
100 yards while the eyes smarted painfully after one had
been in the open air for a few minutes. Burned
leaves were falling continually on Dr. Gehring's lawn
although the nearest fire was seven or eight miles
away. All the scenery between Bethel and Umbagog,
about the Lake and between Errol & Colebrook has
fortunately escaped serious injury by fire although a
few acres of woodland are burned over just below
Grafton Notch and a similar area a few miles
to the westward of Colebrook. It is generally assumed
that no spring drought of equal length & severity
has ever before occurred within the memory of
the oldest inhabitants of this region & I can well
believe the statement.
* Forest fires
  At Colebrook, N.H., where I spent the night I noted the
following birds, all in the village: - Robin, 1 in full song; Maryland 
Yellow-Throat, 1 in full song; Cedar Bird, heard; Purple Martin, 1 heard; 
Red Crossbill, heard; House Sparrow, myriads seen & heard; 
Baltimore Oriole, male heard in full song female seen; Chimney Swift, 5 or 6.
This is a slim list but the evening was gloomy with showers
& I did not cover much ground.
Birds noted at Colebrook.