, 1878-09-21
THE CITY

terrible fires which have been rag
ing for several days past along the
north side of the Columbia river
are CLEANED from the Vancouver In
dependent.
Many small fires have been raging
in various places in the timber of
Clarke county, but on Monday the
heavy wind blowing started them
all up fercely, and in some sections
they spread with great rapidity. In
the vicinity of Parker's landing,
Fishers landing, Cape Horn noun
mountain and Fifth plain, much
damage has been done to farm pro-
petty rs well as to timber. At this
time we hear many rumors Of farm
houses burned, and of deaths, in
the uncertainty of these reports we
will let the rnmors pass until cons
firmed or disproved.
On Monday the fire coming down
from the foot hills on Fifth Plain
creek, burned the place of VIM.
Campbell. The house, barn, fences,
chickens, pigs-everything but the
ground-were totally destroyed, and
the family had hard work to escape
with what clothing they had on, the
sum total of all they saved from the
! place. The Nilsson place in that
hneighborhood was also destroyed,
and On it was stacked the grain
from the farms of Campbell,
Sliderberg, and Fleming. and some
hay, which was all consumed. By
hard work, John Pearson saved his
buildings, but lost much fencing.
Reuben Brown, who lives near Fern
praire, beyond this neighborhood,
rad hard work to save his property.
The farmers throughout the coun-
try were in great danger on Mon
day, and worked hard to save where
ever threatened. In some localities
panic prevailed, and some farms
we're abandoned by the occupants,
who sought places of greater safety.
With the going down Of the wind
Monday night, the danger was
greatly lessened. Several fires are
nAw burning on Salmon creek, but
We have no houses burned in that
locality.
Battle Ground is reported as suf-
feging from some very heavy fires,
and the people are working hard to
save their property.
4 lady correspondent at Battle
Ground sent US complete account
of the fires there, which we are un~
able to insert in full for lack of space
and time, The fire ran over the
place of A. j. Bean, destroying the
louse, unoccupied, and the old barn
but the grain barn was saved by
-,Ir. Palmer. The Kent and Miller
places were both swept clean. h.
L. Caples' house was burned, but
his little brother summoned aid
enough to save part of the contents,
The McIrvine place was totally de-
stroyed. Since Monday nothing
but fencing and timber haye been
burned, though the fires are still
raging.
CAT IN WEL1.-One day this
week several children residing back
OF the University, conceived that it
would be fine thing to kill cat
b slow torture. This plan they
Put into execution, and dispatched
the cat, to their iuiinite amusement.
Next they were interested in hiding
tAe deed, and after searching awhile
= concluded that we'll near at hand
l would effectually conceal what they
lhad done, so pussy was tumbled in.
Eba owner of the we'll knew nothing
of t,,a transaction, and unless the
presence OF the dead cat is discover
cd i'll the we'll, sickness may result
from using the water and possibly
death ensue. There is no telling
wha. the children of this city may
do. and persons having wells un-
covered, would do we'll to examine
them occasionally, especially If
there are many ungovernable chill
.dren in the neighborhood.
SuooTING.-Yesterday afternoon,
Major Bean and Byron Page again
did some good shooting, the Major
using the rife A. A. Denny brought
to this country. His five shots at a
mark two inches square, at 40 yards
we're: first shot, inch from center;
second, same; third. a inch; fourth,
q inca. fifth, Il inch. Page made
tiye shots at mark one-half inch
sqnale. First shot, q inch from
center; IL inches; third. 4 inch;
fourth, z inch; fifth. ~ inches.
These distances are estimated. not
scti,a! measurement. The old Mis-
sourian naturally feels proud OF his
score. He is ready to shoot with
any OF the boys, at Mr.. Stulls cabin
On ihe old railroad, next Friday af-
tefnoon at 2 o'clock.
II IS the custom of the farmers on
tie eastern shore of Lake Washing
ton 70 come to this city every Satur-
day. This morning they started as
usual, and the first ones on the
lake we're unable to gee their way
on account of the fog. Those
crossing later were able to see their
way the entire distance.