Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-11-06
Scorchsd San Diega s.

Mary Lawrence, writes as follows
from Villoeentis, San Miguel
Mountain to the San Diego Meas:
One of the fires began near
Villolos Bejas, and ran down the
SweetwRter river; there it parted
near Mr., Things place, one branch
going toward DR.. Johnsou's apiary,
and the other branch crossing by
San Juan, an Indian rancheria,
then spreading on the mountains
toward Lees Valley. 1t then
thought it would pay us visit. 1t
came roaring and flaming down to
the apairy of Maxfeld Bros, and
before they had time to think or do
any thing, their apiary was all ON
fire. They have los. about half of
their bees; also their honey house,
with all their tools for making
hives and other articles necessary
on u bee ranch. Their wagon,
which at the time was loaded with
lumber and standing by the honey
house, was burned. Their loss
amounts to about one thousand
the untiring efforts OF Messrs. Max
field; also the hay stack was saved
with the assistance of Mrs. Geary
and myself, Mr.. Geary being
absent with his sheep. MIR. Geary,
by mere chance, got his sheep ont
of the flames and smoke. Mr.. ID.
MaXtield came very near being
burned to death, in trying to save
his honey house. He was sur
rounded by fire, and ] can tell you
we were afraid that he would be
burned, but fortunately he escaped,
with the exception of having his
hair and beard burned consider
ably. We are all burned from
fighting the fire. My face, hands
aud feet are very badly burned.
Mr.. F. Maxlield is also quite badly
burned. Mrs. Geary is burned a
little. Mr.. Geary in trying to save
his sheep and the timbers from be-
ing burned, got his clothes on fire,
but he extinguished the flames
some way without injury enough
to amount to anything.
The others who have been visited
by the fire have not been damaged
much. / think the only one of our
Deighbors about whose safety there
is any doubt is Mr.. Hamilton. Mr..
Maxfield tried to go down to his
place this afternoon, but had to
turn back as tSe flames and smoke
almost choked him. He bad hard
time to beat his way, as the fire
had closed all around him and his
team. Mr.. Hall also met with
quite a loss in the burning Of some
very dry wood he had cut for
winter use. AT the time of the dis.
truction of Mr.. Maxfield bees, the
smoke was so dense that we could
not see one another. 1t was sad to
see the poor birds turning and fly
ing right into the fire, only to be
destroyed. If the San Diego folks
want variety of roast meat,
send them out here, and we will
supply them with deer, coyo-
ties, Wildcats, skunks, rabbits, foxes
and quail, not to say anything OF
the reptiles that have been de-
stroyed for the good of the farmers.
The San Miguel mountain was
burned on the goth of October. The
mountain runs almost to our kitch-
en- door, so in order to save our OWL
house, orchard, barn and corral,
built back fire. Only for that
guess we would have ashes to sleer
on.
p. S.-Mr. Geary says that the
aplary of NJ. d. Hamilton Is safe, 81
| far, but thinks his house is burned
The fire now is in the timber which
Mr.. Geary tried to save. 1t seems
bad to lose such nice oak wood. 81
far, the fire is still burning, and
expect it will continue for som,
time