The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-08-10
THE FIRE FIEND.
The Barker District Visited by An
other Destructive Fire.
Hughes City in Flame s-The Wright &
Edwards and Lynch & Conway Build
ings, storehouses and Mess
Rooms in Ashes.
Heroic Attempts to Save property-A Mar
row Escape from Death.


! row Escape from Death.
| From Our Own Correspondent.
HUGHES Cry, August I, 1881.
4 mountain fire, like the volcano on old
Vesuvius, may quietly smoke and shoulder
for long intervals, and apparently seem at
rest, when, in reality, it is silently gathering
| its forces into line to make one grand and
awful struggle for freedom, and give vent to
the pent up elements within. For week
past the fire on the mountain side above
Hughes City has been slowly but surely pre-
pairing for final outbreak, and it needed but
strong and favorable wind to bring its
forces into action. The favorable moment
came on the afternoon of Saturday. the 9Th
inst.
| Shortly after dinner stiff breeze sprang
| up from the southwest, and dense volumes of
smoke and flame came rolling down the
Wright e Edwards gulch towards Hughes
City. Mr. Joe Lessard Immediately ordered
the twelve or fifteen men in the employ OF
the w. g e. Co., together with as MANY
more volunteers to cut an open trail and pre-
vent the fire from crossing and coming down
that side OF the gulch. The boys
FOUGHT LIKE TIGERS,
but despite their heroic efforts the fire Jump
ed the trail and came roaring down the op-
posite side with the speed Of q race horse.
Owing to the intense heat of the flames,
caused by the pitchy, resinous character of
the pine, it was impossible to stand and fight
it longer, and the boys were compelled to run
for their lives. They retreated to the store
houses and mess rooms of the w. Sc e. Co.
and turned their attention to saving this
property. Hardly had they reached it when
the fire was upon them, and again they were
compelled to retreat, without even saving
their own clothes and bedding. From the
". & e. Co.'S buildings down TO Hughes
City is Wright street, lined on both sides
with cabins, storerooms, ETC. 4 line OF
bucket men was formed, reaching to the
creek, and strong efforts were made to keep
the fire from reaching the main street of
Hughes City. But owing to the closeness of
the buildings the flames spread rapidly from
one to another, and it seemed as If the whole
town must go. But right at this point came
in the greatest miracle Of the day and which
served as the one great
CHECK TO THE FIRE
The newly finished residence of Mr. Les
sard, foreman Of the Wright & Edwards,
was surrounded by burning buildings on ev-
cry side, but it had not as yet caught fire, al
though its chances for being saved had long
been given up, and even Mr. Lessard himself
had told the boys to ''Let her go; you can't
save her." and had gone to another part OF
the town to see to the wants of his family. |
But Capt. John Kilally, ever on the alert and
seeing just bare chance that it might be |
saved, and thereby check the fire in that di-
rection, was heard to shout above the roar of |
the flames:
''1'll give five gallons Of whisky to you
boys if you'll save that house and check the
fret
Whether it was for the whisky, or the en-
thusiasm which the Captains words inspired
in them, the writer will not say, but at any
rate the boys, armed with buckets, and with
'Buckskin" in the lead, dashed through the
flames, and in short time the fire was under
control
Meanwhile the fire on Che opposite side of
he gulch had swept through the down tim
Der, destroyed the Lynch 4 Conway Mining
ID h,,;1d;nrc hoo;Ine 81 nSchnl 40 h;nn
md threatened Barrett & Leayitt's and Mike
Foley's stores, at the lower end Of town. 4
imely suggestion of Dan Carpenters that ga
pack fire be set out, alone saved this end Of
own from destruction.
THE LOSSES.
In conversation with Mr.. Lessard, to-day,
We learn that the Wright q Edwards Co.
ire losers to the amount Of about $1,20O;
gr. Lessard's loss is about $500. Lynch &
Jonway's loss is not known, but is estimated
It from $500 to $500. Various minor losses
well the total to s., 900, to say nothing Of
he valuable timber destroyed.
A NARROW ESCAPE.
4 young nan named Barbeau, in the en-
,loy of the w. & e. Co., had close fight
With death from suffocation. While fighting
he Ere in the carly part Of the afternoon he
ound himself surrounded By the flames and
ii hopes OF escape shut off. Fortunately he
vas close to the tunnel on the Wright g Ed /
wards mine, and ran into it. The fire ragged
.round him, and for five long hours he was
to lie On his face On the floor ct
he tunnel Ii nraYeuL auffaeaIian