The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-05
FIRE IN THE GRAIN FIELDS.
Thousands or Acres Burned Over-An I'm
common Occurrence.

Thousands or Acres Burned Over-An I'm
common Occurrence.
Sacramento Record Union, July 81.
Yesterday morning news was brought to this
place, over the telephone, that the whole country
was on fire north of Oakdale, or just across the
Stanislaus river, near Burnetts Station. Look
ing in that direction great clouds of smoke could
be seen rising from the plains. The sight was
a grand and terrible one. By noon it was re-
ported that over 10, 900 acres had been burned,
and that the whole country was in
danger. Excitement ran high here, and
a great many people started for the
fire, determined to do all they possibly could to
assist those in trouble. Your correspondent ar
rived at Oakdale in the afternoon, and found
that the danger had been much greater than
was believed in Modesto. The streets were
filed with those who had done good duty at the
fire. Hundreds of men we're lying around witt
the hair burned off their heads, and when they
attempted to tell how they fought the fire it
could be seen that they suffered intense pain.
Hundreds of them were SO badly used up that
they were compelled to leave the fire.
The fire broke out on the northwest corner of
Colonel Caleb Dorsey's ranch, about five miles
were smoking and that the fire from their pipes
caught the grain, and before they noticed it it
got under such Roadway that no one could go
near enough to put it out. w, Q. Carmichael
was the first to discover it. He was going to a
neighbours, and came upon the two men standing
looking at a small fire near by. He called to
them to come and help him put the fire out. and
the three went to work at once. But there was a
high wine blowing, and it soon became evident
to Mr.. Carmichael that the alarm would have to
be given. He ran to Colonel Dorsey's residence,
and in few minutes the dreadful news was flying
from farm to farm, and men gathered from all
parts of the county. By this time it was under
full Roadway, and they saw that no power under
the sun could save Col. Dorsey's large ranch.
Men rushed IN with wet sacks, and many pulled
off their coats, but the fire moved along faster
than a horse could walk. In a short time it had
spread over Col. DorSey's fields, and 600 acres
of the finest grain in the county was burned.
The fire then spread from Col. Dorsey's to ]. l..
Grainger's ranch, consisting of about 800 acres.
AT this point j. w. Gilmer met the raging
flames with a band of men and began to back
burn, that is, he plowed several burrows and
started a new fire. Mr.. Gilmer and his men
worked SO effectually that only 12O acres Of his
grain was burned. From there it spread to w.
M. Muncy's ranch, consisting Of 900 acres. The
men fought bravely, but no power could save it,
and the whole field was in flames in a few
minutes. BY this time Ike Watson's ranch was
reached, and 900 acres of his fine grain was de-
stroyed. The next place doomed to destruction
was R. Robinsons. Mr.. Robinson lost about
], 200 acres.
By this time the whole country was alive with
men, and they were so thoroughly organized
that the flames were stopped The fire started
about 10 o'clock, and it was not under control
until about 3:30 During this time it had run
dDOuV i've mIloS anu cOY6T6Q " Country bnI60
miles wide, destroying some of the finest grain
in the valley. It was reported that several
farm.houses had been destroyed. Col. Dorsey
lost pne Of his tenant houses and the barn,
valued az 5000. He also lost a threshing ma
chine and one Of ShipRees combined headers
and threshers, valued at about $1,000.
Y. w Gilmer, who superintendent the fight
with the fire, gave a good description Of it. He
said: II never saw anything SO grand and ter
rible in my life. arrived on the scene a short
time after the alarm was given. The flames
were leaping from field TO field at such a rapid
pace that one could hardly keep mp with them.
One would think that fire would make more
rapid Roadway in standing grain than in stub
bic. but 1t is not SO. Wherever the FIRE struck a
held that had been headed it would run on the
field rapidly. The wind was blowing quite a
gale, but that did not do so much damage as did
the whirlwind, which seemed to come up at all
most every step
How many men do you suppose were at
work. asked the reporter.
1should judge there were very near .. 900.
They came IN header wagons, bnggies, and on
horseback for miles around some even came
over from Stockton, and ali went right to work
as soon as they came on the field. At first they
worked without any system, but they soon got
down'to business, and we got the fire under con
troll Before we got organized we fought with
wet sacks and blankets, but as soon as possible