Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-28
LICK OBSERVATORY SAFE
The Brave Fight Of the Scientific Corps with
the Flames.

The Brave Fight Of the Scientific Corps with
the Flames.
A New York World correspondent has re-
turned from Mount Hamilton, twenty-six
miles distant to San Jose, Cal He spent day
and night at the scene Of the ere that threat
ened the Lick observatory. The observatory,
through the energetic efforts Of the professors,
has been saved. The immense water tanks we're
on fire twice Saturday. Their destruction
would cut Of all water supply for the observa-
tory. Through the efforts OF Profs. Durham
and Barnard they were saved. Both the pro-
fessors fought the flames At great risk to
themselves. Each was considerably burned
about the hands and face. Prof Burnham's
hair was singed and his clothes were nearly
burned of.
At noon Sunday the fire had burned to within
half mile Of the summit Of Mount Hamilton,
skirting both sids Of the road. The fire started
about ten miles distant six days ago. II was
caused by the carelessness Of campers. The
tract burned over is about eight miles wide.
Among the sufferers 10 United States Sepator
Robert Morrow whose immense cattle ranch
was scared from end to end by the hre. Thou
sands Of head of cattle were burned. Immense
tracts Of valuable timber were also destroyed
Hubbard's ranch Of 5000 acres was devastated.
On Hamburg Bros. ranch many acres Of grain
and all the buildings were destroyed. Wan
dalls ranch. where the fire originated, is now
an area of ashes. Hartzoke's ranch, adjoining
has not even a fence left on it
Mrs. Ed Basse was very nearly burned to
death. She fought the fire all Friday afternoon
in q vain effort to save her home. The flames
finally surrounded her on every side. She
bravely gathered her skirts about her, made a
rush through the nearest wall of fire and
reached place Of safety. Her clothes were
all afire and she was so badly burned about the
feet that she is now confined to her bed.
The time Of greatest danger to the observa-
tory was Friday, when the chaparral on the
mountain side, and entirely surrounding the
observatory, was afire. telephone communi-
cation with San Jose was cut off and no assist
ance could be- secured. The ranchers were all
busy attempting to save their own property.
In this hour Of danger the flames raging
hercely less than half mile away, the profess
sors and astronomers organized an lmpromptu
fre brigade, and with wet blankets, buckets OF
water and shovels began their defense of the
buildings. While part Of them fought the
flames and checked their progress with blankets
and switches others dug trenches in the more
exposed portions of the ground The safety Of
the observatory buildings and all their valuable
contents is entirely due to their heroic efforts.
The state authorities have taken an active
hand, tirst to discover the identity of the camp
ers who started these destructive fires and sec
ond to prevent a recurrence. Commissioner
Kelly OF the state bureau Of forestry, with a
force of officers, is now at San Jose for infor-
nation that will lead to the arrest of any per-
son starting these fires in the mountains.
The aggregate loss will exceed 81 600 900,
and the fires are raging in every direction. A
tire started Saturday night in the Santa Cruz
mountains on the western side Of the valley
through the carelessness Of campers, and it is
now burning fiercely. From one of the pro-
fessors at the observatory it was learned that
considerable damage had been done to some of
the more delicate instruments by the great
heat resulting from the close proximity Of the
flames on Friday. Just what the nature or ex-
tent Of this damage was they would not say, but
1t is understood that some of the scientific ap-
paratus will have to be entirely replaced. The
great telescope and its costly object glass have
not suffered any injury.
Owing to the dense clouds Of smoke that still
envelop the heights of Mount Hamilton no
attempts at astronomical observations have
been made for q week past. For the time
being all visitors are excluded from the OBJ
servatory.