The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-25
FLAMES ON MT. HAMILTON.
LICK OBSERTA TORY IMPERILLED BY A
FOREST FIRE
Starting n . Hay Field Tea Miles way the
Fire Has Travelled steadily Toward the
Observatory In Spite or Every Eaort.
und IL Now But One Mile Away.

Starting In = Hay Field Tea Miies Away the
Fire Has Travelled Steadily Toward the
Observatory IN spite or Every E4ort.
nnd IL Now But One Mile Away.
BAN JOSH. Cal, July 24.-The fires that for
several days have been devastating the east
orn portion OF this county are still raging with
unabated fury and the costly buildings and
instruments OF Lick Observatory on Mount
Hamilton are now seriously threatened. The
FIRE Is already within a mile OF the summit
whore are located the buildings and 10 steadily
eating it's way upward through the trees. vine
yards. and immense hay fields. that offer the
best OF material Tor combustion. The nre
started five days ago In hay field ten
miles distant from Mount Hamilton. and owing
to the long continued drought OF the summer
1t spread rapidly. until tonight distance ten
miles long by eight wide has been burned
over. Morrow's immense ranch. 10000 acres
In extent is a blackened and charred waste Of
ashes and smouderlng Goals. thousands OF
tons OF hay miles Of fences. acres OF orchards.
many valuable buildings and much stock
having been destroyed. All day long heavy
clouds OF smoke are seen rolling no and over.
hanging tho burning district, twenty eight
miles distant from here. and at night the
whole eastern sky IL rudy and glowing
from the reflection OF the fres The great
white dome OF the observatory stands In bold
outline against the background Of smoke.
Yesterday and to-day vast number OF men
were sent out from this city with shovels and
picks to fight the fire and check its progress
toward the observatory. There is NO water at
all to fight the flames. and thu only weapons at
hand are shovels and Iicks with which to dig
wide, shallow trenches in the van Of the flames.
In many places tho fire has lesped over these
trenches and driven the fighters back. until
now 1t has arrived within less than mile Of
tho big pile OF granite and marble that con-
stitute the observatory.
The people al Lick rely mainly for their SAL
walton upon tho fact that tho upper half OF tho
mountain is almost barron o! any vegetation or
other fnfammable material. but thore 10 dan.
ger that flying sparks will ignite some OF the
ontbuildings. which are OF wood.
Tho Rravest danger. however. lies In the
heat affecting the Instruments. which are OF
the most delicate mechanism and easily A.
fected by extreme changes OF tenn perature.
The heat from the fires ia at present plainly
felt at the observatory. and tho greatest pre-
caution has been taken to protect the costly
apparatus.
Any scientific observations ct the present
time are utterly impossible both on account OF
tho heat and also Of tho smoky atmosphere.
All travel to and from the observatory 10 now
blocked. fire having in several places leaped
across the road
The damage already done to property in the
surrounding country Is very great. indeed. but
not cipher TO what would DO the loss both in
money and to the scientific world were the OBJ
servatory buildings and its contents de-
stroyed.