Omaha daily bee., 1893-09-17

be done to stay the conflagration's spread.
Hope had been almost given over by the fire
lighters, who, driven from point to point by
the fierce flames, scorched and blistered aud
burned, were about to give up, when the
wind, veering, carried the flames away from
the town.
The respite was a brief one, however, for
the flames again shot cityward, but the time
gained was valuable, for in those few short
minutes almost superhuman efforts had been
put forth, aud the dried brush and the dead
timber had been removed from the fires
track, leaving it nothing to feed upon.
Checked in its movement toward this city
the fire continued to burn in the thick
timber to the vest, and all night Friday
ragged furiously. The scene was a magnif-
cent one, but its awful destructivcness was
fully realized by the people of Dead wood,
watching and fearing it.
Danger Past.
The worst is over now and the community
IS beginning TO breathe more freely. A suffi-
Gent force to hold control over the flames is
kept on the hills, conlining the fire to the
circles it has already made and there is no
longer apprehension that any OF the towns
or cities will be swept in the track of the
angry elements.
Whether or not the desired effect has been
produced a little time will develop, but the
experiences of The last fewdays should teach
the good people Of these Black Hills
"A valuable lesson. About all of
WIG quaint anu pretty llttlo
cities are greaj quantities of
tall timber and "A grOwth of undcrbrush,
timex enough to make it n difficult Job for
even Il lack rabbit to penetrate. Had this
timber been cut and this underbrush re-
moved there would have been none of the
dangers OF the past ten DAYS. The eXDense
would nave been n mere blgatelle to tho
amount the taxpayers of this city will now
have to disgorge for the services of 300 men
at 500 each per day fighting the flames for
tho q AuanE n'hn Inan,, tn - q ---
but the people in the first flush of thankful
ness that their homes are not DESTROYED are
not counting it.
Cause of the Fires.
The utter disregard of n Unlted States
law by the citizens of the Hills alone il re-
responsible for the Immense amount of dam
age that has been done within the past few
days. Wood choppers and timber hewers,
after taking from the trees the valuable pnd
useful parts, have invariably neglected TO
gather and pile, as required by the law in
question, the tops and small branches which
nave been rejected AS useless. As dry ms
Under, this intiamable stuff has been allowed
to remain where IL has fallen. Campers are
numerous in the hills, and careless. A little
lire left burning after a party has taken it's
departure from CAMP, "a slight wind, and the
damage has been done. IL is the intention
hereafter TO prosecute every violator of the
law, and 1T is thought that a few cOnyic-
tions will have the effect of compelling a
closer observance OF it.
Tine timber fires have been confined to no
particular locality in the Black Hills, put
have been raging throughout its length and
breadth. Pennington, Butte and Custer
counties have suffered most, and the damage
TO growing timber will amount to many mil
lions of dollars. A day or two ago tho sol
dlers OF Fort Meade were ordered out To
hght the fames on ELK creek, and through
Their EFFORTS very much valuable mill prom
erty was saved from destruction.
Hardly a hamlet or town III the Hills has
escaped a visitation from the flames, and il
seems wonderful indeed that any OF them
have escaped destruction.