Omaha daily bee., 1893-09-17
DEADWOOD In DIRE DREAD
Fierce Forest Fires Sweep the Black Hills
Country.
BLAZING SWATHS SEVEN MILES WIDE
Marvellous Escape of Cities and Towns
Citizens Fight Back tho Flames
Probable Amount of Damages
Cause oil the Fires.

DEADwooD, S. d., Sept. l6.-fSpecial to
The BEE.l-The past week has been n rest
less one for the many settlements of the
Black Hills. During the month of August
and this month scarcely a drop of rain has
fallen, with the result that the timber and
underbrush all over the Hills has become as
intiammable as matches. Small fires starting
in various localities spread with such rapid
lty and gained so much in extent as to make
the country II veritablc sea of flame. These
fires have started in a large number OF
places, and, being allowed to go unchecked
for "A time, soon assumed proportions that
made them practically ineXtinguishable.
Nearly every mining camp in the northern
Hills has been threatened during the past
week from forest fires, and the inhabitants
have been out in force fighting the flames.
The most serious OF the fires were three.
The first extended along Annie creek, finally
making its way to Portland, whore it was
only by the most strenuous eXertions of the
inhabitants that the town was saved. This
fire destroyed a large amount of growing
timber, besides great quantities of cord wood
and some buildings and cabins, entalling n
loss OF probably $4,000.
Blazing Swnth seven Miles Wide.
East of Deadwood about six miles another
fire of large proportions is raging and has
done immeasurab BILE damage TO growing tim
Der. IL started on the head Of West Straw
berry guich. burning Il swath varying from
one TO seven miles wide and six miles long.
Along this line were many houses and settle
ments, the inhabitants Of which did all in
their power to eXtinguish the flames, but
without avail. 1t is still burning and
whether or not it will create much further
damage depends upon the wind.
In the flames track were the mill and
hosting works of the famous Two Bears
nina and at one time ina flames hnpu mr. en-
threatening that all the miners were called
out of the mine and set to work lighting
back the fire. All hope of saving the works
seemed gone, when suddenly the wind
yeered and the fire vent of in another direc-
ton.
But the most threatening and destructive
fire of all was one started by a miner TO burn
out a nest Of hornets. The hornets were
burned out all right and so was the miner.
Then the flames began to spread, and in less
than a DAY they had become "a seethingmass
of flames two miles WIDE, burning every
thing in their track. IL burned along the
head of Blacktail divide, threatening Cen
trail City, and all of Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday the people of that town re-
manned in a state of dread. Preparations
had been made for rapid flight. every citizen
of the city for the time being believing that
its destruction was only the matter of a few
hours.
Dsadwood In Dread.
The fire, however, waited by a strong
breeze, swept by the city, and, leaving it but
a few hundred yards to the east, cana roar
ing toward Deadwood. The heavens were
aglow with the fires reflection. and its pro-
gress Deadwoodward was watched and
noted by every citizen. For a time great
alarm was felt, for it seemed almost certain
that the fire in its progress would sweep
over the town. The fire alarm was sounded
and in a short time almost every able bodied
man in the city had assembled at the city
hall, The danger was imminent and but lit
tie time was spent Ia preliminaries. Men
were loaded into vehicles and sent TO meet
the advancing flames.
II was a hard fight, and but little could