The morning call., 1894-11-16
WAVES OF FLAME.
Great Timber Fires i'm
Colorado.
FORESTS MELTING AWAY
Before the Sweep of the Devour-
ing Element.
MINING CAMPS BURNED OUT.
Hundreds of Men Out on the Hills
Fighting to Save Small
Towns.
MINING CAMPS BURNED OUT.

BOULDER. Colo, Nov. 15.-Fire in saw
mill, west of the mining-camp of Ward,
starting last night spread to the timber and
has been doing great damage. and this
morning caused intense excitement here
by reason of sensational reports to the
effect that the mining camps of Ward and
Gold Hill had been burned to the ground.
Ward, however, did not suffer, but Gold
Hill was, at late hour this afternoon,
burning and other camps are threatened.
Gold Hill, having a population of 500 Is
situated only four miles west of Boulder.
and Ward. with population of 1000, is
five miles further ou. The FIRE started just
west of Ward, in the heavily timbersd dis
tricts, and swept to the east. The inhab-
tants were alarmed early in the evening,
dense clouds of smoke settling down on the
camp. The fire spread through the dry
pine timber with remarkable rapidity, aud
settlers along its path were forced to leave
their cottages and cabins TO burn and to
get into the camps. The fire, burning Oh
the outskirts of Ward, advan to Ward.
Gold Hill, and swept over an area Of
about eight miles.
The fire is spreading toward Coppsr
Rock and it is believed many small camps
Hill who have not come to Boulder have
assembled ON top of Horsefel Mountain
and ara watching the progress Of the de-
vOuriDg flames as they destroy their
homes. The wind is bio wing furlOusly
and drives the fire before 1t in largo sheets
of fame. The property loss cannot at
present be told, but it will amount TO over
So. 100000. There will necessarily be great
destituiion. The fire IS spreading along
Left Hand and in the direction OF Sun
shine. Sunshine is two miles from Gold
Hill. Among the important mines at Gold
81 i'll for which fears are expressed are the
Ali Mackee and Cash Berkin.
A courier reports the destruction of
about one-half the property OF Camp Tai
cot and the Prussian mine and mill.
The timber around Gold Lake has been
swept bare by the flames.
The ranch houses of Mr.. Ely at Left
Hand were completely destroyed aud Mr..
Ely was badly burned about the face and
hands Mr.. Seaman, whose ranch was
burned. also suffered injuries.
Fred Ehler's property near Sunset was
burned and Ehler was found unconscious
in an outbuilding, where be had gone to
endeavor to save something He is seri-
ously burned.
Over 300 men are fighting the fires ap-
proach at West Gold Hill. which seems to
sweep everything before it in its trend
over the mountains and through the valley
ranches.
Women and children are continually
arriving in this city for protection, and
the scene Is one of wild excitement. Team
sters from Ward, Gold Hill and Sunshine
are bringing the panic-stricken people
from the burning districts. which include
Camp Talcott, Sunset, Copper Rock, Left
Hand and Gold Hill. Lew Jain. the pro-
prietor of the Ward-Boulder stage line,
arrived in Boulder at 80 o'clock to-day.
He brought the mail on horseback, be-
cause it was impossible to run his coach
through the burning district. which is
known as the Ridge Rod" between Gold
Hill and Ward. He reported that at IL
A. NJ. the fire was raging furiousy. and
the wind blowing a gale. and it was then
within one mile of Gold Hill
Sunset will be wiped out before morn
ing IL the wind continues 10 blow In the
direction it now does. Copper Rock is In
imminent danger of being cleaned out and
Salna will be served the same fate. Ward
is reported safe. as the fire is playing east
and north of the great camp, and unless
the wind changes over to the east no dam
ger is looked for. -
Gold Lake. a fishing place and summer
resort, situated about three miles west of
Gold Hill, is entirely burned out. and
nothing Is left of the pretty cottages.
The air in this city is heavily laden
with smoke. The fire is spreading north
and south. and the damage will be great to
property and timber. One life is reported
lost.