The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-01
PRAYING FOR RAIN.
A Plague of Fire Still Besets
the Sound Country.
MANY RaNcHgRs suRNgo OUT.
The Flames Have Wiped Oct Farms Ia
whateom County aud sweep aisng
Heed Canal. Burning Deer.

/
ing as ever, though il lifted somewhAt in
this city yesterday. Tue weather clerk
has not yes seen 1t 10 order = rAInssorn
and appears stoicslly indifferent OF the
ardent prayer OF a suffering common
wealth. While il would he difficult 20
imagine bank OF smoke more dense than
prevailed a. Seattle yesterday Olympia
was doabiy afflicted. Frank B. Inxersou.
who was At Olympia yesterday morning.
returning with 3 pleasure party on the
steamer May dower. says that the Maltuo-
nah approached 20 within hfsy feet with
out being seen. The Aaysower Was lying
az the dock 81 Olympia and the captain.
hearing thu Maltnomah approaching,
shouted:
Look out. captain. for the Mayfower.
We're lying at the dock -
Slowly the Multnomah approached the
dock, and, although the people on the
two vessels could distinctly hear each
other talking, not an object could be dis
eerned az greater distance than fifty feet.
People who returned last evening from =
fishing and hunting trip up Hood canal
report that the saohomish valley and
much Of the country between Union City,
At the head of Hood canal, aud Shelton
has been mass of flame for nearly three
weeks, but as yet no valuable timoer has
been destroyed. According 10 general
reports the fires were started along the
shelton road from Union City by
Indians who were figuring on
berry patches two years hence.
The flames spread through the under
brush with lightning-like rapidity, and
before twenty-four hours elapsed had
crossed 20 the ridge. running along the
bank OF the Skokomlsh river opposite
the reservation. Wind drove the flames
towards Union City and, in less time than
il takes TO tell it, Il, 200 feet OF fir logs,
owned by a rancher named Lewis, were
consumed. For twenty-fsur hours Mr..
Lewis had to watch the fire that threat
ened his house. The same day the
house of Mr.. Webb, the largest and
finest ranch in that section, was
in continued danger. All hands were on
watch and as the fire swept on down the
valley less than ten rods interviewed. a
barn owned by Mr.. Hoppe. the next below
Mr.. Webb. caught IRE, but, owing to the
vigilance of the watchers. the flames were
extinguished before much damage was
done. AT night the fire was grand sight
and. as seen from the banks of the Sko-
komish river. presented the appearance of
big city brilliantly Illuminated. In many
places the tip-tops Of huge trees were
burning brightly and looked like electric
lights high above the fiiekering lights that
flashed through the maple foliage that
borders the rivers banks.
The stage driver on his way to Shelton
from Union City had TO pass through
hot section and in many places detected
the odor of burning hair. as If many deer
had passed in their flight from the fire.
Only day or so later two deer were killed
not far from Union City.
Over 100 acres of land in the region about
Lake Cnshman has been burned over. The
ire was started by a woman as signal TO
her friends that she and her party had
reached the top of hill. Only a few
fagots were collected for the bonfire, but
no sooner lad the match been touched
than the dry leaves and twigs on the
ground caught. and before the party
could check it the fire was on
its way. All the fires along
the gorges and ridges along Hood canal
combined 10 make the atmosphere almost
intolerable. and for several days naviga-
ton has been attended with great difficult
ties Yesterday the steamer Delta reached
the city only half hour late. From Sea-
beck to Port Gamble the passage was made
in smoke and fog that completely hid the
shores. From Gamble to Kingston the
fog became more dense. and IL was i'm
possible 10 see ten feet ahead. The steamer
Idaho was passed within short distance,
but tue only sign of her presence
was the clsnking OF the machinery and the
whistle. Harry Turner. who was 1t the
wheel, said il was as thick q day as be
ever saw on the Sound.
A subscriber living in the Sooksack val
lev, seven miles from Blaine. writes to the
Posr-IsrELIIoEScEa under date of August
.. as follows:
"The woods are ali In flames here
Winds are driving the fires, and all the
fences and vegetation has been consumed
in this nelghborh0ud. over forty families
are homeless AMI are left without clothing
or food. One poor woman with her i've
children Was compelled 10 seek shelter In
a root cellar The youngest child was a
babe but a few weeks old. He husband
was away at the time. The family lost
everything they had. Nearly everybody ia
this section of the valley lost severely
as a result Of the flames. The list of..ihose
who we're IN line with the flames is: j. ID.
Gardner. barn md contents; w. niger
rGlts mousse anu 9GA0AtAAtAEp " AFESSoAs
house, barn and ali; &. Smith, house: XII
Snyder, shingie mill, house, barn and
stock; J. Y. Smith. household goods.
There are many more not heard from as
yet As far as known no lives were lost
The following dispatches make known
the story In various other parts OF the
Puget sound country:
SsoQUALxIE, Aug. d.-tspeeial. Will
fam McGloui, sho owns ranch at the
base OF Mount 81. lost his house by TIRE
Yesterday afternoon. Itcaught by spark
from the fires on the mountain. Only two
children we're at h0fne. one boy 10 years
old. Who worked herolcaIly 20 save the
household effects, but the most Of them
were consumed. No damaging forest fires
have thus far been reported in the Sno-
analraie VALLEY aside from this.
Nj. XKaSos. aug. 81. - Special. -
Heavy. sitting smoke still nlis tue air and
| has not lifted FOR I'VE days. 4 slight
breer. seems TO be driving the smoke back
tonight. however. Steamers were unable
| 70 run In the river yesterday. A. Pressen-
| tine Who arrived from Sauk today. says
that many houses near Sank have been
burned IN the woods. and that much loss
has resulted.
PosrrAxp. Aug 5I.-There vas . heavy
rainfasl in the Willamette valley touight,
giving relief from fhe smoke.
Bax Customs Receipts at New York.
xxw Yovx. Aug. sI-The rush Of hls5-