The Helena independent., 1894-11-16
MOUNTAINS BLAZING.
Fierce Fires Are Raging Over tho Wooded
Hills to tho West Of Boulder,
Colorado.
SOME MINING CAMPS BURNED OUT.
Property Loss Already Estimated at ST.,
100000, and the Fire Still Raging
With Increasing Fury.

Boulder. Col. Nov. IA fierce fire is
burning In the timber on the mountains
west OF here. Ward and Gold Hlll. min
Ing towns, having about 1900 inhabl-
tants, are in danger OF destruction.
Gold Hill has been abandoned 10 the
fames. The Inhabitants. numbering
bOO' fled towards this city. after sealing
up their most valuable effects In min
ing tunnels.
The flre swept over an area of about
eight miles. IL is now spreading tow
ards Copper Rock, where. II Is believed,
many small camps will be burned.
Residents OF Gold Hin, who have not
come to Boulder, have assembled on
top OF Horsefel mountain ana are
watching the progress of the devour-
Ing iames as they destroy their former
homes. The wind Is blowing flIrlously.
ana drives the fire before it in large
sheets or flames. The property loss
cannot at present be told, but IL will
amount TO over $4,000 There will
necessarily be great destitution. The
nre Is spreading along Left Hand and
IN the direction Of Sun Shine. Sun
Shine Is two miles from Gold Hill.
Among the important mines at Gold
Hill, for which fears are expressed. are
the All Mackee and Cash BerIxin.
A courier reports the destruction of
about one-half the property at camp
Ialcott 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, and Ely was
badly burned. Fred Ehler's property,
near Sunset, was burned, and Ehler was
found unconscious in an outbuiIding.
where he had gone In an endeavor to
save something. He Is seriously
burned. over 800 men are fighting the
fires approach at West Gold Hill. which
seems to sweep everything before II in
lts trend over mountains and through
the valley ranches.
Women and children are continually
arriving In this city for protection, and
the scene is one of excitement and de-
struction. Transfers from Ward, Gold
Hill and Sun Shine are bringing panic
stricken people from burning districts,
which include Camp Talcott, Sunset,
Copper Rock. Left Hand and Gold Hill.
Lew Jain, the proprietor of the Ward
Boulder stage line, arrived in Boulder
at 1870 o'clock to-day. He brought the
mail on horseback, because II was i'm
possible 10 run his coach through the
burning district, which Is known as
"Bidge Hill" between Ridge and Ward.
He reported that at IL a. m. the fire
was raging furiously and the wind
blowing gale. and IT was then within
one mile of Gold Hill. Sun Set will be
wiped out before morning II the wind
continues to blow in the direction Il
now does. Copper Rock is In imminent
danger of being cleaned out, and Salina
Will be served the same fate. Ward is
reported safe, az the fire Is playing east
and north OF the great camp.
Gold Lake, a fishing place and sum
mer resort, three miles west of Gold
Hill, Is entirely burned out and moth
ing Is left OF the cottages. The air in
this city is heavily laden with smoke.
The fire is spreading north and south.
and the damage will be great 10 prop
erty and timber, one life is reported
lost,