The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-16
BIG SMOKE BLANKET
1t Hangs Like a Pail Over the
Entire State.
FIRES BLAZING ON ALL SIDES
sam Gustin Loses His Barn Residence
Destroyed Near Toit Flames
Darling Everywhere.


tir1bered sections OF Western Washington
appear innurnerable, and daily increase
the immense clouds OF smoke that now
partially obscure the sun. In few sec
tons. notably Mason county, immense
damage is being done, but generally the
Gre seems 10 be confined TO grass ana 10
dried brush from clearirgs. There is no
question that nearly every part OF the
Sound country is contributing 10 the
smoke. which hangs like pail over all or
Washington. President Samuel Hin. or
the Montana Central who reached this
city yesterday. says smoke was frst en-
ceuntered a, Hope. Idaho, and that the
clouds became thicker as he pfoceeaed
west.
AS TO the Mason county fires. A. II. An
derson, of the Peninsular railway, who
has lust returned from Shelton. says much
destruction is being wrought in the old
and dried out districts, through which the
flames sweep Ike a cyclone The nres
threaten the town and the railroad track,
and a constant watch has 10 be main
tanned 10 guard buildings and bridges
While much old timber Is being destroyed.
Mr. Anderson thinks that the largest trees
escape from the flames, which eat their
way around the bark near the ground and
then 90 out. He speaks of the burned
bridge and wreck on the railroad as n
melancholy sight. the engine, which was a
perfect machine designed especially for
heavy work on reverse curves. being dis
mantlsd. one part here, another there.
while piece of the boiler is impaled high
up on pile. On all sides are logs from
the thirty or more ears which followed the
locomotive onto the burned bridge
Burning Around Green Lake.
In the vicinity of Seattle, Green lake
appears to have the largest fire. II has
ragged through the woods for the past two
days. and has sent up clouds of smoke
and cinders that float to a great distance
through the atmosphere. Last evening
c. A. Goddard. in response TO telephanic
call. said the blaze near Woodland park
and in the woods TO the north was clearly
visible but seemed to be doing little dam
age. Another report was TO the effect that
fires could be seen along the shores of
Salmon bay in the timber leading down
from Magnolia bluffs.
Blazing North and south.
At the offices of the Seattle Lake Shore
& Eastern railway, which a few days ago
reported fires at Acme. Wickersham and
Montborne. George =. Cliff. train dis
patcher, reported that for the first time
In several days the wires were working
perfectly the road yesterday having ex-
perienced no trouble at all. The main
difficulty heretofore encountered had been
from seemingly insignificant fires in grass
and brush along the right of way. which,
eating about a tree now and then, at last
cut il through and feled ii across the
wires. Other lines reported no fires of
consequence. The Great Northern passes
through a country densely covered with
smoke. which decreases as one approaches
the mountain tops, while the Northern
Pacific pierces the smoke bank further to
the south. United States Attorney Will
lam II. Brinker, who was in the Yakima
country few days ago. and returned by
the Northern Pacific, saw vast amount
of smoke but no fire.
Flames Light the shores.
Steamers along the water front bring
tidings of small fires ali along the shores
of the Sound. General Agent Fri Seelev.
of the Flyer says that at night time pas
sengers on the run between this place
and Tacoma can see little tongues of
flame darling brightly back and forth
among the trees and grass on shore ell
the way from Duwamish head to Brown
point Capt Swift of the Mabel. saw
large blaze in the woods at Three-tree
point Capt. f. NJ Darlington, of the
Cricket, reports numerous fires along
nearly the entire shore of the EvNstt
route. and says that many Of the campers
at Richmond beach and Edmunds. dis
plea sed with the smoke. have returned to
their homes The Edith reports that there
are great forest fires back of Point No
Point. At that place a surveying party.
headed by the county surveyor or kitsap
county boarded the steamer. and stated
that the woods were all afire. The blaze
cannot be seen from the Sound. but i'm
nense columns OF smoke are rising. Along
Hood canal on both sides there are
many fires Of various areas. The Gar
land, from Neah Bay, reported yesterday
that there were many fires all along the
American side OF the straits. and while
no blaze could he seen, the smoke rising
showed that n large territory was being
swept by the flames Since August 10 az
p. m. no report came In from Tatoosh
by wire until yesterday. The fires are
raging all along the lire as far south as
BainhridEe island. In many places the
telegraph poles have fallen. and heavy
trees have swept down the wires for some
distance.
4 Barn and House Destroyed.
Among the sufferers at outside points Is
s. n Dustin. OF North Bend. who has lost
his barn and 100 tons Of hay. lie reports
that the fires are burning large quantities
OF timber.
4 special from Tolt yesterday afternoon
conveyed the news Of tho total destruc-
tion By fire OF W. c. Richardson's dwell
ing house together with all it's contents.
and outbuildiugs. Just how the fire start
ed is not definitely known, but il is sup
posed that flying sparks from brush fires
which were burning not Ear of isnited the
shingles. which were dry as finder. Mr..
Richardson. with his brother and \. u.
Thrall and several others, were watching
the barn. which. being some distance OF.
was quite near 10 the burning brush. not
thinking for moment that the house was
I'm any danger. Suddenly flames were
seen 10 burst from the kitchen roof. and
before anything could be done were be-
yond control. with little hopes OF saving
anything.
4. -. Thrall. who makes his homo with
the Richardson family. succeeded In gain
ing an entrance by the front door and
threw oit a few articles. but almost all
the furniture. clothing and bedding Of the
family was totally consumed: also about
So Ia hills which Mr.. Richardson had
brought with him from Seattle on Satur-
dav The total loss Is fully $3.50. sikh
only s5f0 Insurance. in the State Insurance
Company OF Oregon.
STRUGGLE FOR RIGHr-OF-wAY.