The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-11
THE Blazing FORESTS.
Mason County Reports the Only
Sure Loss of Life.
VAST DESTRUCTION or TIMBER.
Tacoma Council Can't Make the
Comptroller Sign a Warrant.
Acjt. Gen. EHgges at Portland
Warrimoo Arrives safe at Victoria
Hearing of the Alleged Mine->alt-
ers At Everett.

Olympia. Aug. r0.-oniy ueager details
have been received from the burning dis
trlct west and south Of here. The wires
went down yesterday. and the only meth
Cd Of communication is BY messenger.
The city is covered with dense smoke,
and shower OF fine ashes is falling con-
tinuousiy. Thus far TWO deaths have
been reported. Lars Peterson and Thorn
as White were riding on a logging tram
near Shelton, when the train went
through a burning tres;le. The engineer
and fireman escaped. Peterson and White
were buried in the wreck
Simpsons logging camp was burned out
completely and the heavy draft horses
We're saved oaly BY the heroic efforts Of
the men. who rode them through the
flames The rlen saved their clothing
and personal property by digging trenches.
All the logging railroads are blocked by
falling timber. Heavy winds have famed
the fire through the dry timber till the
roaring Of the flames il heard miles away.
and the quick. successive falling OF giant
trees resembles the noise of battle. At
Summit, fifteen miles west OF here. sew
era! ranches have been destroyed, and
fear Is expressed fer the safety OF some
settlers whose escape hy the road is cut
Of. Millions Of feet of valuable timber
have been lost
Portland. Aug. I0-Forest fires have
prevailed in the mountains throughout the
Northwest for two weeks past. and the
atmosphere has become so smoky as 10
almost entirely obscure the sun at mid
day. In the Nehalem valley much timber
has been destroyed, and it is feared Mr.
and Mrs. North, living on Clear creek
have been burned TO death
Tacoma, Aug. IA Ledger special from
Olympia says that all the logs at Simp-
sons logging camp west of that town.
spI i.t-4
The horses and oxen were saved To save
their effects the workmen buried their
trunks and clothes in trenches dug i'm the
ground. II is reported that some settlers;
are surrounded by fire near Mud bay, west
OF Olympia. The telephone line is down
and the roads are blocked. so that moth
ing can be heard from them McDonald's $
logging camp has not been burned, as re-
ported. though the workmen at several
camps around Olympia are fighting the
flames.
Montesano. Aug 1n--word has been re-
cetyed here that a very destructive fire
is sweeping over the eastern part of Che
halls county. large amount Of fences.
buildings and growing crops have been
destroyed but so far no lives have been
lost although one man has lost his eye
sight from fighting tho fire. full ac-
count OF the losses is tnobtainable, but a
partial list follows. Dan Csfllies. damage
10 engine and logging road. about $500,
William Mackey, all of hts buildings ex-
cept residence and growing crops, value
( unknown, Murray schoolhouse about
s9o9' l. ;. Slater lost everything except his
shingle mill. including dry kiln, residence
outbuildings and 800 cords of shinSle
bolts. in all valued AT not less than 81 900:
man named Wright, living on the upper
Satsop, has lost everything EXCEPT his
nome; hetcalfe Bros. had two or three
miles of fence burned. The total loss will
be hard to determine falling as il does
on so many small farmers who lost prac-
ticsliy all they possess. The fire is not vet
under control. and fears are entertained
for several of the shingle mills located
above Elma.
oakville. Aug. Especial fires
west Of here still continue TO come up
the river, doing damage as they go. on
thursday the first schooIhouse below
Sharon was destroyed by forest fires also
house. two barns and numerous out
buildings, fences ard crops in the same
locality.