Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1895-08-15
DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.
Great Loss OF Property Throughout
COuntv.

NOuntys
The unusual dry weather for this coun-
try has occasioned numerous destructive
fires throughout this section. The region
on the Wishkah river around Grand
Forks was visited with u severe fire last
Tuesday. Mr.. H. F. Coles, who was in
this city to attend the teachers examina-
ton, was called home Wednesday by the
news that his home was in imminent
danger. A special from Grand Forks,
dated Sunday, 80 p. m, received just
as We 60 to press, states that the fire
ragged over sections 20 and 80, and that
only the extraordinary exertions Of the
residents, headed by road supervisor A.
G. Little and his crew, saved the numer-
GUS building containing the little all Of
the settlers from the flames, and that all
are suffering from the inhaling of smoke
and ashes.
On the same day fire burned over a
large part of Ford's prairie, destroying
the dwelling OF John Roderick and a
large amount Of fencing. About the
same time sparks from a burning slash
ing on the upper Satsop threatened to
burn out whole section of country, but
the great exertions of the settlers sue.
ceeded in controlling the flames, not how.
ever, until the fences, outbuildings and
several acres of standing oats on the farm
of VIM. Wright had been wired out.
Wednesday, at Summit, it looked as
though the large shingle mill of Slater 4
Co. was doomed, the woods on all sides
being in flames. The mess house and
the numerous dwellings around the mill
and nearly one thousand cords Of shingle
bolts were destroyed, and only super
human exertions ON the part Of the en-
ployes and neighbors saved the mill and
dryhouse. Owing to the telephone wires
being down it is impossible to give full
particulars Of the loss.
At Case & Huling's mill, just east Of
Elma, they owe the comparative immun-
ity from loss to the excellent water
system maintained by the mill company.
As it was, several hundred dollars worth
of shingles were burned, but the buildings
we're saved.
On Tuesday the logging camp of
Daniel Gillies, two and one-half miles
southeast of Elma, was attacked by the
hungry flames, and much Of the skid
roads destroyed and his donkey engine
seriously damaged. Nothing but the
unconquerable energy Of the men in the
camp prevent the buildings and supplies
from being burned.
A few miles south Of the Gillies camp
is the ranch of VIM. Mackey, veteran
of the civil war upon whom the shades
of life are falling, and who for the past
eight years has endeavored to make a
home for his family in the forests Of
Delezene creek, and who by the exercise
of the greatest frugality and industry was
just beginning to get tout Of the woods"
all the results Of Mr.. Mackey's labors
we're wiped out by the fire Tuesday. All
Of his buildings. with their contents, and
all the fences on the place being de-
stroyed by the devouring element.
The Murray school house, just above
the Gillies camp, was burned on Wednes-
day. 1t lie impossible at this writing,
owing to the telephone wires being down
to approximate the losses or insurance.
Friday a locomotive with big train Of
logs, crashed through trestle on the
Peninsular railroad, near Shelton. The
trestle caught FIRE from the forest fire, it's
supports were destroyed and the train
went down without warning. The en-
CINE, tender and several cars were entirely
wrecked, but the boiler and machinery
may be saved. Engineer Ben Snyder,
Firemen James Brakeman and George
Woodcock were badly scalded with es-
Gaping steam, the fireman. very seri-
ously. The engineer saved the fireman
from instant death by pulling him from
the burning wreck. lars Peterson and
Thomas White, ranchers, were riding
on the tender and were buried under
the wreck. The brakemen fortunately
leaped from their places before the logs
crashed together, and escaped without
injury. Forest fires are burning along
the road in various places and heavy
smoke prevented the engineer from dis
covering the danger, although he was
keeping a careful watch. The injured
men are being cared for by the doctors,
and large crowd Is out fighting the
fire in order to save the wreck.
The logging camps Of S. G. Simpson,
on the P. S. & G. H. r. R., are re.
ported completely burned out, the
large draft horses were ridden out by
the men and saved. Some of the
donkey engines and other property was
saved by digging pits and buryine
them. Information from that section
is very meager.
On Mox Chehalis the dwelling o.
John White was burned and his or
chard damaged. A large part of the
house was saved by the exertions o.
his neighbors.-Montesano Economist.
Knights Of the Maccabees.
The State Commander writes us from