The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-08-17
RAGING FOREST FIRES
Bridges on the Pipe Line in
Great Danger.
A cHINAMAN BURNS BRUSH
But the Flames Quickly Reach
the Ridge and Spread
for Miles.
A cHINAMAN BURNS BRUSH

For three days that dread element
fire, has bsen raging along the pipe line
from the waterworks eastward and the
hanger has been much more imminent
than is generally supposed.
The fire was started by Cinnamon
burning brush just below the Shively
place and spread in most unaccounta-
bic and unlocked for manner. From an
incipient brush CLEARING effort. the blaze
soon developed into q first class forest
fire, beyond the control of man. Quick
ly reaching the green fir on the top or
the ridge this fire by its intense heat
dried the foliage, which suddenly burned
as If powder magazine was flashed off,
the bright flames ascending high in the
heavsns, making a weird and beautiful
sight In the middle of the night We1nes-
day. From here the fire spread east
ward, rapidly covering several mirss ana
destroying much valuable timber anu
hundreds of cords of wood.
All Thursday, Thursday night and yes
terday, gangs OF men from the water
works headed by Messrs. Benin and
Hamsh@w, made valiant efforts to pre-
vent the destruction Of the bridges on
the pipe line, and thus save great ex-
pense to the city. The water commission
and engineering department did not sesm
much alarmed at first, but yesterday O
gang of men, under the engineers, were
engaged protecting bridge No. l. which
seemed certain of destruction, but up
to the present writing has been pre-
served. During yesterday the fire, which
had passed on beyond this bridge, broke
out afresh in Its immediate vicinity,
and soon gained strong headway. Mr..
Carruthers, who has been engaged in
getting out cordwood along the pipe line
and has already lost over one hundred
cords, joinsd the forces quickly assem-
bed by one of the engineers, and did
effective work in beating back the flames
Some loosened the earth on neighborlng
hanks with picks and others with SHOW
els threw 1t upon the fire. The neces.
sary close proximity to the flames by
the mgn made 1t very hot work, while
the dense smoke was suffocating in tRi
extreme.
The bridge soon became completely en.
veDoped In thick smoke and those on the
east end were Obliged to retreat up the
line towards their camp, not knowing
whether they would find camp to &c
TO or means of escape The cracking
of the flames and falling Of trees as they
were DuFUtu were SOulu5 VI leTrOT 10 I'LL
and brought home wildly the accounts
of the fires near Olympia, Wash, where
vlllagss were completely surrounded and
many lives were lost. Here only property
was at stake, but the arch flend is always
awe-lnspiring, even at a distance. Mr..
Carruthers will be ehavy loser, and II
the pipe line bridges are destroyed Ii
will cost the city aslarge sum Of money
besides considerable delay in the con-
struction of the water system.
Nothing has been heard yet from the
men who .retreated eastward from bridge
No. yesterday, but 1t Is presumed that
they were able to look after their own
safety. This men who were out all night
Thursday were quite exhausted yesterday
and unable to do their full quota of work
ON this reservoir, but no one could blame
them for that. The fire department say
they are ready 10 go out and lend their
aid II the water commission desire.