The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-23
CAUSE OF THE SMOKE.
Gigantic Forest Fires Raging
on Vancouver Island.
VALUABLE PROPERTY BURNED.
A whatco,n County Loxxfng Camp
Burned Brush Fires Near
Victoria and Everett.

yicsoria. s. c.. July @e.-Aiberni Is sur
| rounded by one immense bush fires Min
eral hill Is a raass OF flames. thu Aibernl
ranchers ara In danger: several camps
have been burned out, and the buildings
OF the Duke Of YORK. Mining ca. en- CHINA
creek. have been completely DESTROYED.
There were many narrow escapes from
death. women and children having TO De
kept under the piping or the hydraulic
mines and drsnehed with water.
There have been large bush fires in the
vicinity for some time. bat IL was not
ansil yesterday thar they became really
dangerous. Then they spread. sweeping
everything before them. The fire extend
ed from three ID Eve miles along the Ma
nailn o-Aieerni road. destroying every
thing with which IL came IN contact.
The telegraph poles were all burned. con-
seQuently there has been much difficulty
IN obtaining news. The brief dispatches
received state that the Duke OF York
company lost their stables. blacksmith
shor. assay Office and about 75.TVa feet OF
lumber. Holes had 70 be punched in
the fiuue and piping 20 save Il. The
women. children and horses were placed
Under the piping and saved by the steady
pour OF wafer. The ngfne was scorched.
and the dispatch adds: Had it gone.
everybody on the claim would have been
burned"
The comrany's mill was in danger last
night. and a gang OF men were at work
taking the machinery 10 pieces so that IL
could easily be removed. The Cataract
mine also received a scorehlng. the saw
min and dam being burned. The stage
which arrived at Alberni yesterday
brought the first news OF the fire. Several
large bush fires commenced to blaze fierce
~ on Saturday. One fire broke out at
Mineral hin and destroyed a roadmaker's
tent on an unfinished portion of new
road. as well as a large quantity OF tim
Der Two other fires have been burning
on the Bainbridge road near Bledsoe creek
and al the extreme west OF Mineral hill.
respectively
J. r. Bledsoe has a narrow escape on
Saturday. He WAS down the creek which
bears his name. and, believing the fire
had burned Itself out, he attempted TO
run the gauntlet OF smoke and ashes But
hardly had he reached the center of the
hot-bed than flames started UP all around
him, compelling him to seek safety in the
water OF the creek, where he sat UP to
his neck with his hands above his head for
two long hours before he was able TO re-
sumo his journey.
The crib work on portions OF the Aiherni
road Is also burnt out, but has been patch
ed up sufficiently to allow the stage to
pass.
Nearer Victoria fires are a.so raging
ferceiy. many square miles OF valuable
timber having been destroyed within the
past few days.
Whatcom. July 2s.-Special--The only
serious forest fire yet reported In the
county Is north OF Goshen, a station on
the Beliingham Bay & British Columbia
road. about ten miles from town At the
C1othier logging camp a mile OF skid road
was burned yesterday and 1000 cords OF
wood near by. belonging TO the b. B. T..
company. Five cars loaded with logs and
several head of cattle were also burned.
The fire IS burning toward Goshen. and
some fear is expressed for the safety OF
the place.
barn on the Crabtree place. three miles
north OF LINDEN. was also burned yester-
day. together with number OF sheep.
A strong wind was blowing and the IRE
caught from sparks blown from a forest
fire some distance away.
Everett, July 22.--Specia1.--Forest fires
ragged fercely yesterday afternoon be-
tween the city and the smeiter. Toward
evening the fire got uncomfortabiy near
the street railway line and men were fight
Ing all night TO protect the poles and
tresties