The San Francisco call., 1896-07-22

the hour of danger, and now the campers
around Cazadero cannot say too much in
their praise.
Unaided, the boys put out a forest fire,
and without a thought of their own peril
rushed through the flames that sur
rounded their master and carried him to
place of safety. From P. NJ. until A. NJ.
they worked increasingly, and saved thou
sands of dollars worth of property be-
longing to the Duncan Mills Redwood
Company and the Montgomery estate
After the fire was put out some of the
giant redwoods burned for three days, but
the boys kept watch and ward over them,
In order to prevent another outbreak.
About three weeks ago Superintendent
Smiley started from San Francisco with
over 100 boys for the annual outing. They
pitched their tents in Elm Grove, near
Cazadero, and settled down to a month of
genuine outdoor enjoyment. Certain
rules were laid down and they were obeyed
Smiley left the camp in charge of his
deputies and started for San Francisco
He transacted his business here and
started back for Cazadero. On his arrival
the fire was in progress and no one seemed
to know what to do. The flames were
wildfire and the camp was threatened.
1t did not take Superintendent Smiley
long to get the boys to wok and work they
did. They grabbed up The sacks in which
they had brought up their clothes and
wetting them in the creek began to thras h
out the IRE. A string of lads passed the
bags TO and from the water, and so from
hour to hour the fight went on.
Mr.. Smiley was here, there and everv-
where, directing the work, but once he got
too far, and IN moment he was in a circle
of flame. The boys saw his danger and in
moment there was rush from all drec-
tlons, and a pathway through the flames
was beaten clear for the Superintendent.
1t was several minutes before he recov-
cred, and then after a glass of water he
went at it again and cheered on the bows
to further exertion by his example.
Near to where the fire broke out there
was an enormous quantity of tanbark
stored. This the boys determined to save,
and finally, after eleven hours OF contlnu-
cus work, they succeeded. 1t was a lob
that would nave tired out the most expert
fireman IN San Francisco So it is no
wonder the boys slept late and long the
next day. During the battle every one of
them caught poison oak, and Superinpen-
dent Smiley is now doctoring them for the
troublesome complaint.
George II. s. Dryden, wharfinger at
Main-street wharf. spent two weeks
among the redwoods near Cazadero and
was at Elm Grove when the society bows
were putting out the fire. ~ never saw
brayer little fellows in all my life" said
he yesterday. why, when they made
that rusn through the flames to save
their master it seemed to me as If the
charge of the Light Brigade wasn't in it
with them. Not one finched and it seemed
to me as ii it was a question as to which
boy could get nearest to the flames and
,ofrx Of llxr rOa faC fHhou hon
saved at least $40, 900 worth of property
and all that MIR. Smiley had 10 say was,
we were afraid they might: say 1T was the
boys who set it atlre. In any event we
couldn't have done less than we did,
81 never saw boys as fond of their mas
ter as those boys are. He has his own
two SONS with him, and l DEFY anybody to
show one particle of difference between
his treatment Of his own flesh an blood
and the walls and strays committed to his
charge. / never in all my life saw better
object lesson than those motherless and