The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-18
WOODS AGAIN AFIRE.
BLAZING FORESTS ONCE MORE
DARKEx THE Sun.
Damage Not So Great as in Former
Yearx-orcas Island Reports Fire
Furnish Great Clouds OF Smoke
Mosher & Mcdonald Lose Their
Logging Camp-Rnin Down sound
Keeps the Fires Low-Blaze Kept
Under Control.

Seattle is now being treated 10 It's an
nual affection In the visitation OF smoke.
for which Seattle itself Is not 20 blame.
but which Il must suffer In common with
other cities snd towns OF ~estern Wash
ingt0n which directly or Indirectly profit
by the timber wealth OF the state. II
Is the most disagreesble time OF the year
without single feature IN It's favor and
al that IS best and most beautiful IN the
heroic panorama OF nature that the Puget
sound country boasts 81 TO its iess-fayor-
ed friends and relatives, sli over this coun-
try. is obliterated in the pan of smoke
that has IN less than three days settled
down over the city, hiding everything ak
cept the round red ball that hangs in the
sky where the sun should be.
Locking down the hay the heavy cur
tam meets the sea, tinging II with It's
grsyish brown color. leaving no lire OF
dernarkation. Only an absorption OF one
oy the other. each robbed OF character and
color This condition OF things prevails
az present; Il happens every year. What
Seattle has 10 blame conditions for is
luckily out of King county. Up to Mon
day night the wind was from the north
west and the first haze that hung above
the city was from a fire on Orcas island.
IN San Juan county. This first sniff Of
smoke vas caused by a shower, accom-
panied by thunder and lightning, the lat
Ter starting the fire in the woods.
The Seattle & International road, which
contributes number OF fires every year,
reports that thus far there are no fires
along the line. At the United States
weather bureau reports have been re-
ceived that there are forest fires raging
IN Thurston county, and that there arc
blazes in Clarke county. Strange as IL
may seem the correspondents state that
rain Is not wanted as 1t would be bad for
crops. In Mason county there are also
nd hxs ff u
over the city Monday by a change OF
wind. No reports have been received at
the weather bureau from CIallam or JEFF
ferson county Of fires. There has been
considerable rain north along the Sound
which ACCOUNTS for the absence OF fires
in that direction. except in the case of
Orcas island.
The only report OF serious damage is
from Olympia, TO the effect that Mosher
< McDonald's logging camp has been de-
stroyed.
Special correspondents sent into the
Post-Intelligencer yesterday the follow
ing dispatches on the subjects Of fires in
different localities:
Mount Yernon.-There are no forest
| fires here.
Wha.com-For the first time this
summer the smoke from forest fires made
| 1t impossible to see far at any time today
| In any direction, but as yet the only fires
| reported here are on the south side of
| Lake Whatcom. near South bacr. and one
near Samish lake on both sides OF the
| new county road. The latter has Gene
some damage to the telegraph AMI tele-
| phone lines. but as yet no serious loss is
| reported here.
Olympia---A strong breeze prevailing
| last night and this morning cleared the
atmosphere here somewhat. but forest
| fires are raging with more or less violence
| in all directions from this city, in some
| localities quite near the limits. Slight
| damage is reported as a consequence in
some places in loss of buildings. fencing
| and wood and bark piled in the woods.
Word reached this city today that Mosh-
| er & McDonald's logging camp, twelve
| miles west OF here had been completely
| destroyed, including all the buildings, inn
| plements and provisions. nothing having
| been saved but the live stock and an en-
| CINE. Careful inquiry tonight failed TO
| elicit further particulars or the exact
| amount of the loss.
Chehalis.-The air has been full OF
smoke from burning slashings in this vi
| entity but diligent inquiry shows that
| thus far the fires have not escaped con-
troll or done any damage IN the timber
| anywhere IN the county.