Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-02
The DeVOurins Element Being Driven
by a Gale.
40 HOPE SAVE IN RAIN or SNOW.
People sHu Fleeing for Their
Iivcs-It is Believed That Many
Persons Have Been Burned to
Death.
Death,

DENVER. COL. october 1.-The forest
erss which are devastating the western
,,ortion OF the State are burning with UNI
ebated fury. only subsiding where fuel is
exhausted.
special to the Rocky Mountain News
from Red Cliff says:
Nothing is heard in Eagle county but
talk of fire from all sections, and reports
Of new territory In the grasp OF the de-
mon. and when a providential storm
comes and a summing up is made there
will be little timber left new county
sending columns Of flame and smoke hea-
yenward is Bear Willow and Lake Cheeks.
q magnificent stretch of forest. This fire,
from its direction. viii sweep on Camp
Fullford, which has already been scorched
from another direction
Ranchmen on Gore Creek are having a
desperate time saving their homes, as
the Gore Range foothills are sending up
a continuous run of flame for miles.
EVEN THE GROUND BURNING.
Alonz the side hills near Minturn even
the ground is burning.
A regular gale is blowing throughout
the county. which means that the fast
travelling fire will be driven forward,
hurricane of flame.
The deserted village Of Gold Park was
reduced TO ashes yesterday. This town is
four miles south OF the Holy Cross, and
the miners of that district fought nobly
TO save the place The Holy Cross coun-
try suffered greatly. The mines have
closed down, and the miners are utterly
exhausted from their nght-and-day battle
with the fire.
MANY NARROW ESCAPES.
Many narrow escapes are reported from
different parts Of the county. AS yet no
loss OF life has occurred. but many head
OF cattle and horses have been burned.
Notch mountain, opposite Gilman, is
blackened ruin, on the Holy Cross slope.
Every bridge on Homestake creek is de-
stroyed: tho Corduroy section is burned
out. and innumerable giant pines inter-
lace along the line of the tfail.
In several places there is no doubt that
the fires are OF incendiary origin.
The Cottonwood and Cattle creek
ranges are being destroyed. Shaft-houses
on the mountains have been swept away.
There seems now no hope of staying the
fire The only hope is in rain or snow.
RAIN FALLING IN WISCONSIN,
MILWAUKEE,, WIS, October 1.-The
pecuniary damage wrought by the forest
fires in the northwestern part OF the
State cannot be estimated at present. 1t
may amount TO anywhere between one
million and five millions OF dollars, Many
DAYS will elapse before the extent OF the
ruin OF the fiery element will be known
general rain is falling through the
State tonight, and this will undoubtedly
put an end TO the devastation. Clarke
Chippewa, and Barron counties appear
10 nave suffered the greatest destruction
over one hundred people are reported
missing in the vicinity of Rice Lake
Sixty families are homeless near Cum
berland, and seventy-five at Turtle Lake
and many farmers have lost all their
property, and had a narrow escape
themselves IL is also believed that many
persons were burned to leath In their ef
forts at fighting the flames.
A RACE FOR LIFE.
Many narrow escapes are reported. A
party Of loggers in charge of August
Mason. OF Chippewa Falls, We're return
ing from a camp at Cedar Lake. They
had a race for their lives, having a
handicap over the names OF eight miles,
and having but one mile to cover TO
reach place of safety. The race was
most exciting, and resulted in the loss
OF four Of the crew. The party made for
"a lake. mounted on horses. With the heat
and smoke almost unbearable. the first
party Of loggers and their horses barely
reached the lake in time. driving into
the lake, where they remained until the
flames passed. -Four men are missing,
and are believed to have persisted. Many
persons sought refuge in wells.
A TOWN IN DANGER.
Reports from Cumberland late this
evening say that the town is in danger.
business was suspended, and the citizens
were out in force In an endeavor 10
check the flames.