The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-05
FIRE RACES.
Big California RedWOOds Are
Going Down
In Ashes and Embers Before
the Flames.
FIRES ALL AROUND
Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Stock
ton and Other Places.
Fresh Fires Reported From
Many Localities.

Santa Cruz, Aug. 1.-Two immense for
est fires in this county are doing tremend-
damage. For two weeks a fire has
been burning about IS miles from here in
the Timothy Hopkins timber at the outer
edge of the Big Basin at Sunnyside. Hun
dreds of acres of the finest timber land in
the county has been burned over, includ-
ing tanbark which has never been cut
from the trees.
The fire at times threatened the Sunny
side school house and only by hard fight
ing was the building saved. A large gang
of men has been fighting the fire and in
a measure has kept it from spreading,
but great damage has been done. Besides
the standing timber, much cord WOOD mas
Sheen destroyed.
teen miles from here and is along the ~
ante. During the day clouds of smoke
While at night the flames can be seen
from the city. The forest fire has COW
cred about fifteen miles OF territory along
the Zyante. The sawmiu and single mill
near Zyante We're destroyed
Red Bluff, Aug. 5.-FOrest fires are rag
ing in the vicinity of Bee Gum, Shasta
IS shrouded by smoke. These conHagra-
lions occur almost every year and are the
result OF seJIlng Ire 70 cleaP me Ide 10, Iot
manageable, with the result that thOus-
ands of dollars worth of valuable proper
ty in timber and feed is destroyed. Dur
ing the past two days several thousand
acres have been burned over
Salinas, Aug. 5.-The fire which started
in Chualar canyon last w Wednesday was
viii be Very heavy to stockraisers, as feed
was totally destroyed on several ranches.
700, J. II. Hebron on 800 and Assessor
PhaI of San BenttO on $50 acres. Every
consumed.
Highland Springs. Aug. .5.ZForest fires
land Springs for several days approach
ing dangerously near A large body of
ment, and it is now practically under con-
troll. The fire caused great trepidation
made preparations to flee TO a place of
safety. Many are departing in fear of
Stockton. Aug. 5.-A chaparraI fire. ter
ribly Destructive, swept over the foothills
noon. the hungry flames licking up every
pit OF vegetation IN an area estimated at
blowing and the flames moved over the
parched ground like an angry wave. leav-
ing it black and charred-so barren. in
fact, that crow cannot ind sustenance
Just where the fire started is not known
The flames moved so rapidly that the peO-
pie had no time to prepare 10 make a sys-
could do was to save property by back
firing, it being useless to Try to stay the
line Of FIRE, Which licked up barns, out
houses, fences and several dwellings,.
The fire ran to within half mile. of
for the back-firing would probably have
reached the settlement.
After nightfan the sight from Valley
Flames seemed to leap to the Sky, run
ming hither and thfther wherever there
was bit of fuel to be siezed upon.
They would disappear down ravine
and sweep up a hilltop a minute later
fercer,t heavier than ever. The country
was as bright as day.
Fhe officials have been investigating and
are sure the fire was started by prospect
Ors with criminal disregard for life and
property. 1t is. of course. impossible to
prospect chaparral land until it is cleared
The officers have a clew tending to show
that certain persons fired the country for
it will go hard with the men when they
are arrested.
Los Angeles, Aug. 5.-Forest fires are
now surging over the mountains west of
Mount Lowe, in the vicinity of Willard
canyon.
Two representatives of the United States
forestry commission have gone into the
mountains with number of men to fight
the flames. Receiver Torrance of the
Mount Lowe railroad has sent a force of
men. The latest report from the burning
mountains says the absence of wind has
allowed the fire to shoulder and burn less
fiercelv.