The Elbert County tribune., 1898-10-06


fires;
Steamboat Springs, Colo, Sept. 3O.-
A heavy rain fell last night, with snow
In the mountains, and ms result the
dozen forest fires which have de-
stroyed hundreds Of thousands OF dol
lars worth Of timber are to-day
smouldering.
II was the first rain for six weeks.
If the weather clears up the fires Will
start agnin. At Columbia the shaft
house and outbuildIngs mt the Carron
mine were destroyed. Other build
ings In the town caught fire and were
snved only after n desperate effort.
They have been fighting fire for n
week. A great deal OF fine timber has
been destroyed.
Visitors report that fully half Of the
White river timber reserve. the great
game region. has been burned over
and the smoke almost clouds the sun.
Rnnchmen In Williams fork have lost
over 500 tons OF hay. The Chapman &
Mole ranches In Egerin have been de-
stroyed by fire. All buildings and
several hundred tons of hay We're de-
stroyed. Additional facts regarding
the fire at Hnhns Peak say that
Judge Ruckcr unlocked the jury partly
TO fight fire End partly for fear that
the county buildings would be de-
stroyed.
Two hundred men fought fire under
charge of the sheriff and his deputies.
Ourny. Colo, Sept. 30.-The wind Is
blowing n gale here this morning and
the mountains between here and Sil-
verton are In flames. Reports came in
this afternoon TO the effect that the
timber is burning so fiercely that II Is
impossible TO ascertain the amount OF
damage being done There are several
mines in the track of the fire. but
whether they have escaped Is un-
known.
Glenwood Springs. Colo. Sept. 30
The fires In he mountains near here
have taken fresh life to-d0y. owing to
high winds. The sun has been nearly
obscured all day. and the ntinosphere
Ia heavy with smoke.
The fire east OF Glcnwood Is, fOrtu-
nately. In an unsettled portion of the
county, and aside from the Immense
loss by the burning of timber no fur
ther loss hns occurred up TO the pres
cnt time.
The stock ON the range. ns far as
heard from. lns escaped the fire.
Hight winds are blowing tonight In
this vicinity and the flames are rapidly
increasing.
Montrose. Colo. Sept. 3O.-The In
cipient forest fire southeast OF town
about twenty-five miles has now
reached large proportions and can
plainly he seen from town. The range
between IIairpin mesa and Saw Tooth
mountain Is nearly devastated, and
what was at first considered 10 be of
trivial nature may result in serious
loss.
Idaho Springs. Colo. Sept. 30.-The
sky here tonight Is thick with smoke
and the moon has burned-out appear
ance. Reports coming In from the
White river country and the Gore
rnnge of mountains are alarming.
Campers who would have stayed an
other month are fast returning
through here or their way home. They
say the destruction of timber Is uD-
parnlleled and that every farm has suf-
fered by the loss of fodder within n
radius OF thirty-fve by ninety miles.
There Is no doubt expressed anywhere
MS TO the cnuse OF the fire being the
negligence OF hunters. There Ii not mn
Indian In the whole district. This af-
ternoon Mr.. II. Il. May, accompanied
by the Misses Hart, daughters of Dean
Hart Of Denver. md "a Indy -fril.us'r &c
rtncIrs FROM New York, returned from n
trip In the park. They report great
danger from the fire and corroborntc
many Of the tales told. They also
say that the fire IL making alarming
hendway toward North park. should
II actually rench there the destruction
will be awful.
]. ]. Sherwin. president of the
Chamber of Commerce of 1dnho
Springs, accompanied by Ed Chester
and DIR. J. G. Johnson and William
Dole OF Denver, have Just returned
from n three weeks hunting trip over
the Medicine Bow range TO North park.
down the Bear river to California park.
They report the game ms exceedingly
scarce owing to the fire, and only OBJ
tnined the amount necessary for their
own consumption. Fishing was good
OH the Bear and the Laramie rivers,
hut the North Platte, where they ex-
pected to get their best sport, was com
pletely dry. there having been no rain
fall since June. The party saw the
cohflagratloh from distance and
knew great damage was being done.
but suffered no Inconvenience from II.
Denver Oct IA dispatch from
Meeker to the Republican says:
The forest fire on White river has
burned over an area of 100 square
miles and IL still sweeping eastward In
a stretch ten miles wide.
The people of upper White river have
fought fire for three weeks. day and
night. In this they have been aided
by Forest Hangers Dunn and Giblet.
| Parties from that section say they
have seen nothing Of the other govern
ment rangers.
The blaze was started by n man from
New Castle. who got lost and built n
fire for the night and did not extin-
gulsh the fire In the morning.