The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-01
High Winds Fan the
Fires in the West
ern Districts.
Mountains a Mass of Flames
Many Portions Of Fertile
Country Devastated.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

DENVER, Colo, Sept. 30.-Report:
from the Western portion of the Stat'
continue to tell of the ravages of tn,
forest fires which bid fair to devastat,
the greater part of the forests of th'
State A special from GlenwooC
Springs, the center of the burning dis
trict, says: The fires in the mountains
near here have taken fresh life to-day
owing to high winds. The sun has beer
nearly obscured all day and the at
mosphere is heavy with smoke. The
fire east of Glenwood Is, fortunately, IL
an unsettled portion of the county, ant
aside from the immense loss by the
burning of timber no loss has occurred
up to the present time. The stock on
the range, as far as heard from, has
escaped the fire.
A special to the News from Kokomo,
Colo, says: Forest dres are raging on
every hand here. Sheep Mountain, on
the north side. is a mass of flames,
which reach within a quarter of mile
of this camp. Great apprehension is
felt here for the safety of the town
The origin of the fire here is supposed
to be sparks from engines.
A special from Montrose, Colo, says:
The forest fire southeast of town about
twenty-five miles has now reached
large proportions and can plainly be
seen from town. The range between
Hairpin Mesa and Sawtooth Mountain
Is nearly devastated.
The weather man can offer no hope
for those on the western slope whose
homes and crops are threatened by the
forest fires. There are no indications
whatever of rain, and this seems to be
the only element TO stay the flames
fury. Throughout Eagle County high
winds have prevailed, giving a fresh
impetus to the forest fires that are
devastating the timber domain.
In consequence, new territory is being
devoured. The blaze is rapidly extend
ing along the grand reserves of Girard
Mountain, West of Homestake Creek
and from present appearances will
sweep the country to Bear Mountain, at
Minturn.
Back of Minturn. to the heads of Will
low and Two Elks, the country is de-
vastated, little remaining to feed the
flames. From Heosier Mountain. the
wind has driven the fire to- the edge of
Gypsum Greek. The settlers of Upper
Gypsum, Cannon, Collins and others
are fighting desperately to save their
homes and stop it's passage across into
the magnificent forest of West Brush.
If it gets into Brush the finest body of
timber in the State is gone. No loss of
life has been reported, but several peo-
pie have lost their homes and their
crops. All the game is leaving the
country, escaping the smoke and heat
Of the blazing woods.
Dispatches received here say that
Wheyley's Peak, between North and
Middle Park, is now a mass of flames,
and it is greatly feared that the fire
will extend to both of those beautiful
camping grounds. The flames have al
ready cut a swathe thirty-fve miles
long from the Grand River almost to
Dillon, in Summit County. The width
is as yet unknown. Kremmling, in
Grand County, has had a narrow escape
and the danger is not yet entirely over.
The fires in the vicinity of Ouray are
not as bad as they were during several
days previous. but the smoldering en-
bers may be famed into an awful con-
f1agration by lie slightest wind.
The fires arr Is7l Aspen are working
down the mountain side toward the
town, although 1t is not burning with
the force it has been. AT Gunnison,
Crested Butte. Wolcott and GIenwood
Springs, the fires are still raging. No
estimate Of the damage to timber and
ranches can be given, but it will un-
questionably run far into the thou
sands