The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-10-01

DENVER, Col, Set. so-Ths wsaah-
er man can oaer no hope Tor those on
the western slope whose homes and
crops are threatened by forest hres.
There are no indications Whatever Of
rain, and this seems 70 be the only eie-
ment TO stay the Games fury.
Thmughout Eagle county. nigh winds
have prevailed, giving a fresh impetus
to the forest fires that are devastating
the timber domain.
In consequence, new territory Il being
devoured. The blaze Is rapidly extending
along the grand reserves Of eirard
mountain, west Of Homestake creek.and
from present appearances viii sweep
the country 70 Bear mountain, at MIN
turn.
Back Of MInturn to the heads OF VIII
low and Two Elk, the country iS dsvas-
lated, little remaining to feed the flames.
From Hoosler mountain the Wind has
driven the Are 20 the edge of Gypsum
creek. The settlers of Upper Gypsum,
Ganno, Collins and others are fghting
desperately to save their homes, and
stop Its passage across into the mag
nlflcent forests Of West Brush. II IL
gets into Brush, the hneSt body Of tim
ber in the state Is gone. No loss Of life
has been reported. but several people
have lost their homes and their crops.
An the game is leaving the country,
escaping the smoke and heat Of the
blazinz woods.
Dispatches received here say that
Wheylsy's peak. between North and
Middle Park, is now as mass Of flames.
and 1t is greatly feared they will extend
to both Of these beautiful camping
grounds. The fre has already cut
sWath thirty-fve miles long, from the
Grand river almost to Dillon, In Sum-
nit county. The wldth Is as yet un-
known. Rremmiihg, in Grant county,
has had narrow escape, and the dan
ger is not yet entirely over.
The fires in the Vicinity of ouray are
not as bad as for several days previous,
but the smomdering embers may be
famed into an awful condagratlon by
the slightest wind.
The fires around Aspen are working
down the mountain side. toward the
town. although they are not burning
with the force they have been.
At Gunnlson, Crested Butte, Vol
colt and GlenwoOd Springs the fires are
still raging.
No estimate OF the damage to TIM
Der and ranches can be given, but 1t
unquestlonably runs far into thousands
of dollars.
Battlement, the government reserve,
bounded by the Grand river on the
north, Roaring Fork on the east and
the Gunnlson on the west. is a mass of
flames. This reserve runs through the
counties of Garfield, Delta and Mesa
The big White river government re-
serve, starting in Garfield county and
extending through the ROutt and Rio
Blanco, Is also on fre.
Reliable reports show that the fires
are now nearly three hundred miles in
circumference. with GlenwoOd for a
center and practically every mountain
range With timber is abiaze,
The only cessation Of the fire that Is
reported comes from Cottonwood and
Four mile creeks, where the flames have
consumed everything that will burn on
the mountain sides.
ON the south side Of the Rio Grande.
from Mlnturn TO Glenwood, the railroad
men report a steady blaze Of fire plainly
visible from the smaller valleys. Many
ranches have been abandoned.
There appears 20 be no hope OF ces-
sation Of the conhRGration except by
heavy rain or the demolition OF the
timber bV the destroying element,
]. s. Swan. game commissioner, states
there Is no doubt but that the fires are
caused by carelessness Of campers and
people generally during a season OF ex-
ceptIonal dryness.
Colonel w. T. s. May, chief United
States forester, has gone to the west
slope to inspect the country under gov
ernment control where areP are burn
f1G