The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-02

been scorched from another direction.
Ranchmen on Gore creek are having a des-
perate time saving their homes, as the Gore
range foothills here send a continuous run
of flames for miles Along the side hills,
near Minturn, even the ground is burning.
Cattlemen are getting their cattle into un-
burnt districts as rapidly as possible, and
even then are compelled to keep a close
watch on them and keep them moving
regular gale is blowing throughout the
county. which means the fast travelling fire
will be driven forward in hurricane of
fame.
THE deserted village Of Gold Park was
reduced to ashes yesterday; dwellings, horns
and storehouses and the stamp mill of the
Gold Park NJ. and M. Company were licked
up in few hours. This town is three miles
from the south Of the Holy Cross, and the
miners of that district fought nobly to save
the place. The Holy Cross country suf-
fered terribly The mines have closed down
and the miners are utterly exhausted from
their night and day battle with the fiend
Many narrow escapes are reported from diff
ferent parts of the county. Strong men
have succumbed to the smoke and heat.
and must be carried off by their comrades.
As yet no less of life has occurred. but many
head of cattle and horses have been burned
up. Notch mountain, opposite Gilman, is a
blackened ruin on the Holy Cross slope
Every bridge on Homestake creek is de-
stroyed, the corduroy section of the road is
burned out and innumerable fallen giant
pines interlace along the line of travel
Thousands Of acres of the finest timber are
thing of the past. In several places there
is no doubt that the fires are of incendiary
origin. Especially is this SO in the vicinity
of Hooper mountain. Cottonwood and Cat
tie creek ranches are being deserted. Shaft
houses in the mountains have been swept
away. There seems now no hope of staying
the fire anywhere. The only hope is in rain
or snow
The fires on the west slope of the Rockies
continue to spread and only a heavy
rain can stop them. Within a dav
or two fires have appeared on the
west slope of the Pixies Peak range and
large sections of timber are being de-
stroyed. Great volumes of smoke can be
seen rolling over the crest Of the range
The fires seem to be burning fiercely along
the west side OF Mount Badly which rises
ta an altitude Of 1900 feet four miles south
of Pixies Peak. At sundown the volume
of smoke decreases perceptibly.
The people Of Pitkin county are becom-
ing terrified over the havoc wrought by the
fire that is now raging near Aspen. The
county commissioners are advising the city
authorities as to the best method to check
the fire but as yet no plan has been out
lined. The fire on White river has burned
over an area of one hundred square miles
and is still sweeping eastward in a stretch
ten miles wide. The people of upper White
ri1ya hox f1~.
and night. They have been aided by For
est Rangers Dunn and Giblet. People from
that section say they have seen nothing of
the other government rangers. The towns
of Kokomo and Hahn's Peak are reported
to be in danger from the fires surrounding
them.
A special to the Republican from Breckin-
ridge says: Forest fires are destroying a
great deal Of fine timber in the vicinity of
this town and the air is heavy with smoke.
The strong winds are causing the fires to
spread rapidly"
A special from Crested Butte to the News
says: This city is surrounded by q wall of
leaping flames and a terrible destruction of
property is imminent. A veritabIe hurricane
is blowing and flames are jumping five hum
dred feet and travelling five miles an hour.
Several thousand dollars worth of hay is
already burned. Many people are fighting
fire by means of bank-fires. The city is not
in great danger at present, but the fire is
within quarter of a mile of the city linn
it's"
A special from Pagosa Springs, Col. says:
'"There are now four forest fires burning
inside the limits of Archuleta county. Ed
McClardy was in from the upper Piedras
to-day and says there is terrible fire on
the west of the Piedras river which is
devastating much timber, but he thinks no
lives are in danger. Another fire is burning
on Turkey creek, eight miles above the
springs, and is threatening the settlement
on the creek. The fourth fire is between
the Blanco and Navajo rivers, and the ex-
tent is not known"
A Montrose special says: "A forest fire
on the east side of Hairpin mesa has
reached an extent of fifteen miles in length.
The D. & r. G. snowsheds on Shaw's hill
burned this afternoon"
A special from Palmer lake, fifty miles
south of Denver, says a fire broke out and
is now burning fiercely in the mountains
near that place, and only slight shifting
of wind will drive the flames to Glen Park,
when all the pretty cottages there will GER
tainly be destroyed. People who are still
at the park are hastily removing their eff