The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-31
MANY ACRES OF TIMBER DESTROYED
GREAT WATER SHED OF THE VALLEY ALMOST
RENDERED USELESS
Many Men Fight for Hours in Vain Endeavor to Subdue
the ConfJagration-A Dash Through the
Flames for Safety

Fire has been king in the Sierra Madre
mountains since last Thursday, and ridge
after ridge. canyon after canyon have been
devastated with terrible result. From a
few smouldering embers Of hunters camp
fire this monarch has grown In strength un,-
I'll the two most famous peaks in this sec
ton are threatened with desolation, while
incalcuable harm has already been done to
the water supply Of the entire country. This
fury Of the elements has advanced so rapidly
and with such apparently irresistible fury
that despite the efforts of human labors, no
check could be placed upon Its course, be-
yond what nature herself granted. The
march of the fire king is marked with con-
sumption that has stripped the mountains
OF every particle of foliage. and left only
blackened, twisted trunks and roots and COW
cred the grounds with ashes. Nearly fifteen
square miles have been left so bleak and so
desolate as to be- unnhabitable, even for a
lizard. The wind has been the ally of the
fire king, and so fiercely did it aid the fire
yesterday afternoon that for time 1t looked
as If nothing could prevent the flames from
sweeping down the mountain side to Alpine
tavern, two miles away. Luckily the wind
veered and temporarily saved the mountains
from worse destruction.
The fire has been confined to portion OF
the San Gabriel forest reserve, and the
scene of the principal havoc is in Little Beai
canyon, which is situated about two and a
half miles to the northwest of Alpine tavern
This canyon abuts on the north in the divide
from which starts Eaton canyon. which
leads to Wilson'S Peak. Running southwest
Little Bear canyon continues for some seven
miles, in places two miles wide from ridge
to ridge. The mountains on either side are
about 5000 feet in height, and the slopes are
covered with dense underground of chappa-
raj, crossword, manzanitas, buckthorn,
scrub oaks, few pines. and here and there
Spanish bayonet plant The origin of the
fire is not positively known, but in all prob
ability 1t started from the embers of de-
serted camp, and, once under way In such
light material, a general conflagration was
only a matter of a few hours. The fire was
first discovered last Thursday afternoon on
the west side Of Little Bear canyon, near the
head of Millard's canyon, which is at the
southeast end of Little Bear canyon. The
smoke gradually increased in volume until
II became apparent that tremendous con-
fiagration was in progress. Realixing the
damage to tho water supply, and apprehend-
ing the destruction OF Alpine tavern, the at
tention Of the Mount Lowe Railway COM
pany was called to the situation by their
agents, with tho result that a force of 43 men
under ]. Torrance. the receiver. was hastily
organized at Pasadena Friday afternoon
and promptly dispatched to the scene Of the
fire. At that time the fire was confined to
the head Of Willard canyon and to the south
end Of tho west slope OF Little Bear canyon.
The only way to reach the fire was TO leave
the Mount Lowe trail about two and a half
miles from Alpine tavern and then strike
along the eastern ridge of Little Bear can
yon, through the dense brush, for about four
miles. Five men were sent ahead and by
dint Of hard struggling they reached the
scene Of the fire and tried to confine its
progress by cutting away the brush and
making a clear space in order that the fire
might stop when 1t reached this barren line
After the advance guard started the bal
ance Of the force was set to work cutting
away as wide space as possible on the top
of the ridge. In some places this was done,
but in others the brush was almost as dense
as If no such article as an axe was known.
Some of the toilers suggested that back"
fires be started to burn the brush and meet
the fire. which would be stopped for lack of
material.
This strategy was not adopted. After
hard fight the men apparently got the
fire within bounds and about O. clock yes
terday morning were given a couple of
hours sleep.
But yesterday proved Waterloo for the