The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-03

The advent OF railroads Ia Alaska II al
ready being productive OK decrease In
the amount Of standing timber. For
week prior to July . flames have been
licking up miles OF forest and much prop
erty and were stiil in progress when the
last boat left Skagway on Saturday night
A flores. nre at the head OF Lynn canal.
DESTROYING the government barracks at
Dyea and the wharf and bridge OF the
Objectionable Tramway Company. 10 re-
ported to have occurred July =. BY pas
sengers returning yesterday on the steamer
Humboldt from Alaska The IRE broke
ou. in the woods ten miles back OF Dyea
on July g. For few days II smouldered.
but on July q broke out anew.
All tina, night II ragged fast and furious,
threatening at one time 10 destroy the
town OF Dyea- On the morning Of July = II
reached the government barracks. on the
Dyea-Kipnd.ke ,ramway wharf. about .
mile and half from the city Both the bar
racks and the big wharf were totally de-
troyed. the latter being burned to the wa
ter's edge The flames. continuing out
ward. caught the big bridge leading from
the mountain side to the town. across Dyea
creek, and this too soon fell q prey to the
furnace. At this point clearance Of about
a mile stayed the progress and saved tho
city.
The colored troops. after nghting the
flames. were moved to Skagway, where
they will be established In camp until a
new building has been erected. This will b
done at Skagway. where modern bar
racks will be constructed at once. The post
at Dyea will be abandoned.
The old barracks building was erected
two years ago by the Dyea-Klondike
Tramway Company for . hotel. but with
leased to the government. The company's
loss Is estimated at 81. 100.
The Orfxaba, which arrived last night,
brings with her the latest news OF the for
barracks at Dyea. On Saturday night last
the flames spread in the direction Of Gla-
cier, station on the White Pass railroad.
The town was occupied by the raiiroad
house. water tanks. bunkers.. tool
houses and station house. With the
exception Of the station house. which was
from the ase o1ns1 s6
spread beyond Glacier. and when the ORR
xaba left Skagway sixteen miles OF the for
est about Glacier had been burned. and
superintendent Whiting, OF the White
Pass road. who had been TO the scene Of
the nre. said, before the steamer left, that
= was impossible to give any estimate OF
thing at Glacier except the station house
was . total loss. ard II was too early to
say what would be done about rebuilding.
Inc cause OK the nre ID saSu 10 De sparks
from the big mountain engines used on
the road. The timbers all along the road
during this season OF the year are very
dry and inflammable. and until all this has
been burned of forest nres will be fre-
quent.
Passengers on the Orixaha who passed
through the scene of the fire state that
the loss will reach probably 81. 600 to 33O-
CO. although this II an outside figure.
A thrilling experience was had BY those
who came from Bennett Saturday after
noon. As the train approached Glacier
clouds OF smoke rose high In the air and
turned day into night, while tho
above the noise OF the train. The flames
were directly across the track. 80, with
open throttle. q dash was made into.
through and beyond the fiery furnace In
safety The heat. II II said. was intense.