The San Francisco call., 1899-10-10

miles Of territory had been left a black
and smoking waste. Several cottages on
the outskirts Of this place are totally
destroyed but 400 men are now fighting
the flames and the town is considered
safe as whole. The fire threatens TO
cross the ridge and destroy Larkspur and
Core MADEIRA on the east and BOiinas on
the west. In case the flames reach the
S-eus0u ranch toward BOlinas. incalcu-
liable damage will be done and at least
month Will be required for the fire TO
burn itself out. The damage has already
reached half q million dollars and that
estimate may be doubled by tomorrow.
The fire started at u:40 a. m. near the
railroad tank half way up the mountain,
and was first discovered by a young son
OF Colonel Savage, now at Manila. The
boy promptly informed Manager Louis
/ James Of the Tamalpais Land and
Water Company and y. II. McInnes, who
hurriedly drove TO where the fire had its
inception and seeing that the outlook was
serious sounded the fire alarm.
Word was sent N. Baker. manager Of
the construction department of the North
Pacific Coast Railway at Sausalito, and in
al hours time 100 men were rushed 10 Mil
Valley by special train. They were at
once Joined there by 3Jy citizens. many Of
them being metropolitan business men,
and the work of fighting the flames which
had by this time gained great headway,
was begun. Brush hooks, shovels, axes
and every other contrivauce that could be
used was taken along, the women helping
the men gather them together.
The first residence endangered was that
Of George White who is connected with
the cusiou-house- 4 young lady there
fought the flames with a garden hose, and
the house was saved by the arrival of the
fire fighters. though ii is still within the
fr1a ha U0a at -
began back-dring and drove the flames
toward the mountain. The flames then
Jumped 100 feet 10 George T. Marsha
group of cottages and in spite of hercu-
lean work two cottages, known as the
Owls nest and the Cabin were burned
TO the ground. The thirty-three acres Of
land covered with redwood timber and
owned 10y Marsh, who conducts Japa-
nese bric-a-brac store under the Palace
Hotel were burned over. the entire loss,
including the cottages. amounting to $30,-
COO.
Mrs. H. B. Burnham. who lived in one
OF the Marsh cottages. rushed an express
wagon to the scene and had all her house
hold goods removed. Though her cottage
has not yet been burned il lies inside the
danger belt and may go up in smoke ~
any minute. Everything was removed
from Mrs. L. \. Bishops house. adjoin-
ing MIS-. Buuhams =. but Il is believed
that her property Will he saved. Every
thing at the Eastlaud Hotel is ready to
be removed at d minutes warning, bat
back firing viii probably save this fash
iOuable summer resort. Mrs. Z. MOfiitt.
widow of the deceased wholesale butcher,
and Daniel +. Haves Of the Fulton iron
Works, have moved all their household
belongings TO the county road near Alto
tu order 10 be prepared for the worst. J.
w. tGstigan the wheat broker. played
garden nose on his property and succeed
ed. with the assistance of The firemen,
I'm saving IL from total destruction. Mr.:
Martinez. who is connected with Scrib-
rer's Magazine, has a cottage nearby
which was in danger at late hour.
All in all the fire has swept over a
stretch of four miles Of territory, an of
which was considered good building sites
valued at several hundred dollars an acre
Back-fring has probably saved Mil Val
ley. as the flames are now dying out on
this side of the mountain, but IL is feared
that by morning they may work their
way into Baltimore Canyon and destroy
COrte MADEIRA and Larkspur. The fire
IS at present principally confined to War
ners Canyon on the east but is reach
ing out toward BoIinas on the west and
IS now as far as the White Gate ranch
at Willow Camp, which opens into the
Steuson forest Of 1900 acres. If it gets
there 1t means that the flames cannot be
controlled for a month and must be
fought toward the ocean. On this ranch
are probably 1000 head of cattle many Of
which would doubtless be burned to
death. At late hour $50 head OF cattle
were driven off the Boyle ranch and
scattered along the county road between
Alto Station and SausaIito.
panic prevailed here before 1t was
seen that back-aring would save all but
the outskirts of the town and there IS
not residence where everything is not
packed and ready for moving. Many have
taken all their household goods out Of
the valley and the county roads are lit
tered with furniture. pianos. bedding and
all portable articles for three miles Wiln
the hardest labor and the best luck the
flames cannot be totally extinguished for
q week
Tonight the heavens are still crimson.
and at intervals tongue Of flame will
leap into the air. accompanied by the
crashing sound Of giants Of the forest top
pling to the earth and light the sur
rounding region for miles The heaviest
loser by the fire is Sydney B. Cushing
who will suffer to the tune of $3.50, 900.
The Tamalpais Land and Water Company
will lose $4,000. and the remainder will
be borne by the owners OF the cottages
and small patches of forest.
While the flames were burning ffercest
y. Grethei, Ihe baker, and Joseph Mills,
the painter, became surrounded by burn
ing timber and had TO rush through four
feet Of flames to safety. In doing so they
both fell over a forty-foot precipice and
were seriously injured
While tearing brush away from. burn
ing patch J. Tobin ran into a swarm of
wild honey bees angered by the flames
II was so badly stung that he had to be
led home, and DR.. Spottiswood was sum-
raoned to render medical assistance To-
bins features are swollen until they are
unrecogniZable.
The origin Of the fire is unknown. Some
incline to the belief that Il Nas carsed