The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1902-01-03


Great forest fires had been numer-
gus that spring in the mountainous
districts of northern Arizona. There
had been two dry years in succession,
leaving the country a veritable finder
ooX. Added to this were the heavy
and persistent spring winds that would
fan small spark into a raging hell in
few hours.
The government officers and line
riders were kept on a constant move
10 save the country from confagra-
non. The country was sparsely set
tied. Here and there, miles apart.
where small seep or spring furnished
them water, settler would sometimes
De found, deep in the woods. A rough
fr and more rocky country never Law
outdoors. Canyons split it up in all d.
recuons; mesas were covered with
pine timber and on the rocky, seamy
SIDES of the hills were thick cedars and
chaparral, making a tangled Jungle
ihat even the old pioneers would oc-
easionally get lost in.
1t was late in the spring when the
biggest fire of decade broke out, and
at a time wren the wind was blowing
a terrific gale. 1t marked as high as
60 miles an hour, falling at sunset,
seemingly to rest for the coming day
when it would break out again with
renewed force.
A small camp fire left unattended
started the sea of flame on its Journey
of destruction. A heavy wind was be-
hind it, driving it due north toward
the highest peaks of the mountains.
The government rider in charge of
the district fought it for two days
with what help he could get from the
ranchers, but on the third day it broke
away from him. He rode to the nearest
telegraph station and wired his SUI
perior officer for help. Help which
was 20 miles away, and soon a force of
20 men was on its way as fast as
horses could run. The driver rolled
and swayed in his seat, bracing now
and then against his seat-mate as
the four-horse team swung around the
sharp curves and over the rough road.
Smoke covered the whole country
for miles around; valleys were filled
with it, and great black clouds hung
over and hid the mountain peaks AS
far as the eye could reach there was
leaping, twisting, roaring sea of
flame. AS the night wore on, the
smoke settled more closely to the
ground and shut out the moonlight,
adding more to the awful beauty of
theS wild scene; giant trees blazing
fro pa root to the topmost branches
CAV e out their spectral, shimmering
light, which seemed to gain in size I'M
til they appeared many times their ac-
tual size and height.
Above the din and roar came the
occasional boom of distant tree as it
crashed down into the canyon below
upon the rocks; up steep mountain
sides the flames rolled and cracked,
darting here and there, licking up ev-
\ erything in its reach; the wind whirled
II here and there; boiling smoke rolled
close to the ground, covering the men
and choking them until they were
nearly strangled; now and then they
would come stumbling out of the black
smoke and stagger away to get their
breath. Then after a few gasps of
fresh air got by lying close to the
ground, back they would go again,
black and begrimed; beating the fire
out here, chopping and cutting away
logs, fighting like fends to stop the
spread.
Along toward morning, Charlie Lew
is, one of the regular range riders of
the district, came up to the officer in
charge of the reserve, with an anxious
look on his begrimed and sweaty face.
captain" if I amt mistaken, there's
a ranch over there in that draw about
a mile to the left. l hadn't thought
of it before, but old man Williams
ives there. He moved back there about
a month ago with his daughter.
hinz something oughter be done to
see if he amt get out of there. before
the fire runs onto him."
Good God, man, no one could get
through this living hell for a mile
and come out alive. Unless" he add
ed. half to himself, unless there
happened to be a break in the fire
line somewhere that split it around
a canyon"
"Well, I'll tell you, cap, if you'll
jest let me try 1 may be able to dc
something fer 'em. 1 amt worth q
dam, nohow, and it won't hurt much
IF ] don't make it. 1 know most Of
the country like a faro layout, sc
loes my bronze. If 1 don't get
through, cap-why, it'll be the right
kind of a start fer me in the next
Z world, ennyhow," he said, with lit
tie deprecating laugh.
The cap, as he called him, grasped
him by the hand, mumbled something
under his breath that sounded like
id fool" wiped something out OF
his eyes, ard said:
well, 60 ahead if you are bound
to-"
In short time Charlie had Sc
cured his little surefooted beast
and soaking his clothes with what
water could be spared from the