Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-09-15

The forest fires last week extended all
over Western Washington and Oregon,
and were probably the most widespread
and destructive ever known. On Thurs.
day and Friday the entire area of this
region was covered with dark mantle
of smoke, which the fog Of Friday rem
dcred so dense that the darkness Of mid.
night prevailed at midday. The amount
OF property, including standing timber,
destroyed is incalculable.
On Grays Harbor and in the Chehalis
valley the loss will approximate 81 ,0OO,-
600, and the heaviest part OF it fell upon
the vicinity OF Elma, where several mills
were swept away land number OF farms
destroyed. A conservate estimate places
the loss OF timber in Chehalis county at
100000, 900, feet. VIM. Bucking, an en-
ploye at Polson's camp is missing, and
it is feared he has persisted. On Friday
the mills and factories at Aberdeen and
Hoquiam were shut down, and every
ody was preparing to fight fire, and the
water supply in both cities was carefully
boarded. John Jacobson, caretaker alb
Young and Thompson's camp, and Geo.
Gray, an employe at Polson's narrowly
escaped with their lives. The little town
of London, on the Hoquiam river, was
wiped out, except the hotel.
ON GRAYs HARBOR.
As near as can be learned, the follow
ing is the amount of damage done the
camps on the Harder.
Ellingson camp, total loss, $l5. 900.
Poison Bros, 500 logs, 20 horses and
logging outfit, $4,000.
Mack Logging Co. $4,000.
Lyle Bros. $4,000.
Kalb's camp, Road engine burned,
$500.
Larkins Bros, Logs burned, $500.
Young & Thompson, Dam, roads and
camp, $4,000
Stencil Logging Co. 10000.
| Smaller camps, $4,000.
ELMA AND VICINITY.
In the vicinity of Elma the fire ragged
the fiercest, and within radius OF five
miles nearly 100 families are houseless,
and in many instances the household
effects were burned. A number OF farm
houses, outbuidings fences and crops went
up in smoke. The Star shingle mill, with
1900, 900 shingles and all the buildings
were destroyed, involving loss to Wake
field & O'Donnell Of 10000. The large
saw and shingle mill OF Allen White,
valued at 10000 was wiped off the map,
and at Rayville the mill alone was saved,
and tie loss Of Mr.. Ray is estimated at
$1,000. At the Mack logging camp four
cars, loaded with logs were burned.
Chris. Enderson's spar yard was burned,
causing loss of $4,000. The dry kiln
of the Green Cedar Mill Co., with ,000,-
600 shingles was burned; loss $500.
Four bridges on the Summit branch
were burned out. The Vance mill was
saved by cutting open the dam, and
| flooding the premises. Cater & Hislop,
on North river lost about $4,000 by the
burning OF their camp. The fire was ap-
palling, and it is wonderful that no loss
OF life was reported. Several were in
jured, among them are James Luton,
D. G. Whitnack, E. X. Lambert, Claude
and Lee Wertz.
Ray, Mckay & Mills lost 500 cords of
single bolts and $500 worth of logs.
Noah Cripe's store building and stock, at
Whites mill, was a total loss. The
school house in district 16 was burned,
and the dwellings Of the following, in the
corporate limits of Elma, were destroyed,
with their contents Fred Werts, VIM.
Werts. Mrs. Jennie Goodell, James Nc.
Lean, p. Prescott, J.. M. Lewis and
Frank Osgood.
Among the farmers who lost heavily
some losing house, barn and outbuildings,
and, in many cases, the fences and
orchards were ruined, were: Mr.. Cole,
Mr.. Handshaw, Henry Osborn, J. w.
Hines, j. S. Church, Phillip thinner,
Chris. Mai, VIM. Donaldson, VIM. Twid-
we'll, d. Twidwell, A. D. Ceyonshire,
Mr.. Doris, H. o. Puhn. T. f. O'Neil
and Mr.. Garrett.
While some of this property was in.
sured, the amount of insurance is but
trifing compared with the loss, much OF
which falls upon people but poorly able
to bear it.