The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-03-18

VISpJrigst lsolr - Authors SyndSeAtsl
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 verftable finder
box Added TO this were the heavy
and persistent spring winds that would
fan small spark into a raging hell in
a few hours.
The government officers and line
riders we're kept on a constant move
to save the country from confagra-
ton. The country was sparseIy set
tied. Here and there, miles apart.
where small seep or spring furnished
them water a settler would sometimes
be found, deep in the woods. a rough
er and more rocky country never Iay
outdoors. Canyons split It up in all Dr.
rections; messs were covered with
pine timber and on the rocky. seamy
sides Of the hills were thick cedars and
chaparral, making a tangled Jungle
that even the old pioneers would oc-
eas.onaily get lost in.
1t was late in the spring when the
biggest fire of decade broke out. and
At time when the wind was blowing
a terrific gale. 1t marked as high as
90 miles an hour, falling at sunset,
seemingly to rest for the coming dav
when it would break out again with
renewed force.
A small camp fire left unattended
started the sea Of fame On its journey
Of destruction. A heavy wind was be-
hind il, driving it due north toward
the highest peaks Of the mountains.
The government rider in charge Of
the district fought IL 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 su-
perior officer for help. Help which
was 20 miles away. and soon q force Of
20 men was on it's way az 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 filed
with II, and great black clouds hung
ever and hid the mountain peaks As
far as the eve could reach there was
= leaping, twisting, roaring sea Of
fame IS the night wore on, the
smoke settled more closely 10 the
ground and shut out the moonlight.
adding more to the awful beauty Of
The Wild scene; giant trees blazing
from root TO the topmost branches
gave out their spectral. shfmmerfug
light, which seemed TO gain in size IN
til they appeared many times their ac-
tual size and height
Above the din and roar came the
occasional boom Of a distant tree as IL
crashed down into the canyon below
upon the rocks; mp steep mountain
sides the flames rolled ard cracked.
carting here aud there, licking up ev-
erything in its reach: the wind whirIed
il here and there; boiling smoke rolled
close 10 the ground, covering the men
and choking them until they were
nearly straasled; 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 90 again.
black and begrimed; beating the fire
out here, chopping and cutting away
logs, fighting like tends TO stop the
spread.
Along toward morning, Charlie Lew
is, one Of the regular range riders OF
the district, came up 10 the officer in
charge Of the reserve. with an anxious
lock on his begrimed and swesty face
Captain" If I amt mistaken. there's
s ranch over there in that draw about
a mile to the left. 1 hadn't thought
of it before. but old man Williams
lives there. He moved back there about
a month ago with his daughter. I
think something oughter be done to
see if he amt got out of there before
the fire runs onto him
Good God. man. no one could get
this living he'll 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
We'll, I'll tell you. cap. If you'll
jest let me try may be able to do
something fer EN-. I amt worth q
dam. nohOw, and it won't hurt much
IL 1 don't make il. know most of
the country like a faro layout, so
does my brone. If 1 don't get
through, cap-why. it'll be the right
kind of a start fer me in the next
world. ennyhow," he said. with lit
tie deprecatiug laugh
The cap. as he called him. grasped
him by the hand. mumbled something
under his breath that sounded like
Odd fool" wiped something out of
his eyes, and said;
We'll. go ahead if you are bound
to-"
In a short time Charlie had Sc
cured his little sure-fOoted beast.
and soaking his clothes with what
water could be spared from the
drinking water in the canteens he
was ready for the journey. As he
spurred his horse down into the FIRE,
the men gave him cheer. He waved
his big hat at them and was gone