The Lamar register., 1902-08-06
FORESTS DESTROYED
BIG TRACTS OF TIMBER ON FIRE.
Flames Seen at Night From Denver
Large Firesin Many Parts Of Colo
RADIO and Wyoming - Mirage
StartIes the People Of leadville.

Denver, Aug. "a fire which threat
ems to destroy the forests in the vicin-
ity of Estes Park has been burning
for the past forty-eight hours. and the
smoke from the blazing timber can he
plainly seen from Denver The OFF,
cials of the State Land Board have
been appealed to for assistance in COM
batting the fire. and will exert them
selves to the utmost to check Its prog
ress. Other fires are reported from
various parts of the state and Wyo-
ming. The prolonged dry period has
made the underground like tinder, and
even the hardest trees are easily
ignited. Under the conditions only
few careless campers are needed to
start confiagrations which will do in
calculable damage and still further de
nude Colorado's rapidly decreasing
watersheds.
The main fire in Estes Park started
In grand forest of about 10000 acres.
1t is assisted by n strong wind. and is
sweeping everything before it, 1t Is
known that several camping parties
We're in the forest. but it Is believed
heavy rain will be required to extin-
guish the confiagration.
A fire has broken out on Crocier
mountain. about twelve miles north
east OF Estes Park. and another Is
ravaging the tall timber of Horseshoe
park. People in the vicinity are eN-
erting themselves to stay the progress
of the flames. and they hope to extin-
gulsh the Horseshoe Park blaze.
George Pheifer. mayor of Aliens
Park. n little town near Estes Park,
has written the land board telling of
the damage wrought by the fires. Act
ing Register Redman has ordered Ap-
praiser Jennings from Leadville to the
park. with instructions to do every
thing possible to stop the flames. Ap-
praiser Wells has been sent to Coal
creek, where another fire Is raging.
Yesterday the watchers in the capitol
could plainly see the flames creeping
uD three sides of one of the front
peaks.
Advices from Golden state that the
forests along the foothills are extreme
ly dry. On Thursday night fire broke
out in the stretch of timber between
Coal and Ralston creeks. and attempts
to check 1t have proven futile. With
out rain a vast area of well-timbercd
land will be denuded.
Up in Wyoming, OH the headwaters
of the Popo Agie. II big fire Is burning,
and the Lander valley Is covered by
smoke so dense that 1t obscures the
sun, giving the appearance of all
eclipse. A large amount of timber has
been destroyed, but no attempt has
been made to check the flames.
A Leadville dispatch of last night
says:
A mirage of fire was the magnifl-
cent and startling spectacle that citi-
zens of Leadville We're presented to-
night. Extending far above the noun
tain and fully n quarter of mile
wide. east of the city and directly
north of the Mosquito range, was
solid sheet of flame that attracted the
citizens from their homes and sent the
entire fire department of the city to
stand guard over the eastern portion
of the town. The spectacle lasted for
fully twenty minutes and for that time
it was thought by people OH the west
side that the entire eastern part of the
ely was in flames. Hundreds of peo-
pie started up the east side streets. but
the faster they ran toward the fire the
farther away 1t got
Investigation proved that the illumi-
nation was caused by the reflection
against the sky of the flames from the
forest fire that was raging twelve
miles from Leadville The fire is the
other side of Prospect mountain and
has been burning for several daye. The
high wind of tonight made 1t flame
high into the heavens 1t is not thought
that there are any people in the track
of the flames.