Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-09-19
The Forest Fires.

pail OF smoke all over the western part
of the State last week have not alto.
gether subsidized, the absence of wind
currents and the prospects OF rain give
hope OF Ultimate extinction at an carly
date. The experience Of the past fort.
night has been unprecedented on this
coast. Hitherto our annual forest
fires have been confined to destruction
OF tracts, sometimes of great area, OF
valuable timber land, but the present
visitation has added the horror OF a
loss of many lives and left behind it
the vail of anguish as we'll as the
silent grief that attends the destruction
OF property.
While this disaster has been wide
spread, it is heavier in Clarke and
Lewis counties than elsewhere. The
settlers on Lewis river have been spe.
cially unfortunate. From the best
information obtainable it is thought
that at least % people have persisted,
including those known to be dead.
Fifteen lives were lost on Lewis river
Saturday, and it is reported that $50
people are homeless and many are des-
titute.
Nobody will suffer, however, as relief
organization has been perfected, and
those Angels OF Mercy parties have
been sent out from Kalams, Vancouver
and Portland. The dramatic profession
(Heaven bless them y were the first in
the field and great double perform
ance was given in the Marquam Grand,
by which several thousand dollars
were added to the citizens subscrip-
ton, amounting to about as much
more. for relief OF the sufferers.
Vancouver has raised 81 200 for the
sufferers and has a band of active
workers in the field to distribute the
aid where needed.
A Kalama dispatch of Wednesday
says that the fire has practically died
out, and relief parties are packing in
food and clothing on horses. Most OF
the sufferers are congrega:ed At Muir.
rays, where supplies are being distrib-
uted. From reports OF an eyewitness
it appears q cyclone passed over Lewis
river on Thursday, of last week, carry.
ing the fire at great speed, and spent
itself on the headwatcrs OF the Cove.
man river. Trees were uprooted in
the path of the fire, and several person.
testify to the whirling form OF the fire
and smoke. On the Upper Cowemar
the wind blew from the north, while
on the Lewis river it blew fercely
from the southwest.
The loss of homes in Chehalis count,
will probably reach 200. Many wer.
owned by mill owners, who can better
stand the loss than the lonely settler
with just enough roof to shelter hi
family. They do not ask outside help
although small money donations viii
not come amiss to many OF the suffer
ers.
A Mrs. Fry. living near Vance's mill
in Chehalis county, died from exposure
incident to the fire. She had giver
birth to child few days before. and
was carried from her half-consumec
home and died soon afterward.
It will require years to reinstate tn,
losses Of q few hours. The fire cam,
with rush down the Summit branch
of tho Northern Pacific railroad, de
stroying some seven mills and ever,
railroad bridge to Elma-a distance o
nine miles. It also burned ever,
house and lumber yard on the way ex
cept two, Mr.. Evans and Mr.. Turcher's
The fine plant of Allen White, . saw
mill and single mill, combined
with its large stock of lumber and q
least twenty houses, were swept away
As many more buildings at Rayvill'
also we're burned, including the store
Sixty thousand dollars would not cove
these two losses alone. The Star mil
came next after Whites, and there tn
loss probably was 5000, not includ
| ing the houses there. It is almost i'm
POSSIBLE to realize these landmarks ar
gone as on the road it passed over tn
ground is so clear.
| Oregon has suffered quite as badly
Clackamas and Multnomah countie
being generally regarded as the FIR
center. II is estimated that the los
in the former county will not fal
short of 100000. Relief parties ar
also caring for the destitute in Oregon
1t seems that the smoke from burn
; ing forests in this State and Oregon
has extended A. far south a. San Fran
cisco and the city was the early par
of this week surrounded by haze o
smoke and fog which the weather bu
reau says undoubtedly proceeded iron
the great fires along the northern
coast.
u A STRANGE ELoPxNENT.-It il th
strange that 10 happening now-a-days
all the time. How in the world Mr.
Waggoner, who found the body of tn
bandit Merrill, near Chehalis, . fev
weeks ago, can base sentiment upo,
the gruesome find and fall in love will
a brother of the deceased, seems be
yond comprehension, but that she ha
done so is shown by her elopmen
nth him Tho uor1o,, To-. xh.~. -