Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-10


fire.
Flames Sweep Los Flores Canyon
Hon. T. z. Lukens, the veteran for
estry expert in charge of the United
States forerst reservations in this Sec
tion, called all of his forest rangers
to the scene and these men were placed
in charge OF groups Of the less expert
enced workers.
The Pacific Electric company sent
all the workers they could for miles
and gradually the fire seemed to
lessen. The men directed their ef-
forts now toward saving the brush and
trees of Rubio canyon and the Rubio
pavilion in the mouth Of the canyon,
and to keeping the fire from spread
ing to the westward, as was constantly
threatened.
BY D. m. the conflagratlon was
checked and further great danger was
at an end. In several places the fire
kept breaking out afresh every few
minutes and the men were kept rushing
here and there most of the afternoon.
At 5 D. m. all of the flrefighters were
withdrawn and a score of forest rang
ers and experienced men were placed
on guard. These will stand at their
posts through tonight, ready for eny
fresh outbreak.
Los Flores canyon, which suffered
so severely last year from n fire, was
again in the line of the destroying ele-
ment. What was not burned then
went today.
Men Do Heroic Work
The residence and outbuildings oc~
cupied by Twaddell at the mouth Of
the canyon narrowly escaped destruc-
ton.
For a time there was apprehension
that the fire would leap to the slopes
Of Eatons canyon, which would mean
q yet greater fire and the possible de-
struction of the great Mt. Wilson OBJ
servatory, the government nursery at
Henniger's flats and incalculable loss
to the forests and camps on Mount
Wilson. But the work of the fire.
fighters and the fact that the wind
veered at the critical moment pre-
vented this.
Tonight nothing remains at the top
of Echo Mountain except the white
dome and walls of the observatory.
This was repeatedly the center of the
fire, but, as by a miracle, escaped un-
injured. The great lenses were re-
moved from the building in preparation
for the approach of the fire and i'm
mersed in tanks of water, and by this
means kept from injury. The chalet,
the upper part of the incline, the
garbage crematory, the great worlds
fair searchlight, the dancing pavilion,
the pilot house at the head of the in
cline-all these are but piles Of ashes
tonight and smoking beams of half
burned wood. 4.
No One in Danger
Naturally all communication was inn
mediately cut off between Pasadena
and Alpine tavern. The telephone
wires are down and the trolley wires
along the mountain road are useless.
But people having friends there need
not be alarmed as to their safety, rs
according to the best reports at hand
the fire was stopped over two miles
from the beautiful tavern, and the
worst Inconvenience that can be forced
upon its occupants is that they can
not assure the outside world of their
safety and can not at once be moved
to the valley.
Manager Turner of the Pacific Elec-
trio company states that a capstan will
be erected on the incline and the cable
Strengthened out, then a score OF
horses will be brought to the summit
with which the cars can be replaced
on the track. The hollow where the
bridge stood will be running as usua
within two or three weeks. Mr.. Turn
er places the Pacific Electric company's
damage at over 100000.
AS far as is now known not a life
has been lost and there have been nc
serious injuries of any kind.
Praises Work of Fighters
Forest Supervisor Lukens returned
' from the mountains at p. m. and was
at his home when seen by The Herald
reporter. He detailed at length his
view of the fire and it's origin, which
is practically the same as the foregoing
account, and proceeded at once to the
most generous praise of the men who
have been at work today as many OF
them never worked before to save the
mountain slopes from being entirely
denuded of their timber.
IT have never seen such willing
workers or so wise a line of action,
said Mr. Lukens. THE men sent UT
| by the electric company and the mer
we secured from the valley were dis
tributed on all sides of the fire and
fought carefully and skillfully.
Wherever possible a forest ranger
was put in charge of IL group of men
as more experienced in fighting fire
than they were, and every man worked
willingly and bravely. The wind would
blow Il gale from one quarter for a
| while. then shift suddenly, then come
by gusts so that we could not tell
which direction it was necessary to
guard. Our rangers came down from
San Gabriel and we worked hard to
keep the fire from leaping Rubio can
yon and with success.
Fire caught in a dozen places beyond
the divide, but it was Immediately ex-
tinguished. | feel tonight as though
some higher power had /. hand in pre-
venting the spread OF the fire, II
seemed so hopeless at times and we
were so helpless when the fire was al
it's highest.
Damage to Watershed
Tonight the danger is we'll nigh
past. although I have twenty-five men
in camp near Merriam's camp and SEN
tinelS are watching all around the burnt