The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-07-18
ASHES CONTAIN
$25O,OOO FORTUNE
Ashes Contain S25O,O00 Fortune.

The large plant of the Wind River
Lumber company, together with sew
eral million feet sof lumber piled in
the yards, was destroyed by fire last
Thursday evening. The fire stated at
about 6: 80 in the evening and 10 a
few hours the flames bad licked up
$3.50, 600 worth Of property with only
$50, 900 insurance.
II is presumed that the fire started
in the engine room of the Flaming
mill. At $3.50 when some of the mill
hands were returning from supper
they noticed that this portion of the
building was seething mass OF
flames. The same conditions we're
witnessed by steamer lying In the
river few hundred feet away which
gave the alarm that aroused the entire
town.
Several hundred mill hands were
Immediately upon the scene, and ten
lines of hose we're laid from the com
pany's water works, aud rs many
streams played on the fire, but all
seemed in VAIN. The flames leaped
hundreds of feet, and as the vest wind
would lash them they soon cover
ed an area of several acres. At last
the fire fighters we're driven away
from the engine room. the water sup
ply was then out off and the entire
plant was doomed.
After the water supply at the com.
pany's plant had been cut off an
effort was made to dynamite a por-
tion of the yard and thus arrest the
progress of the fire hend, but this
course had little effect. An effort was
also made to connect with the gov
ernment water system, however, this
was unsatisfactory as no head could
be secured.
The fire soon jumped across the
track OF the o. Il. & N. Co., where
number of large fir trees we're burned,
and the office and residence OF Man
ager G.. w. Thompson we're also
threatened. The timely efforts of the
citizens and mill hands fighting the
encroaching flames with wet blankets
and garden hose saved them from Ee-
ing burned.
The large bunk house, east of the
mill and occupied by some 70 hands,
vas detsr Dyed within short time at
ter the mill took fire and several Of
the mill hands ,ost all OF their per-
sonal effects.
Several small boats which we're
moored on the rivers bank and which
belonged to the various residents tf
the town were burned to the waters
edge.
The railroad track was materially
damaged; ties were burned and rails
warped. Several box cars which
stood on the siding we're also burned.
Telegraph poles and wires readily
yielded to the fren2ied flames.
During the fire the little four year
old son OF j. Alwiok, while running
to the fire with an open knife in his
hand, stumbled and fell in such a
manner as to stab himself in the
groin, however, medical assistance
was Immediately secured and the
bcy's life was saved.
Trains No. 4 and arrived on time
and we're detained until 3 o'clock in
the morning. The heat was so intense
and several hundred teet of the track
VISA destroyed so that progress was
impossible
Manager 9. W. Thompson was In
Seattle in consultation with other
officers OF the company relative to the
making of important and extensive
improvements to the plant. President
A. llerschhe mer, of Lacrosse, Wis. +,
who WAS visiting the plant, was pres
ent at the conllagra'ion and directed
the operations of the fire fighters.
The destruction of this oollossl lum-
beriug plant is heavy loss to Cas-
cade Locks, as the entire place prac-
ticaliy depended upon the mill. Sew
eral hundred families we're sustained
by the employment which it aft forded
The company will undoubtedly re
build, however, ii is feai ed by the
residents OF tthe Locks that it will be
rebuilt on the Washington side, where
the North Bank road is now in being
built. IL this Ia done Cascade Locks
will be practically reduced to ham
let. Hood River hopes for the good
of our sister city that the plant will
be rebuilt upon it's former site.