Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-11
BAD FIRE
SWEEPSO
MESA LAND
THREATENS LA CRESCENTA
AND GOULD CASTLE
RESIDENCES BURN AND WATER
SUPPLY MENAcED
State and Federal Officers Clash and
Volunteers Are Led Far Into
the Mountains, Leaving
Town to Fate

fanned by stiff breeze a brush fire
yesterday swept up the foothills in La
Crescenta, burned over thirteen square
miles of mountain and mesa land de-
stroyed three residences and only by
daring work on the part of residents
of the valley was kept from laying low
the town of La Crescenta, the old
Gould castle and >the $4,000 mansion
owned by Samuel Merrill.
A clash between state and federal
forest and fire officials resulted, it is
said, in the federal authority leading
the hundred volunteer fire fighters far
into the mountains to protect the for
est reserve, leaving the town of La
Crescenta to its fate That the thriv-
ing little town of fifty families, the
Falrmont hotel and other buildings are
not now in ruins is due to the des-
perate work of Warden Philip Begue,
who was off duty on furlough, and
I. Fenton Knight, a rancher in La
Canada, and formerly a well known
newspaper man of Los Angeles.
Two Men Save Town
Seeing that the town was doomed
after the big force of men led by the
federal authorities had rushed into the
mountains to turn the fire back, Begue
and Knight valiantly fought the flames
during the sultry afternoon and only
by the most heroic efforts did the two
| men succeed by back firing in saving
the town.
The fire, it is said, was started by
l.. S. Ward of Glendale, who three
weeks ago obtained a permit to burn
off ten acres. Yesterday he attempted
to burn off another piece of land
and the flames got beyond his
control Sweeping along ahead of
the wind the fire soon men,
aced La Crescenta on the one side and
on the other rushed on up the noun
tain. Wardens William Bergman and
Begue started to fight the flames and
at once sent in a call for one hundred
men from Pasadena
About this time the clash between
the state and federal officers occurred
as a result of which La Crescenta all
| but burned.
Authorities Clash
While the men We're fighting the
| flames back from the village Ranger
Graham, so it is stated by a. resident
of the valley, instructed the men to
proceed at once into the mountains and
protect the forest reserve. Supervisor
R. M. Charlton, it is sated, sided with
Graham and ordered the men into the
mountains. When their attention was
called to the fact La Crescenta might
burn the federal officers are said to
have remarked: Never mind this place.
Get up into the mountains"
The fire fighters obeyed despite the
fact that the state wardenS attempted
to have them protect the town. No
one was left behind but Begue and
Knight, who manfully took up the stu
pendous task of beating back the
flames and saving the village.
After hours of hard work 1t appeared
they had won, when suddenly the wind
veered and the fire rushed to-
ward the town. Again Begue and
Knight hurried to the rescue and sue
ceeded in stopping the flames at one of
the irrigation bitches on the outskirts
of La Crescenta.
State Supervisor Morgan warmly
complimented Begue on his good judg-
ment in fighting the fire at the bottom
instead of at the top.
Residences Destroyed
The residences destroyed were those
of Mrs. Fred Eaton, valued at $2500;
Mrs. Jennie Treats five-room cottage
and Fritz Williams home. The Mer-
rill mansion was saved only by per-
sistent work For a time 1t appeared
the old Gould castle was doomed. but
fortunately the fire burned itself out in
that direction before it reached the
famous structure.
The water supply of the valley has
been damaged heavily and a consider
able area of forest land has been laid
waste.
Late last night the fire in the noun
tains was believed to be under control,
but below the village of Monte Vista
was considered in danger.
Fire wardens stated last night
warrant would be issued today for
the arrest of the man who started the
fire.