The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1910-08-25
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION
Continued From First Page1


here.
All afternoon and evening the streets
were lined with people anxiously watch
ing theapproaching connagrstion. Many
had their garden hose at work wetting
down their homes. Later in the even
ing aa the wind died down and the
flames no longer lit up the heavens with
their glare the excitement was gradually
subdued.
Early in the evening the town council,
fire department and citizens consulted
az to the best means OF protecting the
town against the encroachment Of the
the flames. The worst danger at that
time was from the country south OF
Penrith, where large fire was raging
ID logging slashings and cordwood piles.
Arrangements were hurriedly made to
get out volunteer fire fighting gang,
at 8 O'Clock Sunday morning the fire
alarm was sounded to call out the vol
unteers
In the early hours of Sunday morning
some good work was done in the way OF
back firing and trenching in the section
near Penrith. Later when the wind
arouse from the southwest it was beyond
human ability to stop the flames, and
most of the volunteers came in. to re-
sumo their places along the front the
next night.
During Sunday the threatening aspect
OF the fires on the west and south was
such as to cause much alarm, and many
people made preparations for hurriedly
leaving the town IN case the fire should
reach it. Many backyard in the town
received boxes and trunks of valuable
articles buried underground for protec-
ton.
The alarm was such that on the two
afternoon passenger trains on Sunday
fully one hundred people left town tC
seek refuge in Spokane, mainly women
and small children, leaving so that the
men of the town would be unhampered
in case the worst should happen. Very
few men left the city. There was nc
panic, simply desire to take all pre-
cautions to insure the safety OF those
who would he most helpless in case the
town should burn.
Since Sunday the work Of fighting
the fires close to town has been kept uI
and it will be continued until rains come
to wipe out all danger. Mayor Lut.
telegraphed the State Fire Warden a
Olympia for assistance from the state
An answer came authorizing him, in th'
absence of a regular deputy to act 81
deputy fire warden. This appointment
clothing Mr.. Lutz with authority helped
greatly in organizing the fight.
On Monday the greatest danger wa
the FIRE directly south of town. Thi
fire has been kept from doing seriou
damage as it has been slow burning
Are. While it has covered consider
able territory its progress did not creat
the big destruction of Saturdays fire
It crossed the state line into Idaho an,
for time the buildings of the Silve
Birch farm were in danger. 1t is nov
in the neighborhood of the old Traction
engine road and unless the wind be
comes stronger will be kept from getting
into the holdings Of the rsnchers cas-
and south.
Tuesday night strong wind aros
from the north, creating new DANCE
for the town which fortunately mos
people except those engaged in the vorl
OF fighting the fires, did not detect.
large force of men was rushed to tn
front and when at about ten O'Clock tn
wind lessened the present danger wa
over. Wind seldom comes from tina
quarter but had it continued it woul
have been difficult to save the town
This fire will also be carefully guarde
until all danger is past.
The men of Newport have put up al
heroic fight against the fire. Men VIII
are not accustomed to the hard work O
the woods have cheerfully gone forth t
battle against the devouring demon
Common cause was made against tn
enemy, the Fidelity mill closing dow
Saturday evening until the danger wa
past. Its employees have been in tn
front rank almost continuously. TIL
mayor and council. the fire department
under Chief Anderson, and, in fact
practically every body has been doin
something to assist in the work. Tn
men were taken out to the front b.
autos and teams, the machines doing
particularly good service by speedil
rushing men to the front and keepin
them supplied with provisions. Team
and machines have been on the 90 al
most continuously. There has been n
panic. although everybody has bee
laboring under q nervous strain an
at high pressure.
After the first sweep of the fire die