The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-07-08
SOLDIERS ASSIST
IN GRUELLING WORK

More than 1000 men have spent the
night and early morning hours in
perilous combat with one of the fiercest
fires that has visited Mount Tamalpais
in recent years.
The fire is raging in five distinct
spots, and it is conservatively esti-
mated that more than $500 acres os
timber land and chaparral have al
ready been destroyed.
The residents of Mill Valley and the
campers in the inns and taverns on tie
mountain slopes are in deadly peril
that the flames will extend to their
homes, but up to an early hour this
morning the confiagration has been
twisted and turned in it's course by
scientific back firing, leaving the dwell
ings unscathed.
From bay points the mountain re-
senbles a volcano in eruption. the
flames shooting 200 and 500 feet and
pouring over the valley towns
shower of ashes. The blaze could be
seen last night in all its lurid bright
ness from this city and the scent of the
burning pine cones filled the air for
miles
STARTS ON SOUTH SLOPE
The fire started at IL o'clock be-
tween West Point and the tavern on
the south slope of the mountain. The
Cropping of lighted cigarette, a de-
serted campfire or a spark from the
scenic railroad within few minutes
made a torch of the wooded slopes
The dry grass and chaparral and resin
Gus pines gripped the flames and high
winds bore them on at terrific pace
1t was James Varney who discovered
the blaze and wired the alarm to Mill
Valley. The village fire departments
of the town were speedy in bringing
their apparatus to the scene and volun-
teers armed with pickaxes, brushhoo6s
ropes, spades and sand bags hastened
to lend assistance.
The whole valley was alive to the
danger and for while 1t appeared
that the flames would claim Mill Valley
in its destructive course. But the wind
switched from east to west and the
fears of the villagers had a respite.
FIRST EFFORTS FAIL
The early attempts to fight the blaze
We're crude, the cambatants using wet
sacks. This method proving unavail-
ing, they resorted to backfiring But
the flames spread in spite of these
heroic measures, running down the
deep canyons, its pace being aecentu-,
ated by the high winds
William Thomas, master mechanic OF
the Mill Valley and Mt. Tamalpais rail
road and John Burt, superintendent OF
the North Coast Water company, di-
rected the operations of the fire fight
ers. The land about West Point is
covered with manzanita, greesewood
to the flames
Frederick c. Dezendorf chief OF the
second division of the United States
general land office arrived early on the
scene accompanied by H. c. Englewood.
Andrew Lynn and c. Beyfuss Corte
Madra, Larkspur and Mill Valley each
supplied SO men to fight the fire.
InTee companies Oh the coast aYtIl-
lery corps were sent over from Fort
Baker. consisting of companies 80. 81
and 14s. They were in charge of Lieu
tenant ]. X Green and Lieutenant Law
son. Later In the evening 200 troops
from the Preside from the Sixteenth
regiment arrived. The officers In charge
were Captain o. r. Wolf, Captain
Greer, Captain Bash. Captain Abel, Cap
tain Mitchell, Captain McBiarnid and
Lfeutenants Atkins. McLeary. White
and Barrett.
FIREMEN CROSS BAY
The local fire department was also
called to assist and Assistant Chief
Maxwell and Il men boarded the fire
boat David Scanlan and rushed a spe-
cial train to the devastated region.
President Houghton OF the TamaI
pals Conservation club issued an ap-
peal to the members asking for their
assistance in combating the confagra-
ton His appeal read:
1T is reported to me by the noun
tain railroad officials that the fre is
spreading and that Mill Valley is IL