The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-02-04

From the mill the flames swept east.
ward. devouring several hundred thou
sand feet of flooring and the costly
koa lumber which was kept in readi.
ness for shipping IN the near future.
On swept the flames and the great piles
of lumber. stacked in such way as
to make drying and seasoning speedy
matter. made the work of the fire easy.
Soon the eight acres of space occupied
by the mill and lumber yards presented
the sight of a number of swiftly burn
ing great pyrcs, the FIRE leaping from
one 10 another.
Manager Johnson mouse WAS threat.
ened, and, MS a matter of fact, it began
smoking on several occasions, making
it necessary to tear down the part of
it which was nearest the fire. The fur
niture was all removed to various parts
of the village by willing hands, though
johnson himself could spare no time
from his fight to save the lumber.
Hilo to the Rescue.
BY this time morning had come, and
the news of the disaster had reached
Hilo. An offer from the fire depart
ment to assist the best 1T could was
accepted, and Chief w. H. johnson
hastened to Pahoa, followed by the new
chemical engine, which, however,
proved of but little use. Daring the
day various sightseers came in autos.
The entire day was used in saving
the lumber lying between the fire,
which at this time was raging through
the middle area of the yard, and, the
village proper. Hundreds of workers
carried lumber to safe places, some of
it being placed on railroad ears. John
son directed the work with a GOODNESS
which was wonderful. In spite of the
fact that the loss of the plant which
he had built up. through all kinds of
adversities until it had finally become
a success, must have been to him like
the loss of a child, he never by word
or act showed his concern, but direct
ed his men calmly and efficiently. There
were many outsiders who showed far
more excitement than did johnson.
As the FIRE in the lumber began to
die away on account of lack of fuel
during the afternoon, danger became
apparent which, while not so spectaeu-
lar, Altered almost as great a problem
as did the main fire. That was the FIRE
in the sawdnst which formed ito
ground on which the yard stood The
lumber piles were placed on great
fiji Of sawdust, fourteen feet deep in
places, and this WAS burning. smould-
ering slowly but surely towards the
village. There was no danger shat the
fire therein would reach the village, as
the railroad track lay between IT and
the houses. on nh of solid around,
but Il might carry the fire 10 the lum'
Der piles by the track. So work was
concentrated on removing these. II
was feared that the fire might spread
from the lumber 10 the buildings be-
You'd, During the early part Of the A.
tsrnoon nn excited fireman telephoned
20 llilo that the village was in immi
neni danger and that assistance was
needed. Consequently tho Old steam
hre engine was loaded on = Nat car and
sent out 10 Pahon with q rew of Ore
men. The old enigma WAS not an un-
quallhrd tuffrsf, lui undu the fIFclm.
afaRrrs u worked 40 better purpufe
ihaa asa The chemical
Az ihr night Nofe pn Tie hfo grade
HllY weff fself GOT aHd iho foiloHlnf
muuInF u hBf uuiW rnntfui.
NO serious Aegasuts
it u f0nfldmf5 frfg Nfkf ih|ng
ihsi nn ano Rpi lHlly hHd aHnnf itN
hahi Nllh ihf hamf. Rs lhrnr nHe r
~ NrlnnHnlfY ~ uestle ra.Hnd
inhHfaH AHi lhilr moe illi NpHmflf