The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1923-01-05
HIS LOSSES
IRREpARABLE
A Letter from Col A. NJ. Dewey Gives
Fuller Particulars Of the Recent
Blue Lake Fire.

Some weeks ago the Gazette con-
tanned an account of the fire at Blue
Lake, near the Q. s. mine, In the Sim
lahekin valley between Loomis and
Conconully. The property was owned
by Col. A. NJ. Dewey, who at one time
operated the G. S. mine, but for sever
al years resident of Des Moines.
Iowa. At the time of the fire it was
stated that Mr.. Dewey lost many val
liable household articles that could
never be replaced, and the following
letter from the Colonel tells Of those
losses as well as gives more particu-
lars relative to the fire:
Des Moines, Iowa, December 13,'22.
My Dear Mr.. Dallam-
In your article re the burning of
my cozy home near Blue Lake in the
@. S. coulee you say the loss must
have been quite heavy. Indeed 1t was,
and cannot be stated in terms OF dol
lars and cents. My fine library of
more than two thousand volumes of
rare books, some OF them In rare
bindings, and dozen paintings by
Thompson, the California artist, were
among the treasures of lifetime
which were totally destroyed. These
cannot be replaced with money. My
wife is in California at this time, and
Is heartbroken over the loss of ner
fine, upright-grand piano, mahogany
furniture. and rare bric-a-brac and
needle work which had cost her many
years of patient effort. now plan to
build even better home there another
year, but it can never take the place
of the one destroyed. One Of the prices
less treasurers lost in the flames was
a twelve-foot Old Glory which floated
proudly eighty feet above the fire for
a short time, but suddenly succumbed
| to the intense heat and was consumed
! | tried in vain to reach the flagpole.
but the heat was too intense and had
to give IL up. The Cause of the fire
seemed to me to AeUe sst. an eXpi0
sion in the attic over the kitchen. MIR
| Underhill and myself heard the explo-
sion and saw the end of the house
iblown ava. followed ell immediately -sy
| fierce flames. The whole inside of the
house seemed to be on fire at once.
! We were unable to reach anything,
and Mr.. Underhill risked his life to
reach his roll of money. My own mon
ey was in my desk in the front room
and could not be reached. ] recovered
from the ashes a ring box which had
| n h0, q nd l.
lars. but the diamond had been con-
sumed by the great heat Some few
gold buttons in the ashes told what
had happened to three gold watches
several pairs Of gold cuff buttons and
Isome gold Masonic charms owned by
the two Underhills and myself, anf
one of my priceless treasurers was 9
Masonic apron presented to me thirty
five years ago by an Ohio Lodge OF
the occasion of a celebration there a
which | had been one Of the speakers
and this cannot now be replaced, al
the officers who had signed 1t hav'
passed on to their reward for service
we'll done.
The fire hastened my return to thi'
CITY on business. and l was sorry no
to have had time to give you a cal
before my return. The Underhills nav
acquired an interest in my ranches
there and will live there and max
many improvements at the q.
ranch. H. A. Underhill. the son, \
there now. and w. B. Underhill. tn
father, is now in Detroit packing u
to return there to live with his fam
: | ily. He will ship a car OF neeoe
( equipment from the east, and VII
. return there himself at once. Oka
r nogan county secures good materia
r in the Underhill family"