Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-05-09
FIERCE ROSEBUD
FOREST FIRE OF
1898 DESCRIBED
COLUMBUS MAN WITH PARTY
CAMPING IN AREA WHEN
BLAZE STARTED

The start OF a raging forest III
which swept the watersheds Of botl
the East Rosebud and West Rosebul
rivers IN 1898 is described by w. B
Amin Of Columbus, who was with I
camping party Of seven persons In thu
area at the time the blaze started.
The Rosebud area, now q popular
recreation site, at that time was almost
a wilderness, with only scattered
ranches along the route to East Rose
bud lake. w. B. Amin, with Mrs. j
B. Amin, Mrs. Harry Schug, Harry
Schug, L. B. Banks and James and
Burt Amin, Travelled the rough trail:
to the Rosebud lake area In two
seated wagon and buggy, having diff
ffculty In passing through some Of the
wilder spots even with that equipment
All members of the party resided at
Columbus except w. b Amin, who at
the time was employed at store IN
Livingston, later moving to Columbus
One Cabin There Then
The lake, situated in the heart of
the mountains, is As miles south of
Columbus. The area, now in Carbon
county formerly was a part Of yell
lowstone county. A large number Of
summer cottages, most Of which are
owned by Billings residents, now are
located at the lake, but at the time
Amin visited the area In 1893 there
was only one log cabin there-which
like the present cottages, was used as
a Summer vacation home.
Amin relates that the party reached
the Tommy Jones ranch, near sand
ford seven miles downstream from
the lake, and with Jones aid and
guidance made its way through trees
and brush, over fallen logs and across
small creeks to a campsite.
That evening, they suddenly noticed
a huge blaze which lighted the sky
and which apparently was near the
lake, but being driven rapidly toward
the camping party by strong wind.
Unable to drive back to the Jones
ranch In the darkness, the members
were alarmed by the prospect of hav-
ing to flee from the fire. The blaze,
however, apparently died down and
the wind subsidized, and the following
day only few curls of smoke dotted
the mountainsides.
Amin relates that Uncle Billy"
Hamilton, old Indian scout who re-
sided at a cabin owned by a Mr.. Arm
strong Of Red Lodge and located at
Rosebud lake, visited the camping par
ty the day after the blaze started. |
Hamilton told the campers that a
party of two men and two women
had started the forest fire when they
disregarded his advice not to build
campfire near trees at the edge Of
the lake.
On the fourth night after the fire
was first noticed, and following q sue
cessful fishing trip near the lake, An
min said the party returned to the
cabin where Hamilton resided to find
that wind had again begun to spread
the blaze and Uncle Billy was at
tempting to beat back a grass fire
which threatened the cabin.
The building was saved, but the fire
jumped the stream and started up the
mountain on the opposite side, roaring
IS it struck heavy stands Of timber.
The fire again apparently subsidized,
0ut ON another fishing trip two days
ater Amin found many dead fish
1oating in the stream, killed by the
ire which had burned along both sides
# the river, and fishing was very
,oor"
Amin and his party decided to re-
urn to their homes on the seventh
lay after arriving In the Rosebud area. ,
Reaching Columbus, they learned that
strong wind had again risen and !
AIMED the forest fire into a rapidly :
moving blaze which burned everything !
long the river, including the jones' ]
anch house, barn, hay and Is head =
t cattle. The blaze was stopped only :
fter it reached the meadow at the
}. o. Morris ranch, several miles far
her downstream.
Accurate records Of the number Of :
ores of timber destroyed by the blaze :.
re lacking, since the forest service
id not take over jurisdiction Of the :
rea until several years later but evil =
ence Of the early day blaze still can
e seen In the vicinity. Amin asserts :
ne fire was the worst ever reported u
/ the Rosebud area. =
=