WATER SUPPLY IS SAFE FROM FLAMES

Fire at Bull Run Now Under Control and Militiamen Are on Guard.

VILLAGE OF SANDY MAY GO

King Hotel and Toll Gate Tavern Reduced to Ashes and Many Farmhouses East and South of Portland Destroyed.

Threatening the villages of Sandy and Dover and for a time endangering the Bull Run water supply of the city of Portland the forest fires in the Mount Hood district yesterday assumed alarming proportions and wrecked destruction in their paths.

The Bull Run watershed fire was under control last night, Supervisor Percy Shelly being in charge of the district. There is no danger of the water supply being interfered with. Supervisor Shelly was carefully guarding the bridge at McIntire's ranch, where the Bull Run pipe line crosses the Sandy River.

Yesterday's summary of destruction included the King hotel on the Mount Hood read, the Stone ranch and the Toll Gate tavern, the Salmon River postoffice, numerous farm houses and bridges, immense quantities of cord wood and an area of timber land that cannot now be estimated.

The village of Sandy is in imminent danger.

Portland militiamen are on the ground joining with the settlers and volunteers from the city, in checking the progress of the flames.

Acting Governor Jay Bowerman made a hurried trip to Portland yesterday and consulted with legal authorities on the advisability of revoking all fishing and hunting permits in the hope of reducing the cause of forest fires.

Licenses May Be Revoked.

Governor Bowerman was last night in doubt as to the extent of his authority in that direction, but has called United States District Attorney John McCourt, as well as other reputable lawyers, to his aid. Upon the result of the conference which will be held this morning will depend the action of the Governor.

E. T. Allen, secretary of the Western Forestry and Conservation Association, suggested this step. As soon as the idea gained circulation it met with cordial endorsements.

Flames Cross River.

The fire now raging on the Mount Hood road district has swept the timber and all settlements before it. Beginning in the vicinity of Dover, it swept north and jumped the Sandy River as easily as a boy would hurdle an irrigation ditch.

It has taken the bridge at Marmot, and a number of bridges above that point. At 6 o'clock last night the fire line had seven miles frontage. It had covered Zig Zag Mountain, Cat Hill and swept down on the town of Sandy without opposition.

Guests and owners of Rhododendron Tavern, on the road to Mount Hood, and cottages escaped from the flames through making a run for safety as the flames appeared from the south.

Small Towns May Go.

Forest Supervisor Sherrard last night gave little hope for the escape of inhabitants of Cherryville and Firwood. While no loss of life had been reported it was feared that there was no hope for the buildings.

People at Rhododendron were yesterday placed aboard wagons, and with household effects piled on the same rigs, were started out to safety. Rhododendron Tavern has not burned, although the fire has circled the place.

Autoists Have Narrow Escape.

The last automobile to arrive from Rhododendron Tavern belonged to George Rutledge. The machine started out Wednesday night, but turned back from McIntire Hill, the fire being on three sides of the party. A fresh start was taken from the tavern yesterday morning at 4:30 and after hewing out trees and running around others, the trip was completed.

F. H. Ireland and R. W. Graulich, who returned to Portland yesterday from Rhododendron, say forest fires are raging all the way from Welches to Dandy. They left Welches at 4:30 yesterday afternoon. They had difficulty in getting through on account of falling trees. Twice they were obliged to construct temporary bridges across streams.

Mr. Ireland reports that the buildings at Salmon are burned, including the King Hotel. He brought to Portland two women who were waiting at Sandy to come in.

The stage from Boring to Rhododendron Railway, Light & Power Company, reports the fire burned on both sides of the Oregon Water Power track from Boring to Haley, and on the east side of the track between Haley and Hoover spur. From Hoover to Batefuhr he says it burned on both sides. He has also received a report that the fire is burning along the high-voltage power line between Sycamore and Barton.

Much Country Laid Waste.

From Dover to Sandy is a blackened waste, the fireline being held at Messinger's mill, above Aschoff through the timely arrival of men sent from Portland by automobile. The mills are within three miles of the town of Sandy and the safety of that village is considered to depend largely upon the direction of the wind. Should the wind change to the north, nothing on earth can save the city of Sandy.

The Proctor & Peers' mill, above Sandy, was burned yesterday afternoon and it was believed by George M. Cornwall, of The Timberman, that the Davenport mill, in the same district, would follow.

Delayed Stage Arrives.

The delayed state arrived at Row yesterday afternoon an the suspense felt there for two days is over. So far no casualties have been reported and the people feel safe. The fire on Zigzag Mountain seemed to be at a standstill yesterday afternoon, but later on appeared to be working around toward the Toll Gate, south of Rhododendron Tavern. All is safe at the Mauldin Hotel, two miles south of Welch's Hotel. An automobile occupied by C. W. Kern, and others came to Rhododendron Tavern Wednesday night with an offer of assistance.

Portlanders at Tavern.

Among those at the tavern are Secretary E. C. Giltner, of the Portland Commercial Club: Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Wells, Mr. and Mrs. James Lyons and baby, Mr. and Mrs. P. F. Buetke and child, J. F. Brady, William Gerretson, Jr., Hans Nicklas, Henry Baner, Emil Baner, Joe Heiler, Paul Baner and Mrs. Dr. Royal besides Mr. Holden's family.

Some concern is felt by friends of Attorney Fred L. Everson for his safety, as he left about a week ago with an automobile party on a hunting and fishing trip. The party camped above Welchs and was to have returned yesterday, but at last report had not been seen.

Men Fear of Families.

Thomas McCusker and E. J. Cannon started at 9 o'clock last night by automobile to rescue their families who have been camping in the mountains several miles above Sandy. No word had been received from them for two days and both men felt considerable apprehension over the safety of their wives and children.

Yesterday morning the flames spread westward over the mountain near Anderson Station taking in their path the homes of August Olsen and Walter Campbell, situated about three miles directly south of Gresham. At last reports from that vicinity the home of Nels Rodlun was about to go, and several other places were in great danger. At Pleasant Home a great danger confronted a dozen farmhouses but by prompt work all last night they were saved, but are not yet out of danger.

Household Goods Removed.

J. A. Stoffenson and Nels Johnson, whose houses were in the path of the fire, removed everything to the open fields, but were fortunate enough to save their property.

A company of state militia is camped two miles south of here guarding the property of the Oregon Water Power and helping to subdue the fires, which threatened surrounding farms.

Two Companies Leave Today.

Two militia companies were ordered into the field by Governor Bowerman yesterday, and two more will leave this morning for Marmot, about a mile and a half beyond Bull Run, to aid in the protection of the reserve. Company C will be commanded by Lieutenant B. E. Bowman and Company H by Captain L. R. Kollock. They will have an aggregate of 80 men, and will be joined at Boring by Captain Smith with 30 men.

Men have been employed and rushed to the scene of every forest conflagration as news of the necessities of the situations become known. But it is acknowledged in all quarters that no effective work can be done by human agencies. It will require a soaking rain to stop the fires.

"Another week of this powdery, dry weather and no one can tell what will happen to the forests of Oregon." said District Forester C. S. Chapman last night. "It is the worst situation in the history of the state. The Forest Service has hired all the men it can find and sent them to the fire lines. The Governor has sent his offer of aid, and such troops as have been provided for are in the field. They are doing good work. But what we will do a few days later is problematical."

Morning Oregonian, Portland, OR 26 Aug 1910
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!