Smoke So Thick You Could Not See a Block: The August the Sound Went Dark

The reports from the down Sound counties and British Columbia indicate that the fires in the forests are abating and dying out, but the smoke on the sound from Seattle to Vancouver Island continues to be as dense as ever. Rain is fervently prayed for by everybody from Victoria to Olympia, and it seems that the prayers of the multitude are about to be answered, for Observer Alciatore, who has had a private conference with his superior, said last evening that within thirty-six hours the Puget Sound country would be visited by rain. The damage as a result of the fires is not great when taken as a whole, but the individual losses in Whatcom county are quite heavy, inasmuch as those who were in line with the fire are in moderate circumstances and consequently not able to easily stand the visitation.

In Whatcom county, while the weather has been unusually dry and warm, the fires seemed to have burned themselves out and are not spreading to an alarming extent. Along the Great Northern road a half-mile of telegraph line was burned out yesterday, but last evening temporary wires were stretched and the line was put in working order. Little or no damage was done to the rolling stock, the loss of a single flat car on the line between Ferndale and Blaine being reported. The officials of both the Great Northern and Lake Shore roads do not expect any further trouble as a result of the fires.

Observer Alciatore, in announcing that the Puget Sound country would be visited with a rain storm within thirty-six hours, said last evening: "Since morning there has been a general and decided fall of the barometer over all the Pacific coast states; the greatest fall being in Washington and Oregon. This evening the barometer was considerably below average at all stations, there seeming to have been a combination of two areas of low barometer. The one thing that makes me hopeful for rain is the fact that on the California coast the barometer has remained stationary. From experience I know that in the majority of instances where the barometer is higher in California than in Oregon we may look for rain on Puget sound within thirty-six hours. The southerly winds drive the moisture from the ocean to be condensed on the westerly side of the mountains. During today light showers fell in Eastern Oregon and Idaho."

The following dispatch shows that the people of Whatcom have about recovered from their fear that the fires would wipe out the town:

WHATCOM, Aug. 30 — [Special.] — The smoke in the city this morning was thicker than at any time since 1889, and nothing is discernible at a greater distance than a block. The fire on the north of the city is not menacing. To the east, however, near York addition, it continues to burn fiercely, but will not reach the city unless a wind springs up. The county commissioners had a force of twelve men at work on the guide meridian road last night, and all fires in the planking were extinguished. There is constant danger, however, of its being rekindled. George C. Curtis, at Wiser lake, lost his house and barn, and Tillman, who lives in the same vicinity, lost his barn and twenty tons of hay. The peat lands north of Lynden and east of Blaine are on fire, and the premises of Chris Emory were burned out. Nothing but a heavy rain will stop the burning of the peat lands, in which the potatoes are being roasted and fruit trees destroyed. Eiderson, on the north fork, lost a barn and twenty tons of hay. No county bridges are reported lost, but the commissioners are not taking any chances and have a watchman stationed at each one. The board will order the grading of the burned portion of the guide meridian road. The damage to the county, as far as known, is estimated at $3,000. This morning as the Bellingham Bay & British Columbia local train was going to Sumas a burning tree fell over the track directly in front of the locomotive, near Van Wyck. The engine crashed through, sustaining no damage beyond demolishing the pilot. The street cars resumed running on regular time this morning.

TACOMA, Aug. 30 — The summits of Stampede mountain and other foothills of the Cascades along the Northern Pacific are ablaze. The railroad has had men at work with two mountain engines and hose to protect the snow sheds and other property this side of Stampede tunnel. There is no danger. Today the fire is raging near the mining town of Wilkeson, and the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company has a force of men fighting it.