K THE SUNDAY OEEGOXIAy, PORTLAND, .AUGUST g. 1919. ' . 7
YOUTHFUL FIRE FIGHTERS FIND fl A "
WOODS HOLD MANY SECRETS J Y j Vf? Z ' JD E A H
Battle With Flames Only One of Trying Experiences and Hiking Over
Steep Trails Takes Away Some of Joy Derived From Scenery.
ox WU.UAM BULGER AND EUGENE i other men that our "guide" (he still
KEtTT. I had the nerve to say he was one) had
I IREFIGHTING? You'll like It!" I told us of. They had come around the
These were the words sar
castically flung- at us by the
"initiated" as we came in from our
work that hot afternoon of Thursday,
July 10.
In the afternoon word had been re
celved that there was a fire near the
Bull Run reserve and that we were to
hold ourselves in readiness to go at
any time.
There were 30 of us working at
Bull Run lake to protect the water sup
ply of Portland. We weren't looking
for any forest fires, however, and no
one was pleased (to put it mildly)
when the final word came that we were
to leave in the morning. Later in the
day the government Lost Lake train of
eight horses, Floyd Hess in charge,
came to help us with our supplies and
roils. I hen came our own oack
train under Alton Phelps, with eight
horses more. Night came and the
morning dawned with a cloudy sky.
After an early breakfast plans were
mode for an early departure.
We tenderfeet were at a loss to know
just what personal belongings we
should take. Upon inquiry we were
told that onte blanket would be suffi
cient, especially as plenty of room
would be needed for food and other
supplies. Playing the role of the kind
hearted Samaritan, we each brought a
thin cotton blanket forth and this left
plenty of room for each of the blanket
rolls of five blankets that the more
experienced men carried.
Believe us, when we say that if ever
there is another fire in which we par
ticipate we personally insist upon hav
ing one pack horse to carry our blan
kets and nothing else.
They told ( us we could "double up"
in making our beds and the first night
the cold doubled us up so badly that
some have not regained normal health
since.
"Oh. you'll like it, boys, you'll like
it."
The packers were busily engaged
filling pack saddles with food which
the cook had prepared in the course of
the night. Bill Walker, who was to
act as cook, certainly overlooked noth
ing in this department.
first in the line of march went the
trail gang. There were 12 of these and
they carried axes and shovels. They
were to clear the trail sufficiently for
the pack train to travel it.
Snow Causes Much Trouble.
Ours was the first party to go
through for some years and the wind
falls and the snow combined to see
which could give us the most trouble.
Both were very successful. We man
aged to keep ahead of the pack train,
however, and all went well during the
morning. The rest of the party fol
lowed with the pack train. The trails
were beautiful.
Zig-iagging and seemingly perpen
dicular, the trail led us to the summit.
Many already began to show signs of
distress. A heavy fog, which later
turned to a drizzling mist, robbed us
of the scenic beauties of the crests of
the Cascades.
The fog lifted very soon, however,
and an unsympathetic sun beat upon
our weary band.
We circled the base of Preacher's
peak, passed Devil's Pulpit and later
at Buck's peak as we climbed higher
and higher, scenes of uncomparable
beauty ever unfolded before our vis
ion. At the summit we gazed upon the
rivers and valleys of the state, which
lay at our feet. Six snow-capped peaks
could be seen from here, Mount Adams,
Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens on one
side and on the other Hood, Jefferson
and the Three Sisters. At another
place we took our farewell glance at
Bull Run lake and Lost lake, this being
the only place on the trail where both
lakes could be seen at one time.
As we journeyed on the bracing and
invigorating mountain air, the winding
trails, shady nooks and swift, cool
streams seemed to give renewed
strength to our dejected looking
crowd. My, how refreshing and in
vigorating was an occasional breeze.
Both stdes of the trail were dotted
with yellow daisies, purple snapdrag
ons and the red of the Indian paint
brush, forming a striking contrast to
the less vivid colors of the wild violets
and the white of the deer-tongues or
dog-toothed violets found along the
trails of the morning.
Time after time our progress was de
layed by deep snow drifts and wind
lalls, which had to be removed to make
room for the pack train which was to
follow.
Many I'eaks Are Viewed.
Our steady march brought us in sight
of Lookout mountain, with Indian
mountain and springs in the back
ground. Here we left the timber belt
and the trail led us through the open.
Just before reaching Indian springs
we decided to take a short cut over the
hill, which was lined with a 40-foot
strip of snow. Here we saw for the
first time why a shovel was essential.
Sitting upon the shovel, with the han
dle pointing down the hill, we slid over
the snow. Many of the party went so
rapidly that they did not stop at the
edge of the drift and tumbled head over
heels down the rocks. .
A cool drink at Indian springs awak
ened our slumbering spirits once more
and we stopped at the unoccupied
ranger cabin for lunch. A fire was
built and soon the pack train could be
seen along the ridge in the distance.
At noon Bill Walker had his first
chance to try his culinary arts on us
and from the amounts consumed he
had a right to feel highly elated. Most
of us enjoyed that meal more than we
would have enjoyed a banquet at an
ordinary time.
Our brief rest was cut short by the
restless ones, who were anxious to
push on to the scene of the fire.
We felt much better after that noon
meal, the only trouble being the vision
of the mass of smoke boiling up from
behind Benson plateau. Again the 12
men of the trail gang set out ahead of
the rest, but for some distance there
was little work for them to do.
Shortly after noon we came to a place
where the trail forked with the Eagle
-.-rei n. imii. i ne party was here joined
nivnnranii guine. who had been
aiELBAmst
H These were the words sar- I Herman creek trail to get back of the ; JjSSl " ' TZ. ZT-r TTriTli I I . "... g. - rm n - ;
iFtxj53uu irWSM mzm
eaasaalaiaiaaaM-asaaaUtfcMaaMa .
by
sent from the fire that morning to lead
us in. He brought the "cheerful" news
that the fire was a bad one, that the
trail to it was almost impassable and
that another crew had been trj-ing for
two days to get through. Our guide
proudly boasted that the yellow painted
handle of the government axe which he
carried had never been scratched during
the two years he had carried it. He was
anxious to help us. however, and so vol
unteered to show us a short cut to the
Are. By this time the crew was get
ting tired" and welcomed the chance of
an early arrival. We were just above
Wetum lake at this time and the short
cut led past the lake. We followed the
guide until the trail ran out. He was
almost certain, he said, that the way
w wanted to go was either northwest
or directly west. So we circled for a
while and finally came back to the
main trail that we had started from.
Then our guide was sure that it wasn't
he same trail at all but why go into
the agonizing details?
We found that the pack train had
passed us and were stuck at a log jam
and that we had lost an hour and a
half.
The saws were then taken from the
pack and we started to cut our way
through the last and worst part of the
trail to Benson plateau. We found the
j Herman creek trail to get back of the
fire and were still working their way
through. To make a long story short.
we arrived at the plateau at 9:30 and
after another attack on the provisions
cut enough grass for our beds. Here
came our first experience of sleeping
at ouuu ieet altitude with one blanket.
Tossing restlessly upon an "Ostermoor"
of rock and having horses tied at the
foot of your bed may be delightful to
Bed of Rock Leaves Party Stiff.
It seemed that we had but crawled
under our lone blanket when breakfast
was announced. . Stiff in every joint,
shivering in the cold, sick at heart and
the prospects of an 18-hour day ahead
of us was not in the least pleasant.
Glen Maclntyre, in charge of the men
at Bull Run lake; Carl Neal, assistant
supervisor of forests, and Barney Con
Ion, a forest ranger, started out early
to size up the situation. While they
were circling the fire the remainder of
the crew, in charge of Henry Larsen,
made a fire path on the ridge of . the
plateau. If necessary this would be
used to backfire, but served as an ex
cellent trail. This fire path was 30 feet
wide and three miles long and it re
quired the entire day to cut it through.
At the completion of the work we
were told that our new camp site had
been located and we were to move at
once. ,
Once more we cut noble fir boughs
upon which we would rest our weary
selves at the close of each long day.
aunday dawned cold as usual and as
we were anxious to get our work start
ed before the hot sun came up, we
rolled out at 5 A. M. We were con
siderably cheered when we found that
Henry Larsen and Bill Walker had
been up since 3 A. M. preparing hot
'dough gods" for us. It was-nearly 6
when we started down the canyon car
rying axes, shovels, saws and all sorts
of tools. When on top we thought that
the canyon looked deep and after we
started we knew it was. The actual
depth was later found to be 4160 feet.
On the way down we crossed back and
forth, up and down, putting out small
fires, getting closer and closer to the
larger one.
At last we reached it and our real
work commenced. Tall snags were
blazing all around, some at the roots,
some higher up the tree. Once in a
while one of these would fall, crashing
down the canyon like a bolt of thun
der, causing us to look apprehensively
at those near us.. At the end of 14
hours of shoveling, sawing and chop
ping we were thoroughly fagged out
and we started the long climb to the
top. borne said the wall was about 140
per cent grade. We finally arrived
back at camp, weary and footsore and
bruised shins and other numerous cuts
put a damper upon all hilarity. The
worst sufferer of all was Lyle Bain,
who had lost his gold watch.
After supper we went to Lookout
point to get a view of the surrounding
cuumry. mis point is 4160 feet above
Cascade Locks and commands a view
of some of Oregon's moat beautiful
scenery. Below us we could see the
blue -of the Columbia, paralleled by
railroad track, and the highway looked
like a mere ribbon in the distance.
There the boats and trains tantalized
us with their whistles and automobiles
ran along the road seemingly uncon
scious that a crowd of homesick fire
fighters was on the ridge above. With
difficulty we drew our eyes from these
reminders of civilization and focused
them upon the blazing tmags and un-
uci mi uii, wuicn reminaea us or our
work yet to be done.
Klre at Last Checked.
.. unuay morning we rose again, but
.mo we were much happier, for
rumors that we were to leave on the
morrow spread rapidly. The fire seemed
to be under control- and we were to
take a final glance at the smoking
snags before our departure.
Ray Murray, a woodsman of vast
experience, and Lyle Bain were sent
over the ridge to make a report on the
fire near the creek. Bain went down
in hopes of finding his watch ).., i.r..
developments made him abandon this
desire.
Part of the crew under Henry Lar
sen was sent to cut the fire path
through to the Red bluff. The task
was completed about 11 o'clock and
armed with shovels, axes and mattocks
we started back to camp, but our jaur
ney was short.
An east wind had sprung up during
the morning and the fire had been
fanned to a veritable inferno. With a
roar the blaze went over Lookout Point
and through the camp. The crew we
had been cut off from, under the able
guidance of Carl Neal and Glen Mc
lntyre. succeeded in saving almost
everything in the camp. Some articles
of Floyd Hess' pack equipment were
lost and a few cooking utensils. The
other crew, finding it impossible to re
main, started for Clyde Hon s ranger
station to await orders.
Down the dizzy heights we went and
through underbrush, over rock slides
by creeks, at a breakneck pace.
Upon our arrival at Hon's camp we
were royally dined through the kind
ness of Mrs. Hon.
Henry Larsen, who was in charge of
the party, at once made preparations
for our return to Benson plateau. About
3 o'clock we started back, . fully
equipped, expecting to join the fighters
at the four-mile camp. Just beyond the
three-mile post we met the pack train
and Elton Phelps told us the fire, was
so fierce that further ' progress would
be impossible. '
We retraced our steps and about half
way back saw a beautiful falls. Here
for trie first time in four days we di
vested ourselves of our Clothes and en
joyed a real bath. Previous to this
time we had gone three days without
washing our faces and hands.
About 8 o'clock we arrived in Cas
cade Locks and after much difficulty
were able to get a meal. The ice cream
parlors were then invaded and about
10 we retired in our suite of rooms
above the town pool hall.
After waiting for supplies we started
out over the same trail we had started
on the afternoon before.
We had lunch at the four-mile camp
and walked the other 14 miles to Ben
son plateau, arriving just-in time for
supper. Camp had been moved back
to Williams creek, near an old Indian
camp. Here we found one of the old
Indian legendary swtsac oaths near, a
creek. A frame of limbs of a tree had
been made in a semi-circular shape.
Blankets would be placed over thjs
frame and hot rocks placed inside with
water poured over would give forth a
steam, causing anyone inside to perspire
freely. When a certain temperature had
been reached the sick Indian would
dive into a deep place in the creek. The
usual result would be a better Indian,
that is. a dead one.
On Wednesday we again went down
over the hill, armed with our shovels,
axes and mattocks, and the fire seemed
to be fairly well under control. Re
inforcements reached camp on Thurs
day and the work consisted in patrol
ling the fire- line.
On Friday rumors of returning home
or rather to the lake were again re
ported. The boys worked like - men
possessed that day and by noon the
fire was almost extinct. Small fires
smoldering in the snags received 'our
attention from then on and that night
the fire was so nearly out that the new
crew felt capable of patrolling it from
then on. Mr. Neal and Glen Mclntyre.
Us tine
Council Meat Goiaoon
Next
Snaoosiy
Every copy of this Paper next Sunday will contain
a coupon good at your grocer's in payment for
Council Meats.
We can afford to give these coupons to you because we know that
when you are once acquainted with the delightful enjoyment of
eating Council Meats, you will always have an assortment of
them on your pantry shelf.
Get acquainted with Council Meats fresh, from sunshine and
pure air. Vacuum packages bring them to your table in all
their original flavor, purity and goodness. - All meat no waste.
Watch This Paper Next Sunday
for Your Coupon
Get acquainted with -Council Quality
Indian Packing Company
Green Bay, Wisconsin
after a consultation, decided we would
be able to start for the lake in the
morning.
Although tired and weary, the boys
sat around the campfire that night
singing "Home, Sweet Home" and
"There's a Long, Long Trail."
At 7 the next morning the first detail
started out. Indian mountain was
reached at 11; where a 10-minute
luncheon took place. Somehow none of
us could tell how we arrived in camp
at Bull Run lake at 2:30 in the after
noon. , Due to the fact that Portland's water
comes from Bull-Run lake, we were
forced to enjoy our much-needed bath
(the day happened to be Saturday), in
a nearby pool. . As we emerged from
the cleansing process we heard a wild
cry from one of the- stragglers, "You'll
like it!"
made at prices ranging' from
cents.
to 34
Honolulu to Get Building.
HONOLULU, T. H., July 19. (Spe
cial.) Ground will be broken before
the end of the year as commencement
of operations to erect a federal build
ing in Honolulu. This is the statement
of Malcolm A. Franklin, collector of
customs, who returned recently from
Washington. D. C. The building will
cost $1.750.000 instead of $1,250,000
originally estimated. This is on ac
count of the rise in the cost of building
materials.
The sound of a heart-beat Is caused
by the closing of the valves in the heart
during the pumping process.
28,000 BALES IN HOP CROP
Yakima Valley Harvest Estimated
as Worth Xear $3,000,000.
TAKIMA, Wash.. Aug. 2. (Special.)
Twenty-eight thousand bales. of hops
w-ill bo produced in the Yakima valley
this season, according to the. estimate
of Richard Strobach, secretary of the
Yakima Hop Growers' association. This
quantity of hops would be worth about
S3, 000,000 at the present market quota
tions; but growers will not receive so
much by far. as most of them con
tracted their product at 18 to 24 cents
Later contracts, however, have been
Superfluous Hair
XbSTliraefe
' DeMtraela, the orlarteal sanitary
11utd, operates OB a entirely ouT.
Merest principle treat I7 otkev
"rthod. It robs hair of IT vital
ity T attaeklnar It u4n tke aaJa.
Oaly areaalae DeMlraele has a
saoaey-baelc nuuttt la each,
package. At toilet canters la aOe,
S3 sloes, or by small froaa
p'ala wrapper oa receipt
price.
FREE writ teatlasoalala of
'Itktit anlkritlca ex.
Plalaa what eaaaea hair es face.
arms, way It Increases
as how DeMiraele devitalises ft.
la plan, aeelea envelope oa
FMMMA. rWMlM..! .- a .
- new a
THE HAZEL WOOD
Sunday Dinner
3f
e - season
,." eelc B 811 especially delicious one. It offers you an abundance
aeucacies most excellently prepared and daintily served.
MENU
. Cream of Chicken Soup
Pickles . Radishes . Celery
Roast Spring Lamb, Mini Sauce
Slewed Chicken tuith Noodles
Roast Veal vith Dressing
Roast Sirloin of Beef au Jus
, . , , , , Roast Spring Chicken with Ciblet Sauce
Mashed or Baked Potatoes
Stringless Beans Slewed Summer Squash
. Buttered Beets New Peas
Shrimp Salad
Combination Salad
Fruit Salad
Ice Cream. Pie, Pudding or French Pastry
' Salted Nuts
Tea Coffee Milk
THE
NAME
OF
H. Enke
Owner
SINCE 1890
D.Levine
Manager
Stands for
Quality
Service and
Reliability
Superfluous Hair, Roots
and All, Quickly Go
Absolately 3iew Home Method.
For the first time In a hundred years
a genuinely effective method of re
moving unsightly hair growths has
been discovered. The new phelactiuo
process does not merely take off the
hair-ends; it actually removes the root !
It does this quickly and harmlessly.
It does not act anything like the de
pilatory, electrical, or other methods.
Phelactine is non-odorous, non-poison,
out. non-irritating. Get a stick of it
from your druggist, follow the simple
instructions, and have the satisfaction
Of seeing the roots themselves removed
at last. Adv.
"1
i