Hunting in Many Lands 



In the four seasons during which I have 

 been in the Park but one fire of any magni- 

 tude has occurred. That broke out along the 

 main road, about a mile north of Norris, in 

 July, 1893. As it did not break out near a 

 camping place, its origin could not be traced 

 to camp fires ; nor could it be charged to 

 lightning or rubbing of trees. It was evi- 

 dently started by a match or other fire care- 

 lessly dropped by a member of the road crew, 

 then working near there, or possibly by a cigar 

 stump thrown from a stage by a tourist. It 

 was at once reported to me by telegraph. The 

 troop was at drill, and in less than twenty min- 

 utes a dozen men, under charge of a sergeant, 

 were on their way, with shovels, axes and 

 buckets, to the scene of the trouble. An hour 

 later the report was that it was beyond con- 

 trol. I then sent out the balance of the troop, 

 under Lieutenant Vance, and ordered Captain 

 Scott down from the Lower Basin with all 

 available men of his troop. Thus the whole 

 of the two troops were at the scene, and they 

 remained there toiling and fighting night and 

 day for twenty days, when a providential rain 

 put an end to their labors. The area burned 

 over included some exceptionally fine timber, 



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