186 Canadian Forestry Journal. 



Beyond a few isolated tents, we found that all was safe. 

 Fortunately a warning had been sounded in time, and where 

 camps were not on well cleared ground, the flames had been 

 fought with success. In more than one instance, prospectors 

 had to take to their canoes, after dumping their tents and out- 

 fits in whichever of the lakes they were camped on, for there was 

 no time to pack, the fire travelled too fast. 



One amusing incident occurred. Two fire-rangers, whose 

 names need not be mentioned, left us early in the morning after 

 the fire to return to their own camp. After travelling about 

 a mile on the trail they were met at a turn by a bear, who prompt- 

 ly disputed the right of way with them. Bruin sat down on his 

 haunches, and evidently studied the situation as well as his 

 smoke-filled eyes and brain would let him, and the result of 

 his calculations caused him to stick to his position. There was 

 no way round, and as the rangers were armed only with their 

 axes, they decided to leave him the undisputed possession. 

 Fighting fire was one thing, but fighting a well developed speci- 

 men of a bear with axes was quite another, and no doubt, after 

 some forty-eight hours' strenuous labor, discretion in this in- 

 stance was the better part of valor. The rangers retired dis- 

 consolately, resuming their journey later in the day, when Bruin 

 had retired to his native fastness to sleep off his involuntary feed 

 of smoke and ashes. 



Unfortunately all practical exploration and prospecting are 

 at an end for some time to come over the burnt area, for the 

 ground is many inches deep in ashes, which rise and fill the 

 lungs at each step; besides covering as with a pall the rocks 

 which it is necessary to search. 



How this great fire originated in several places at the same 

 time will never be known, and it would perhaps be unfair to 

 hazard a decided opinion. Suffice it to say that carelessness, 

 at least, on the part of some individuals has resulted in the des- 

 truction of vast quantities of valuable timber. 



Perhaps the object lesson now brought home will be taken 

 to heart by some of those more ignorant prospectors who have 

 openly prayed for fire, "To make the job more easy, by clearing 

 out the undergrowth." That wicked fallacy has been exposed, 

 at a great cost, but if the lesson has been properly learnt, it will 

 be cheap at the price paid, for it will remove a menace to the 

 valuable timber reserves, which are one of New Ontario's greatest 

 assets. 



