The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-09-08

IMBER 8, 1894.
Messrs. Ellsworth aud Collins being
among the number. Four other men
were fighting the fire when they got
there. and it was supposed that they
could control 1t.
The relief party had hardly reached
the scene, however, when they discov-
cred flames shooting over the tops OF
the timber back of their own camp.
Patrick started back along the shore,
while the others got into q small skiff,
hoping to reach the camp before it was
overwhelmed. While some distance
away they saw the women rushing
into the lake and the camp oatfit going
up in smoke. Patrick hardly compre
hended these things. however, as he
had not gone far before q ball of fire
darted across the lake over q mile
wide, and knocked him down as IT
passed onward to its work Of destruc.
ton. When he recovered his senses
the fire was all about him and only u
narrow pathway through water al the
edge Of the lake offered an avenue Of
escape. As he was splashing through
the water. a stray dog fell In behind
him and marched along in his com.
pany. :.
They finally reached q place where
the road opened out from the lake and
here he met Fl people who had been
fleeing through the binding smoke
ahead of the flames. All members Of
the party threw themselves into the
lake aud remained there until tile
flames had passed over. None were
seriously Injured, but all were so ex.
hausted as to preclude the possibility
Of going further that night. They lay
OH the banks Of the lake until morning
and then started back over the road
toward Sandstone Junction. Patrick
has not seen or heard of them since.
Patrick. after passing an awful night,
was able to reach his family, overjoyed
at finding them unframed. go.
Eleven settlers, one a woman with q
baby, got into an old canoe and pad.
died out Into the lake, only to- be nearly
destroyed by water after escaping from
the flames
Several searching parties have been
sent cut today In different directions
looking far bodies. The. work: u. the
cemetery today has progressed rapidly.
1t is thought an indefin mite number Of
todies may Ee found IN the mill pond
at the northwest edge of town, but the
sawdust is still on fire and 1t is. i'm pos.
sible to reach the pond. Every branch
of local relief Is moving along smoothly.
A sANDsrONE FARMERS STORY.
To Escape the Devouring Flames He
Jumped Into s+Dry WE'LL
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. "A Duluth,
MINI. special to the Journal says:
Oliver Dubois, q French Canadian
farmer. living on the outskirts Of the
village of Sandstone. is among the ESQ
refugees from that stricken spot. He
saved his life by jumping into the bot.
tom of dry well. and was one of the
very few who took such refuge and did
not find 1t o grave already dug. His
experience was similar in many ways
to that of scores and hundreds Of 9th.
els, but 1t shows the fearful speed Of
the flames.
Dubois was little distance from his
home when he heard in the south q
mighty roaring and thought q cyclone
was coming. The blackness of the sky
added 10 the belief, and he ran still
farther from the building to escape the
flying sticks that might come toward
him. He threw himself down at the
root of stump. his l,eac under root.
Scarcely was he ON the ground before
the awful heat and fire showed that he
contended not with cyclone, but with
flames. There was we'll . few feet
away, into which he jumped. 1t was
IL feet deep and was dry. Above him
lie could see rolling cloud Of fame,
high in the air and then down close 10
the ground. His position grew stif1lng
and the air seemed to be so exhausted
that he could only breathe by clawing
q hole IN the damp earth and pressing
his face against 1t. AS soon as one
place got too sitting he would make
another little fresh spot. The well
filled with smoke and gas, but after q
time he managed to climb out. >.
II was 80 weak could hardly walk, -
said he, ''and for few minutes was
dszed. / was shoeless, and could not
see the ground at my feet for the smoke,
but CROPPED my way to town. 1t be-
gan to grow lighter, 60 I could see the
street. stood In the center Of Sand.
stone and called. Not a sound came
in answer. ! called again and again,
but the place / had been In only two
hours before was ~ still rs the grave.
walked toward the river, shivering
with fear. On the way counted ovef
so bodies. l climbed down the river
tank aud there, crouched In the water,
foundathe people. During the pass
Ing of the fire q man and woman had
held their screaming children In the
water ard had stood mouth.0eep init
themselves" "a
Several, 1t IL reported, have been
found dead In wells In the neigborhood
|! Of Sandstone.
RACE, WITH DEATH. -
Engineer Best Tells OF tho lsesous Of
People From Hinckley. -,
WEST SUPERIOR, Wis. Sept. A.
Engineer William Best. Of the original
rescuing passenger train on the Eastern
Minnesota, tells the following OF the
:. n,.oL,o.. -.
''Soon after leaving Superior, at 1:ld
p. M, I had to light the headlight.
owing to the dense smoke, which
turned day into night The hest. As
we approached Hinckley, increased.
expected when wereached that point
we would get in an opening and e.
cape tile smoke. My surprise was
great, therefore. when We found the
fire right upon the town. 1t took but
glance TO see that; the. town wat