The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-09-17
FOREST FIRES ARE RAGING.
VALUABLE TIMBER DESTROYED
The County Around coeur d'AIsns saf
fsrs-gpirit Lake Cottages IN Danger
Rashdran Fights ale Fire Only Hea-
" Rains win step the Flames.

IL
Inc much danaRe to the timber The
only means OF checking them are
heavy rains. 10 the vicinity Of Mica
bay, where there Is an extensive white
pine belt Of timber, the fires have
been burning for several weeks and
much timber has already been de-
stroyed Efforts have been made 10
cheek the progress ~ The flames, bat
they are not successful and the de-
yonring element goes sweeping on
wherever there il fuel 10 feed the
flames. East Of the city in the Wolf
Lodge country another big fire Il
burning and ia q number Of other
places along the lake the heavens are
illuminated at might by the fires
The ST. Joe aud st. Maries districts |
have so far escaped any serious dam
age. Although a number Of small |
tires have started In that country, the
settlers we're able to extinguish them.
Many Of these fires are the result Of
criminal neglect on the part Of
persons who start fires IN the timber
for camp and other purposes.
SPIRIT LAKE
Fierce forest Ares are blazing on
the mountains along The greater part
Of the south shore Of Spirit Lake. 4
number o. cottages have been saved
only by desperate back firing. and
the danger il still great, for literally
huudreds Of fires are burning. and
high wind may blow any one Of these
iuto q raging sea Of wildhre. The
saving OF the Robertson home In
Echo bay is considered a marvel.
I Living there are Dir. and Mrs Robert
Al. Robertson. an elderly couple,
and their daughter. Miss Lily Robert
son. Their place was finally saved
sitter aays and nights of tremendous
sxerflOn. The cottage sits near the
waters edge at the mouth Of 3 deep
and narrog canyon. On either side
the dsnsely wooded mountains rice
steepiy from a point within few feet
u the house. Fierce fires burned on
either side aud back of the cottages
Al the same time. and today what was
one OF the finest fUrest slopes ia
Idaho. IL = blackenej waste Of many
arres. Mr.. Robertson saved the green
timber Immediately around his house.
when the fires Nere IT their worst.
Charlie Soderstrom. one of the most
Experienced Woodsmen in this
country. set a series Of back fires.
and these we're held IN control by
carrying water from the lake Tbs
air Was brilliant al night, with fiyinE
sparks and embers. which were car.
ried 10 great heights by the super
heated air. Many Of them iioated
entirely across the lake and down to
the landing. a distance Of two miles.
- now have some conception OF
{ Dante's inferno, said Mr Robert.
sou. at times our house WAS &C
J hot from the forest fires that water
! thrown on ii created kissing sound. =
! W. n Shields cottage, ia the
same bay, also had a close call.
{ although the fires there we're not SC
] fierce As those Immediately around
the Robertson place
The scenes at night we're weird and
majestic. During the day fire bad
/ run 10 the tops Of hundreds Of dead
, trees, aud the effect in the darkness.
, resembled that Of the falling spark.
! from fire rocket At other points
fire would rush upward through the
resinons needles al large evergreens,
and pillars Of flame would mount 4
hundred feet above the treetops. The
sOlemnity was heightened by the deer
booming Of falling trees.
The worst devastation is along tbs
south shore, about a mile east Of
Brickell's island. II Is impossible
to estimate the Losses resulting from
the destruction Of timber. The
mountains are SO steep and Wild that
the full extent Of the destruction Il
unknown The worst fire came over
the divide from Fish lake, and 1,
thought to have started from set.
tiers clearing
RATHDRI1M PEOPLE FIGHT FIRE.
Forest fires have burned over tbs
slopes on Rathdurm mountain 60 the
summit, which is enveloped in dense
volumes of smoke. but the flames are
] not visible. Large quantities of tim.
Der and cofdwood are destroyed.
J Some persons burning brush in Cren.
shaw's addition permitted the fire to
get beyond control and endangered
the residences ON the south side. The
citizens turned cut and fought the
Ore for several hours, finally subdu.