The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-08-05
FLED THROUGH
MILES OF FLAME
Refugees from the Destroyed
British Columbia Towns
Reach Calgary.
AWFUL SCENES WITNESSED
PRAYERS AND SHRIEKS HEARD
ABOVE ROAR OF FLAMES.

D Crossman. with her sister, Miss Maud
Holman, came in from Michel last night.
On Saturday afternoon Mr. Crossman
came in TO say that the fire which had
been raging in the bush for the last few
Gays was threatening the city itself. Has
MY they collected "A few things. Mrs
Crossman, carrying her little baby. took
refuge In fireproof warehouse, where il
was thought they would be safe from the
flames which were then rising from every
part OF the doomed town. Soon however,
an awful shower of sparks and burning
PIE ces or wood began to have effect on the
ouiiding and they decided to remove all
the women within the freight sheds, where
a train was being made up to carry them
TO some unknown place of safety.
Passed Through Flames.
They determined to cross to the sheds
which were mass of flames and board
train. Mrs. Crossman and her sister
both soaked with water, and the baby
wrapped uD In a wet blanket made the
journey safely. Mrs. CrossLsan said that
on the train she saw men. women and
chlldren Of all nationalities. mixed to-
gether and sitting three or four on a seat
Ihe men were shouting and frantic while
hystericai women, separated from their
children, were calling in vain for their lost
ones Some were dressed in all their fin
cry and others had scarcely anything to
wear at all. There were scores of chill
dren, some with their parents and some
VINO had lost fathers and mothers in the
confusion.
Refuge Was Burning.
The train then pulled out for Hosmer."
said Mrs. Crossman, but we found the
heart OF that town in flames when we
reached it. The original Intention had
been TO get through to Michel but shortly
after leaving Hosmer we heard that th,.
Michel bridge was burned. The train then
backed again to stop for the night be-
tween Hosmer and Fernie going on IFS
way back through the greatest danger, for
we had to pass for mile between blazing
brush on both sides. The windows of the
cars became so hot that il was impossible
10 touch them, and the heat and smoke
were sitting.
Shrieking and PRAYING.
All this time the foreign women were
shrieking and praying. saying prayers at
the top OF their voices. and adding 10 the
terrible confusion. After passing through
this fire belt the train reached a safe
place and stopped for the night While
We lay there, condensed milk for the
women and children was brought out by
Fernie volunteers.
The train returned 10 Fernie Sunday
morning and the passengers found that
the fire had burned itself out during the
night. The dead bodies of several lit
tie girls had been found in different parts
OF the city, and there were doubtless
many more that have not yet been re-
covered.
Night of Terror.
James Barclay passed through the night
of terrar at Michel When he left there
he believed there was little danger to
the town, except from the direction of
Sparwood- The night before was spent by
the citizens of the old town. where he
was fighting back the fire. particularly
In keeping down the sparks. There was
no water in the new town, which was in
great danger Early in the evening ii
was decided that the women and children
dug deep trenches and buried furniture
others simply left all belongings behind
and took their chances.
1t was impossible to say anything of
Fernie, and the wire communication was
lost early In the evening. 1t was be-
lieved that Fernie was safe, but that
Hosmer was burning up.
Five men were brought into Hosmer. two
dead and three badly burned. One was an
Italian who had gone back 10 the camp
TO try to rescue some provisions. The
other was an old Scotchman, whose name
Mr.. Barclay did not know. but who was
we'll known in Michel
Worst Not Yet Told.
R. A Howson of Calgary. who had been
In Fernie for several weeks. said that the
worst has not yet been told of the catas-
trophe. Driven by a fierce gale. the
flames ate up the buildings with rapidity
and the people had no time TO save any
thing. 1t was useless to try. All that
could be done was 10 get families together
and flee. The railroad companies acted
with remarkable promptness in getting
people away. The Great Northern and the
Canadian Pacific did not lose moment In
rushing trains to the rescue and drawing
the refugees beyond the danger zone
The people huddled together on two clear
ings outside the town and were safe from
the fiendish flames which threatened life
as well as home. until the trains arrived.
Abundance of Food.
Mr. Howson says that an abundance Of
food was soon brought in for the suffer
ers. and there was no hardship on that
score. The foreigners acted we'll and.
fortunately. there was no liquor, every
drop of that commodity going to feed the
flames He says there IS not much doubt
about the sixty men and two women be-
ing burned in No. 4 lumber camp, and in
Fernie II was stated that two women
were burned. Children are missing. but
are believed to have escaped the flames.
Mr. Howson estimated the fire zone. out
side of the mountain forests. as twenty
six miles. Fernie Is gone and Sparwood.
a lumber camp, is destroyed. When he
passed through Michel it was being kept
drenched and the men were fighting the
flames around Cranbrook. He says that
Coal Creek village escaped.