Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-03


Pass country will be left to the flames
Gale Drives Flames.
There is no possibility of estimating
the loss of life and property which will
result, for the flames are driven at
half gale, making it impossible to put
confiagration is the greatest which has
ever visited Canada.
For the last month forest fires have
been raging in the mountains of the
Elk river valley country, but they have
not been considered seriously. Satur-
day morning heavy wind sprung up
from the west, and early in the after
noon the flames appeared over the
crest of the mountains to the west of
Fernie. They ran down the mountains
side and before a fire guard could be
organized had entered the town. With
in an hour the town was doomed, and
the inhabitants sought safety in flight,
leaving their all behind them.
Brands Rain on Fugitives.
All night and yesterday morning the
exodus continued, the destination be-
ing a small prairie in the valley three
miles south of the town At present
5000 people are camped there in the
open, their only protection being shell
a constant shower of sparks from the
burning area kept falling through the
pail of smoke by which they are sur
rounded.
For a time communication with
towns to the east was kept open, but
with the burning of the bridges across
the Elk river this way closed Scatter
ed through the valley are many small
prairies, and all of these have their
groups of refugees.
The hills in all directions are a
seething mass of flames. Cutting off
every avenue of escape the fire spread
with unprecedented rapidity, and it is
feared that several parties who tried
to get through the pass have been cut
off Families have been separated and
there is at present no means of check
ing up the fatalities.
City Left in Ashes.
In Fernie the only buildings remain
ing are six small shacks on the banks
of the Elk river, the offices of the
Crows Nest Coal company and the
Fixes Wood warehouse. The offices of
the Canadian Pacific railroad and
Great Northern are gone, together with
all the rolling stock in the yards, the
sleeping car Osceola being the only
car left. One hundred cars of coke,
holding about $4,000 tons, are in
| flames.
1t is now feared that the fire may
get in the mines themselves, several
of which are open in the neighbor-
hood. This will mean incalculable
damage, as the whole of the valley is
i underlaid with coal.
May Cross TO Montana.
| At present the fire is following the
crest of the mountain chain above
Sparwood, eating down into the valleys
on either side. 1t is travelling at a
tremendous rate, and unless there is a
change of wind will cross the boun-
dary into Montana within the next L!
hours There are thousands of mines
and prospectors' claims in the track OF
the fire, all of which are in peril. A
slight change of wind has occurred
and Michel has been taken out of the
more direct path.
| Hears 30 Lumbermen Are Dead.
| Chicago, Aug. Be. w. Stees oi
Caron, B. c., who has extensive inter
ests there and at Fernie, is in the city
today He declares he has received
information from Winnipeg to the eff
feet 80 lumbermen employed by the
Elk Lumber company at Fernie los
their lives.
Dubuque Man May BE Lost.
Stees said Peter j. Seippel of Du
buque, Iowa, and H. ID. Campbell o.
Saltwater. Mimi, both of whom are
lactively interested in the lumber trade
were at Fernie with their families fol
the summer, and he believes from
Iprinted accounts of the disaster the!
must have lost their lives. Stees de
clares the Eastern British Lumbe
company, with which he is connected
has lost its plant and about 50,000,00'
feet of lumber at Fernie.
| anr @s-<ras rU A. q - ~ns