The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-08-03
Bush Fires in British Co.
lumbia Devastate Country
for Hundred Square
Miles.
HALF DOZEN LARGE
TOWNS WIPED OUT
People, Without Food OF Shelter,
Cry in Vain for Rclief-Prenlier,
Appealed to, Will Take Ac-
ton To-day Relief
Trains Being Rushed
to Sufferers.
w r1NN1PEG. MANITOBA. August II

NV yINNIPEGi. MANITOBA. August B
2.-As a result OF bush fires
wv that started yesterday and
still rage for many
miles. Fcrnie. B. c., Is wiped or
the map; Michel, fourteen miles distant.
lis in flames, and the fate OF Hosmer,
Olsen and Sparwood. intervening towns,
is in doubt, as they are cut off from
were reported lost, seventy-four of
tliem In Fernie. ~ territory 100 square
miles In extent is seethins mass OF
flames. Through II are scattered hun.
dreds of lumbormen and prospects,rs,
so that the actual loss of life will not
be known for days. Much property Of
the Canadian Pacific and the Great
Northern Railways is destroyed. ineiud-
II ing bridges and rolling stock burned,
so that 1t is impossible to enter or
leave the burning area. Inhabitants
country to seek safety. The railway
companies have placed all available
trains at the disposal of refugees. and
unless there is a change of wind with
in the next twenty four hours tho
whole of the Crows Nest Pass country
will be abandoned to the flames.
There is no possibility OF estimating
the loss Of life and property which
will result, for the flames are driven
by half gale making it impossible
to put UP a fight against their advance.
The confagration is the greatest which
has ever visited Canada.
\ At present the fire Is following tila
crest Of the mountain chain above Spar
wood. eating down into the valleys on
either side. 1t is travelling at tre-
i nendous rate. and unless there is a
4 tchonge of wind will Cross the boundary
into Montana within the next twelve
hours. There are thousands of mines
and prcspectors' claims in the track
of tho tirr all of whi:n are in peril.
Fire-fighting apparatus is of no avail
for the air is filled with fragments Of
burning wood and sheets of flames
seem to leap ahead of the onflagration
as If the air itself were in flames.
! The heat is intense. and many of the
!. fire-fighters have gone down ahead
of it.
!, 5000 Homeless.
3 Bush fires which invaded the city OF
Fernie. 3. C. yesterday almost de-.
,cuses were left and 5000 pcrsons are
: homeless. sss
, ), The whole country is a seething fira|
ON the Crows Nest line Of the Cana-l
diam Pacific Railroad.
IIosmer, Canadian Pacific smeltsr
town, was wiped out.
Thousands are fleeing from Michel
to the open country. iss
Several lives have been lost.
Cranbrook has been wired to forward
: all available provisions and relief
: train is now travelling with aid. A
i Bush fires are raging from Gran
n brook to the Crows Nest. The wind Is
!, blowing heavy gale, and all avail
able men are lighting the fire. and
g west of Cranbrook tits under controt.
n Telegraphic communication with Fer
d ME Hosmer and Michel is cut.
d Four men lost their lives trying to
Q Save the huge Great Northern bridge,
/ fifteen miles west of Michel. but it
'e| was destroyed, Two men from Spar>
e wood We're taken to the Michel hos-
hpital. 1t is fearcd Michel also ID
d doomed, as the fire Is sweeping east
$. ward down the Crows Nest and unlesI
lcI tho wind shifts the whole Crows Nest
II country will beilaid waste. M
: Country Scething Cnuldron.
'e, Peter Campbell, who reached Michel
n to-day. says the whole country hes
[tween C'ranbrook and Michelis a seeth-
ing cauidron.
The body OF Peter Miller was found
4 on the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks
s Hosmer, Elko, sparwood, olsen and
i Cokato are reported to be DESTROYED
!. The Canadian Pacific Railroad is
- rushing relief trains with doctors.
q nurses, food and clothing to the desr
in titute, .,,,,s III
/. Itown sis doomed unless the wind
,,fl changes, Canadian Pacific Railway .ay
n making up special. trains 70 carry ms
l. -lhabitants To safety. 8
u y ~, ~, Tuttle. Mayor OF Fernie. bas
"A wired MAJOR Ashdown. ot Winnipss,
! y }i.f II