The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-08-07
ftRNE IS WIPED Off MAP
Fate of Four Other Towns Is in
Doubt, All Communication
Being Cut Off.
THOUSANDS ARE HOMELESS
Inhabitants of Doomed Towns Flee in
Panic-Loss to Property Will
Be Enormous.

Winnipeg, Man., Aug. 4.-The town
of Fernie, B. c., is wiped off the map
as child cleans slate. Michel,
fourteen miles distant, is in flames,
and the fate Of Hosmer, Olson and
Sparwood, intervening towns, is in
doubt, they being cut off from all COM
munication.
Over hundred lives are known to
have been lost, seventy-four of them
in Fernie alone.
A territory of one hundred square
miles in extent is seething mass of
flames. Through it are scattered hun
dreds of lumbermen and prospectors,
so that the actual loss of life will not
be known for days.
The properties of the Canadian Pa
cific and the Great Northern railways
are destroyed, their bridges and roll
ing stock burned, so that it is impossi-
BILE either to enter or leave the burn
ing area.
People Fleeing in a Panic.
The inhabitants of the towns have
fed to open districts in the vicinity
in the hope of safety. From towns to
the east and west the inhabitants are
escaping as rapidly as possible The
railway companies have placed all
available trains at their disposal.
Unless there is change of wind
within the next twenty-four hours the
whole of the Crows Nest pass country
will be left to the flames.
There is no possibility of estimat.
ing 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 ad-
| vance
The confagration is the greatest
which has ever visited Canada, and
ranks only with the San Francisco dis.
aster.
Flames Sweep Over Fernie.
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
Saturday morning a heavy wind
sprang up from the west, and early in
the afternoon the flames appeared
over the crest OF the mountains to the
west of Fernie. They ran down the
mountain side, and before fire
guard could be organized had entered
the town.
Within an hour the town was doom
ed and the inhabitants sought safety
in flight, leaving their all behind them.
All night and yesterday morning the
exodus continued, the destination be-
ing a~small prairie in the valley, three
miles south of the town.
Three Thousand REFUGEES.
At present 5000 people are camped
there in the open, their only protec-
ton being shelters built of brush or
blankets, while constant shower of
sparks from the burning area keeps
falling through the pail of smoke by
which they are surrounded.
For a time communication with
towns to the east was kept open, but
with the burning of the bridge across
the Elk river this was closed. Scat.
tered through the valley are many
small prairies, and all of these have
their groups of refugees. The hills in
all directions are seething mass of
flames, cutting off every avenue of es-
cape.
The fire spread with unprecedented
rapidity, and it feared that several
parties who tried to get through the
pass have been cut off. Families have
been separated, and there is at pres
ent no means of checking up the ia
talities.
May Cross Into Montana.
At present the fire is following the
crest Of the mountain chain above
Sparwood, eating down into the val
leys on either side. 1t is travelling at
tremendous rate. and unless there is
a change of wind will cross the boun-
Diary into Montana within twelve
hours.
There are dozens of mine and pros
: ! ( i /. I Z