Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-05
FERNIEFOREST FIRE SPREADS
Area Three Miles Wide and Fifty
Long Burned Over.
LOSS ESTIMATES ARE TOO HIGH
Many Supposed Dead Are Accounted
for and Number of Fatalities f.
Now Placed at About
FIFTY.

VANCOUVER B. c., Aug. A-The terri
bly, destructive forest fires which have
swept through the Crows Nest district Of
the Elk river valley in British Columbia
since last Saturday. devastating a vast
stretch Of territory. destroying many lives
and millions of dollars Of property, wiping
out entire towns and rendering thousands
OF persons homeless, are still raging, but
are now sweeping a wild and sparsely set
tied country and It is believed the worst is
over. The flames arc eating through vast
forests on the mountain sides and 1t ls
thought they will soon burn themselves
out for lack Of something to destry.
1t is impossible at this time to arrive at
summary OF the situation as regards loss
of life and property with even Approximate
correctness. So widespread has been the
destruction and so scattered are the people
who lived in the burned area Of more than
fifty miles In length and three miles in
wirth, that any estimate Of the number
who met death in the flames 10 nothing
ore than gUesswork. Stories OF missing
settlers are coming from Fernie Gran
brook. Michel. Hosmer and other places
but many OF these have turned up at some
point far from their original habitation,
and It is not believed the death list will
exceed fifty names.
Property Loss Great.
The property loss has been very great
but this. too. is difficult to estimate cor
rectly. conservative valuation would
probably place the amount at ss,OoOOOO or
100000. Several thousand persons have
been rendered homeless. principally resi-
dents Of Fernie. which according to all
accounts is almost completely wiped out
scarcely more than a score Of buildings
being left where once a prosperous town
Of 5000 inhabitants stood.
There has been suffering among the
| homeless, owing to lack of food and shell
ter, but this has been alleviated or partly
relieved by the prompt action Of the people
OF every. city in British Columbia, as well
as many of those OF border states, In send
! ing both money and supplies to the burned
| districts. This aid has been most generous
and the temporarily destitute people will
/ be adequately and promptly provided for,
Means Of communication with the burned
section has been most difficult Tele-
graph and telephone wires were destroyed
for miles in places, and this fact, taken
together with the contradictory reports
from the various towns, has led to great
confusion and probably much exaggeration
| as to the loss of life.
Summary OF Disaster.
| A summary of the results OF the fires
has been prepared here, which is believed
to be conservative estimate as to loss of
life and property destroyed 1t is as fol-
lows:
Town of Fernle about sOOo Inhabitants.
practically wiped out. loss Of twenty lives
and 100000 or 100000 in property. in
surance about 30 per cent.
Town Of Hosmer. about 500 inhabitants,
partially burned with loss OF one life and
$4,000 in property, 800 persons homeless
Town of Michel, believed not seriously
burned, but four persons reported killed
and property destroyed in vicinity estima-
ted at H.Ooo,Ooo details unobtainable owing
to lack of communication.
Town OF Sparwood, sAwmii village, two
killed and large mills destroyed. damage
estimated at 150.00O, damage to standing
timber throughout the burned area esti-
mated at from 100000 to 100000.
Many Pathetic stories.
Many pathetic stories OF flight, and in
many instances the death Of unfortunate
settlers who were caught in the swirl OF
flames as 1t swept through the great forests
OF pine and fir, are coming in from the
various points with which communication
has been re-estabiished. 1t has not been de-
through carelessness or design, but once Il
had gained headway, It swept with almost
incredible speed at times, eating up the
timber as II 1t were dry tinder. lighting uu
the whole country at night and filling the
atmosphere with a choking smoke that
; often hid the sun from view and turned
daylight almost into night.
Superintendent Hussey of the provincial
police has been sent by the government OF
British Columbia to the fire-swept region
and is now in charge OF the relief work in
east Kootenay, acting with the local au-
thoriues. The dominion authorities have
offered to send a detachment of northwest
mounted police into the devastated region
to reserve order, but thus far the pro.
Vincial authorities have had the situation
well In hand. The large number OF for.
eigners employed in the mines in the dis.
trict have given no trouble, and no lootins
has taken place, as the fire left little Of
} value to loot
A telegram today from Mayor Fink O,
Cranbrook says 2OOo Fernie refugees ar,
there and that he has no definite informa,
ton as to who or how many perished
Black Hand n suspectea.
FERNIE, B. c., Aug. 4.-No person WHIT
has not seen can imagine the awful deyas
I tation which in the short space of two
hours transformed what was a busy centet
OF industry into a desolats waste and lef
1000 people homeless. The scene durinI
, the progress OF the fire Is described as an
, palllng. men. women and children fleeinI
r for their lives. leaving everything they DOS
{ sessed TO the mercy OF the flames.
From Michel. where the fire soene be
gins on the east for twenty miles, is ye
, a sea OF fire, with miles and miles O
E blazing mountainsidea.
( Michel is yet safe. but the whole vaIle,
3 OF the river lie on fire and II the win,
: starts up the town is doomed All tn
1 women and children have bssn sent I
Biairmore. Frank and Coleman for safety
All mines are shut down and the men ar
fighting the fires in relays. plowing, back
firing. clearing underbrush or soaking tn
{ roofs OF houses with water. Of which, for
tunately. there is a good supply.
Only about a doEen houses have bee,
burned In HoSmsr 20 far. but the IRE
\ l-al around H.
Coke Ovens - Refuge.
Many from Fernle have taken refuRe 4
the new coke ovens being built by IN
. Canadian Pacific. where they are SAFE eve
3 | n the town n blfFnad TIhMw -. -