The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-03
Several Towns In British Co-
 Iunbia Are Destroyed
THOUSANDS ARE HOMELESS
Whole Section of Country Covering One Hundred Square Miles Is Soothing Mass of Flames,
 With Terrible Results.

Winnipeg, Manitoba. August 2--As a re- suit of bush fires that started yesterday and still rage for many miles, Fernie, B. C., Is wiped off the map; Michael, 14 miles distant is in flames, and the fate of Hosmer, Olsen and Sparwood. inter vening towns is in doubt, as they are cut off from communication.
 More than 100 lives were reported lost 74 of them in Fernie. A territory 100 square miles in extent is seething mass of flames. Through it are scattered hundred of lumbermen and prospectors so that the actual loss of life will not be known for days Much property of the Canadian Pacific and the Great Northern railroads is destroyed, including bridges and rolling stock, So that it Is impossible to enter or leave the burned and burn ing area. Inhabitants of the affected towns have fled to open country to seek safety. The railway camps have placed all available trains at the disposal of refugees, and unless there is a change of wind within the next 24 hours. the whole of thu Crows Nest Pass country will be abandoned to the flames
  the loss of life and property which will result, for the flames are driven by half gale making 1t impossible to put up a fight against their advances The con- flagration is he greatest which has ever visited Canada
 The whole country is a seething fire on tile Crows Nest line of the Canadian Pacific railroad.
 Hosmer, a Canadian Pacific shelter town, has been wiped out
 Thousands are fleeing from Michael to the open country. Several lives have been lost.
 CTannrock has been wired to forward all available provisions and relief train Is now travelling with aid.
 Bush fires are raging from Cranbrook to the Crows Nest. The wind is blowing heavy gale and all available men are fighting the fire and west of Cranbrook 1t tion with Fernie, Hosmer and Michael is lost
 Four men lost their lives trying to save the huge Great Northern bridge, 15 miles west of Michael, but it was destroyed Two men from Sparwood were taken to the Michael hospital. It is feared Michael is also doomed. as the fire is sweeping eastward down the Crows Nest, and un- less the wind shifts the whole Crows Nest country will be laid waste
 Peter Campbell, who reached Michael today, says the whole country between Cranbrook and Michael is a seething caul- Gron.
 The body of Peter Miller was found on the Canadian Pacific railroad track near Michael.
 Hosmer. Elko, sparwood, Olson and Cokato are reported to be destroyed by the fire.
 The Canadian Pacific railroad is rushing relief trains with doctors, nurses, food and clothing to the destitute
 bulletin from Michael says:
 ''This town is doomed unless the wind changes. Canada Pacific railroad mak- ing up special trains to carry inhabitants to safety"
 W. w. Futile mayor of Fernie, has wired Mayor Ashdown of Winiepeg for relief saying there are 6OOO homeless
 Government May Assist.
 Ottawa. Ont, August 2-Sir wilfred Laurier received the following telegram this evening from Cranbrook, B. C.:
 'Dsastrous fire Kootenay valley. Fer nie. Hosmer, Crows Nest and other places almost completely burned Not less than 5000 people homeless. Canadian Pacific railway carrying them to Elko and Cran- brook. Every effort is being made locally. but there people are utterly without food or shelter. Fire covers 70 miles. Seventy lives lost. Immediate relief requested. Telegraph instructions at once.
 THOMAS ROBERTS.
 Liberal Association.
 "J. H. KING, M F." The premier will consult his college to- morrow to see what action can be taken by thc federal government