Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1908-08-08
FERNIE, B. c., AND SURROUND
ING TOWNS COMPLETE
LY DESTROYED.
Over 100 Lives Reported Lost---RaiIroads
Suffer Heavy LOSs===SOOO People
HOmeeSS=-=Aid Wanted.

Fernie, b. c.. Aug. 3.-The most aw-
full conhagration ever known in the
western country has wiped out the
whole city of Fernie, West Fernie, the
annex. the old town and the French
town and all the lumber mills in or
about the city of Fernie.
A brisk breeze that had been blow
ing all the morning famed into flame
the smoldering bush fires in the slash
ings of the Cedar Valley Lumber com
pany south of town. on the opposite
side of the river. The wind steadily
increased in velocity and volume, fan
ming the flames into a strong con-
flagration, which licked up the Cedar
Valley yards, west Fernie. the Elk
Lumber company's mill and 100000
or 100000 feet sof lumber in the
yards, leaped across the Elk. renew
ing it's vigor with the fuel for flame
which it found in the annex of Fernie.
The magnificent railway bridge of
the Great Northern, the lumber camp
traffic bridge and the Elk Lumber com
pany's private bridge spanning the
Elk. connecting Fernie with West
Fernie, were all devoured in the tor
rent of flame.
About o'clock the fire was discov-
cred on the east side of the Elk, be-
low town little piece. and the raging
wind soon famed this into another
confiagration, which swept toward the
city, taking in its course the Fort
Steele Brewing company's brewery
and all the buildings surrounding it
were wiped out. as well as all the
buildings in the old town extending up
Cow creek to what is known as French
town, destroying everything in its
course.
The flames leaped Cow creek and
licked up Edgecliff, the most souther-
ly house in the part. 1t came across
the Canadian Pacific railway tracks,
burning the coal chutes, and was soon
in the heart of the city.
Fire Came From Two Sides.
The flames coming from the two di-
rections and meeting in the heart of
the city confused the people so that
they scarce knew from whence the
greatest danger was approaching, or
whittier their road of escape was open
After the fire had subsidized it was
found that except the Western Canada
Wholesale companys warehouse, a
concrete block building near the Cana
dian Pacific railway beyond the sta
ton, not a business house of any kind
remains standing in the city. Banks,
hotels, Offices, the Trites Wood com
pany, the Crows Nest and every other
building of any description. except the
concrete office of the Crows Nest Pass
Coal company, which stood in the cen
ter of a square, crumbled before the
awful cataract of flames like boxes of
finder. Today there are standing on
the townsite of Fernie between the
Canadian Pacific railway track and the
Great Northern railway line just 2S
dwelling houses.
Three bridges on the Canadian Pa
cific railway track between Fernie and
Sparwood are out. but it is hoped by
herculean efforts to have the road open
soon.
The foreman of the Elk Lumber
company reports that there are be
tween 60 and 80 men in his camps VI
the river, and so far he has failed tC
find any trace of them.
Report From cranbrook.
Cranbrook, b. c., Aug. 3.-The ca
lamity at Fernie is more extensive
than early reports gave reason to be
lieve. The damage can not fall short
of $4,000, 900. the greater losses falling
on the c. P. r.. which lost the Goa
tippie, coal bunkers. depot, freight
store, water tower and over 100 cars
and on the Trites-Wood company
which lost its magnificent store ant
stock, and the lumber companies
whose mills and stock are wiped out
Fully 25.000,000 feet Of manufactured
lumber is gone.