Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-08-12
ONE HUNDRED LIVES LOST AND
TEN MILLIONS OF
PROPERTY.
FLAMES START IN THE Bush
AND RAGE DOWN OVER
THE COUNTRY.
HOLOCAUST CONTINUES AND
PEOPLE FLEE TO THE
OPEN REGIONS.

Winnipeg, Man, Aug. 3.-More than
100 lives are known to have been
lost as the result of bush fires, which
have swept over an area of 100
square miles in the east Kootenay
country. Whole cities and towns
have been laid low and the flames
are spreading throughout other places.
Already the loss IN property is estf-
mated at more than $10,000,00O, and
this may be swelled enormously be-
fore the fire burns itself out. The
following towns, with population),
were destroyed or are in the path of
the flames:
Fernie 5000, Coal Creek 1900,
Michel 1850, Hosmer 400, Morrisey
800, Elko 400, Sparwood 200, Olson
100, D[cGillvray 100, BARLEY 100,
Cokato 100.
The city of Fernie, B. c., a place of
5000 population, is wiped off the
map; 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 communication. Of the
over 100 lives known to have been
lost seVenty-four of them were in
Fernie
A territory of 100 square miles IN
extent is now a SETTLING mass Of
flames. Through it are scattered hun
dreds of lumbermen and prospectors,
SO that the actual loss of life viii not
be known for days.
The properties of the Canadian Pa
cific and Great Northern railroads are
destroyed, the bridges and rolling
stock burned, and it is impossible to
enter or leave the burning area.
The inhabitants of the towns have
fed to open districts in the vicinity
in the hope of safety The railway
companies have placed all available
trains at their disposal and unless
there is a change Of wind within the
next twenty-four hours the whole of
the Crows Nest Pass country VIII be
left 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 con1agration is the greatest
which has ever visited Canada.
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 wilma
sprung 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
side and before a fire guard
could be organized had entered the
town. Within an hour the town was
doomed, and the inhabitants sought
safety in flight leaving their all be-
hind them. And 50 the holocaust has
gone.
Into Montana.
At present the fire is following the
crest of tue mountain chain above
Sparwood. eating down into the val
leys on eithr side. 1t is travelling at
a tremendous rate, and unless there
is a change of wind will cross the
boundary into Montana within the
next twelve hours There are thou
sands of mines and prospectors' claims
in the track of the fire. all of WhicB
are in peril. A slight change Of wind
has occurred and Michel has been
taken ,out Of the more direct path.
Fire fighting apparatus is of no avail