Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-03

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Aug. 2.-As
result OF bush fires the town Of Fer
ME, B. c., is wiped or the map as q
child cleans a slate; Michel. fourteen
miles distant, is In flames, and the fate
of Hosmer, Olsen and Sparwood, inter
vening towns, is in doubt, they being
cut off from all communication.
Over one hundred lives are known to
have been lost, seventy-four Of them
at Ferpie.
A territory of one hundred square
miles in extent is a seething mass of
flames. Through it are scattered hum
dreds of lumbermen and prospectors,
so that the actual loss of life will not
be known for days. The property Of
the Canadian Pacific and Great North
ern railways is destroyed, the bridges
and rolling stock burned, so that it Is
impossible to enter or leave the burn
ing area
The inhabitants of the towns have
fled to open districts in the vicinity in
hope of safety. The railway COM
panies have placed all available trains
at their disposal, and unless there is a
change of wind within the next twen-
Nest pass country will be left in
flames There is no possibility of esti-
mating the loss of life and property
which will result, for the flames are
driven by a half gale. making it i'm
possible to put up a fight against
which has ever reached Canada, and
their advance.
The conhagration is the greatest
ranks only with the San Francisco dis
aster. For the past month forest fires
have been raging in the mountains Of
the Elk river valley country, but they
have not been considered serious. Sun
day morning heavy wind sprang up
from the west and early in the after
noon the flames appeared over the
crest of the mountains to the west of
Fernie.
Town Quickly Wiped Out
This ran down the mountain side,
and before a fire guard could be Or
ganized had entered the town.
Within an hour the town was
doomed and the inhabitants sought
safety IN flight, leaving their all be-
hind them. All night and this morn
ing the exodus continued, the destina-
ton being a small prairie in the val
ley, thirty miles south Of town. At
present 5000 people are camped there in
the open. their only protection being
shelters built of brush or blankets,
while constant shower of sparks from
the burning area keep falling through
the pail of smoke by which they are
surrounded. For a time communica-
ton with towns to the east was kept
open, but with the burning of the
bridges across the Elk river this was
closed.
The hills In all directions are a seeth-
ing mass of flames, cutting off every
avenue OF escape, The fire spread with
unprecedented rapidity and it is feared
through the pass have been cut off.
In Fernie the only buildings remain
ing are six small shacks on the banks
of the Elk river, thIp offices of the
Crows Nest Coal company and the
Fixes wood warehouse. The offices of
the Canadian Pacific railway and the
Great Northern are gone, together with
all the rolling stock in the yards. the
sleeping car Osceola being the only
car left. One hundred cars of coke,
the property of the Great Northern,
are gone, and the stock piles of coal
and coke, holding about 100000 tons,
are in flames. 1t Is now feared that |
the fire may get in the mines them
selves, several of which are open in
the neighborhood.
This will mean incalculable damage, |
as the whole OF the valley Is under |
laid with coal. At present the fire is |
the crest of the mountain
chain above Sparwood, eating down
into the valleys on either side. 1t is
travelling at a tremendous rate and |
unless there is change of wind will |
cross the boundary line into Montana /
within the next twelve hours.
Thousands in Danger
There are thousands OF miners and
claims in the track of the
ire, all of which are in peril. A slight
,hange Of wind has occurred and Mi
,heI has been taken out OF the more
Iirect path.
Fire fighting apparatus is OF no
lvaii, for the air is filed with frag-
nents of burning wood and the flames
eem to leap ahead Of the conhagra-
ion as though the air itself is on fire.
The heat is intense and many OF the