The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-08-04

l
WINNIPEG. Man. Aug. 3.-Latest
estimates OF the number OF dead In
the Elk river district as the result OF
forest fires which have been raging
for a month from Michel to Fernie
place the victims at $50 persons. The
property loss is $5,000000 In Fernie,
and 5000 of that city's inhabitants
are homeless. They have been taken
by trains 10 places OF safety and are
sent by western Canadian cities today
for the relief OF the sufferers. Medical
supplies are greatly needed.
Fernie. with It's lumber mills and
railway terminals, Is wiped out. The
fire Ii still raging around Hosmer and
| Sparwood, but Michel is safe, the
wind dying out at midnight. II a
gale springs up that city will be In
danger again. Seventy men In the
camps OF the Elk River Co. persisted
Ten cottages, two coal Offices, the
western Canada grocery and the coal
compn<y's new warehouse are all that
remain of Fernie Saturday afternoon
the Fort Steele brewery, the first large
building TO catch fire, was burned
Houses In the neighborhood soon
caught fire and though the people
turned out Immediately to fight the
fire. the flames spread and the whole
place was soon burning. Old Town
where most of the miners lived, soor
was burned and then the business
section caught FIRE. The residence sec
ton came last, after the mills Of the
Elk River Lumber Co. had been de
stroyed
| Special trains were waiting to con
vey the people to Michel, but the rur
cannot be made because the bridge
between Hosmer and Michael had
been burned.
Saturday night was a frightful one
1t was spent In getting many OF the
women and children on the trains and
starting them for Cranbrook. During
the night the wind went down and
Sunday morning many Of the men and
their wives came in from the hills tc
which they had fed TO view the smok
ing remains OF the city. Many har
rowing tales were told. One woman
OF West Fernie had Just emerged from
her home which was on fire, wher
she fell dead OF heart disease. The
neighbors buried her in her garden
and then ran for their lives.
In another part of the city an aged
woman, an invalid, was carried a short
distance. but the heat became toe
great and she begged to be left to her
fate, while her relatives were keeping
her In wet blankets.
Thousands Are Homeless.
Thousands of settlers are homeless
and still In dire danger from the
| flames and starvation. Relief Is be-
ing sent to the district as rapidly as
possible and the railroads are bring
| ing the refugees to Winnipeg and
nearby towns by the train loads.
At midnight last night late arrivals
] from Fernie. B. C., estimated the mum
Der OF dead there at 200. Refugees
from Frank say that 40 bodies were
counted along the track from Michel
In one lumber camp 80 dead arc
reported. II Is impossible accurately
to estimate the loss OF life and reports
| from the settlement outside the
burned towns may bring the total To
a much larger figure.
Country Under Martial Law.
The whole OF the country between
Cranbrook and Michel has been placed
under martial law and the Canadian
government has taken charge of the
work OF relief and rescue.
There Is no abatement OF the flames
and an area of 100 square miles is still
enveloped by the red sheet and black
| smoke OF the holocaust.
In addition to the dead scores have
been injured, and IL Is estimated that
six thousand people are homeless. OF
these nearly all are camped In val
legs either inside or near the outskirts
OF the fiame-swept section. and are
In constant danger of death.
Starvation faces the refugees.
Seventy-eight men and two women
were burnedeto death In No. logging
camp OF the Elk Lumber Co. The
camp was surrounded by fire and not
a single person escaped.
The properties of the Canadian Pa
cifc and Great Northern railways
within the district have been disas-
trously damaged. many OF their
bridges and much rolling stock burn.
eu, anu ~ IL uext W iiupOoSipic W
either enter or leave the burning sea.
For the last month forest fires have
been burning In the mountains OF the
Elk river valley country. but they
have not been considered seriously.
Saturday morning heavy wind
sprang UP from the west, and early
In the afternoon flames appeared over
the crest OF the mountains TO the west
OF Fernie
They ran down the mountain side.
and. before a fire guard could be or
gained. entered the town. Within an
hour the town was doomed and the
inhabitants sought safety In flight.
leaving all their property behind
them. All night and this morning the
exodus continued, the destination be-
ing small prairie in the valley. three
miles south of the town.
Three thousand persons are camp
ed there in the open. their only pro-
lection being shelters built of brush
or blankets. while a constant shower
Of sparks from the burning area Keeps
falling through the pail OF smoke by
which they are surrounded.
For time communication with the
east was kept open, but with the burn
ing OF the bridges across the Elk riv-