, 1908-09-09
CANADA.
GREAT FIRE IN THE MOUNTAINS.

AiOOll "a, Inns SuACT6u from u IIlOl loiCoO
fire, which has destroyed the town of Fernie
and many lives.
Our Ottawa Correspondent, telegraphing
on Tuesday, sums up the situation thus =
From five to seven thousand men, women,
and children, III full flight from the flame
swept Crows Nest region, from 70 to IZ5
dead at Fernie, HosIner, Coal Greek, and
Michel, and S 100000 (E1,4O0,000) worth
Of property destroyed-such is the story of
the di:oster which has overtaken southern
Britich Columbia. To-day it is said that
the fire Is under control, but the danger con-
tlnues. 1t is an unparalleled story Of fire
famed by q wind of great velocity through
a section of forest, valley, and mountain
which had been rendered dry as finder by a
protracted drought.
Since Saturday night special trains load
ed with masses of frightened humanity, rem
dered desperate by the knowledge that
everything in the world which they owned
had been swept away, and almost perishing
from thirst and hunger, have been slowly
drawn into Cranbrook, Ia many cases only
the remnants of families are represented
Other families have been separated Gram
brook immediately became q centre Of great
congestion. Relief trains were Immediately
sent forward to the refugees IN the hills ana
OH the streams and lakes III the stricken re-
gion, who had been unable to get away.
Ihe women and children were the first to
arrive, the men remaining TO face the danger
and fight back thu flames.
THE FIGHT WITH THE FLAMES.
The whole country has been q seethln8
furnace since Friday, but the forest fires
did not sweep up to the edge Of FcrnIo until
Friday night. Then at Hoslnor, Fernie,
Coal Greek, Crows Nest, Michel, aud other
ot,,nl1or >nih{, ,1~n. 4ho TrNur), Moct hro41nh
of the Canadian Pacific Railway a desperate
struggle began. Fires were known to have
been burning for q few days in an isolated
section north of the line, but as this is quite
usual at the present season of the year no
real danger was feared. 1t is not certain
that Hosmer and Michel were burned out
completely, but much damage has been done
there, while only a few houses remain at
Fernie and Coal Greek.
POLICE AND RELIEF WORK.
In his despatch Of the following day, our
Correspondent says:-
A rough estimate Of the loss to the in
sulnnce companies arising out Of the fire is
about 9600, 900.
There was no liquor in Fernie, and no dis
order has arisen. Many Of the foreign ele-
ment spend their time il the bush looking for
whisky, but fortunately there is none. Tents,
DI&hKeCS, anN clOlAln6 are now most needtQ.
Several private safes and vaults have been
opened and the contents found intact.
Sixteen bodies have been recoveral from
the debris in Fernie. A camp in the devas-
tated region containing go men and two
women has not been heard from, and it is
feared that all have persisted. Several per-
sons were drowned while trying to swim to
islands in the Elk River for safety.
A vast quantity of supplies has been re-
ceived and more are being moved into the
stricken region by every train. 1t is now
largely q matter of organization, and COM
mittees are working night and day.
Many cases Of attempted theft have oc-
Cured, but the corps Of special aud provin-
cial police is doing effective work, and the
malefaetors are punished as soon as fou..d.
There is no gaol, and so the officers chastise
the culprits with swift and muscular justice.
The trouble is mainly with the Slavs, Syri-
ans, and Italians.
THE ESCAPE FROM FERNIE.
Our Special Correspondent in British Co
lumbia telegraphed on Wednesday,
Terrible stories are told by refugees from
Fernie. In some respects the disaster is
more horrible than even the San Francisco
earthquake and fires. There was no warn
inU R.fore the nnoplp of Farnie wero