The San Francisco call., 1908-08-03
Seething Flames EnveIOp Hum
dred Miles of Territory In
Crows Nest Valley
Fire Destroys Bridges, Rail-
roads and Provisions in
Fernie and Vicinity
Starvation Stares Homeless
Wanderers in Face, While
Gale Increases Danger
Communication Is Cut OF and
Fleeing Crowds Have Little
Hope OF Succor
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE GAIL


WINNIPEG, Man, Aug.
Crows Nest valley, in
British Columbia, 100 miles
in circumference, is a seeth-
ing, raging hell tonight.
Five hundred have lost
their lives, 10000 have been
made homeless and more
than $40, 600, 600 worth of
property has been destroyed
in the most overwhelming and
disastrous forest fire ever known
in the dominion OF Canada. The
city of Fernie, with a population
OF 5000 persons, IS utterly
destroyed. And the disaster has
but begun.
Over the entire valley there is
nothing but a mass OF flames.
Railroads have been wiped out,
bridges have been destroyed. so that
no relief can be sent TO the thousands
of persons who now lie under their
brush huts in the open spots along the
mountain sides awaiting the time
when they may be rescued
HOMELESS AND STARVING
Food there is none Starvation
stares the homeless wanderers in the
face, and there IS not the slightest
hope. either on the outside OF the IRE
lines or within their borders, OF bring
ing succor to the suffering. The peo-
pie are sheltered only by the i'm
promptu shacks built on the instant BY
the men. and they have little clothing
COMMUNICATION CUT OFF
While Fernie has been wiped or the
map as a child cleans slate. Michel.
IA miles distant. is in flames. and the
fate of Hesmer, Olson and Sparwood.
intervening towns. is in doubt. as they
are cut of from all communication.
but they probably have met similar
fate More than 500 lives are known
to have been lost, "A of them in Fernfs
alone. f
A territory OF 100 square miles in ex-
tent Is a seething mass OF flames.
Through IL are scattered hundreds OF
lumbermen and prospectorz. so that the
actual loss Of life will not be known
for days. The properties OF the Cana
dian Pacific and the Great Northern
railways have been destroyed TheiR
bridges and rolling stock have been
burned. so that 1t is impossible TO either
enter or leave the burned area
PEOPLE FLEE FROM TOWNS
The inhabitants OF the town have
fed TO open districts in the vicinity
in the hope OF safety. From towns to-
the east and west the inhabitants are.
escaping as rapidly as possible. The
railway companies have placed all
available trains at their disposal and
unless there Is change OF wind with
in the next "a hours the whole OF the
Crows Nest pass country win 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
na4I gaze making II lLlpOsSAoAo 70
put up a fight against their ADVANCE
The conhagration is the greatest
which has ever visited Canada, and
ranks only with the San Francisco dIs-
aster.
TOWN DOOMED IN HOUR
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. Saturday
morning a heavy wind sprang 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 mountain side and
before a FIRE guard could be organ
lied had entered the town Within an
hour the town was doomed and the
inhabitants sought safety in hight.
leaving their all behind them
All night and this morning the exc
dus continued, the destination beinw .