Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-08-05
Entire Towns Wiped Out by
FIamesi Thousands Left
HomeIesSi Property Loss
Placed at 100000.
RELIEF HURRIED TO
STRICKEN SETTLEMENTS
Now Believed That Death List
viii Not Exceed Fifth Mir
acuIouS Escape Of Many
Thought Dead,

IBy Morning Journal Special LSassa whs.I
Vancouver, b. c.. Aug 4-The ter-
rlbly destructive forest fires which
have swept through the Crows Nest
district OF the Elk river valley in Brit
ish Columbia since last Saturday.
devastating vast stretch OF territory.
destroying many lives and millions of
dollars Of property, wiplng out entire
towns and rendering thousands of per-
sons homeless, are still raging, but are
now sweeping wild and sparsely set
tied country. and II Is believed the
worst Is over. The flames are eating
through vast forests on the mountain
sides, and 1t Is thought they win soon
burn themselves out for lack of some
thing to destroy
1t is impossible at this time to arr
rive at a summary OF the situation as
regards loss OF life and property with
even approximate correctness SO
widespread has been the destruction
and so scattered are the people who
lived in the burned area Of more than
fifty miles In length and three miles
In width, that any estimate of the
number who met death in the flames
Is nothing more than guesswork. sto-
ries OF missing settlers are coming
from Fernie, Cranbrobk Michel Hos
mer and other places. but many OF
these have turned up az some point far
from their original habltatlon. and Il
Is not believed the death list will ex-
coed fifty names.
The property loss has been very
great, but this, too, is difficult to es-
innate correctly conservative val
uation would probably place the
amount at between $4,000. 900 and
$7OOO,OO0. Several thousand have
been rendered homeless principally
residents of Fernle. which, according
TO all accounts, Is almost completely
wiped out. scarcely more than a score
of buildings being left where once a
prosperous town Of 5000 inhabitants
stood.
There has been suffering among the
homeless owing to lack Of food and
shelter. but this has been alleyIated
or partly relieved by the prompt ac-
tion OF the people OF every city in Brit
ish Columbia. as well as many OF those
IN border states. in sending both
money and supplies to the burned dis
tricts. This aid has been most gener-
Gus and the temporarily destitute peo-
pie will be adequately and promptly
provided for. Means of communica-
tion with the burned section has been
most difficult. Telegraph and tele-
| phone wires were destroyed for miles
In places, and this fact, taken together
with the contradictory reports from
the various towns. has led to great
confusion and probably much exagger-
alton as to the loss OF life.
A summary of the results of the
fires has been prepared here, which Is
believed to be a conservative estimate
as to loss Of life and property Destroy
ed. II Is as follows:
| Town of Fernle, about 5000 lnhabl-
tants, practically wiped out; loss OF
twenty lives and s4,O0O.0OO or S6. .OO0,-
600 In property Insurance about so
per cent
Town of Hosmer. about 500 Inhabl-
tants, partially burned. with loss OF
one life and s26O,0 In property.
Three hundred persons homeless.
Town OF Michel. believed not serl-
ously burned, but four perrtns reson.
ed killed and property destroyed in
vicinity estimated at 100000 De-
tails unobtainable owing to the lack
Of communication
Town Of sparwood. sawmill village.
two killed and large mills destroyed.
Damage estimated at $4,000.
Damage TO standing timber through
out the burned area estimated az from
81 900, 600 to $4,000. 600.
Many pathetic stories OF flight and
In many instances the death OF unfor-
tunate settlers. who were caught In
the swirl Of flames as 1t swept through
the great forests of pine and fir. are
. coming In from the various points
with which communication has been
$ re-established Il has moi been deter.
mined how the fire started. whether
e through carelessness or design. bul
b once Il had Gained headway. it swept
n with almost incredible speed at times
q eating up the timber a. II Il we're dFs
tlnder, lighting up the whole country
'r at night and filling The atmosphere
e with a choking smoke that often hid
, the sun from view and turned daylight
Is almost into night
Ie superintendent Hufaey. of the pro
\ vinclal police. has been sent BY IN.
r. government OF British Columbia 70 III
fire swept region. and Il now n chafeI
n Of the relief work IA East Kootcnay
y acting with the local authorities. tn
Dominion authorities have offered /