The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-08-23
FOREST FIRES ARE.
STILL RAGING
IN WEST
Great Loss of Life and Pro-
perty In Burned Area
LOSS OF LIFE PLACED AT so
Relief Trains are Unable to Reach
Sufferers Because Of Burned
Bridges.

Spokane, Washn., Aug 2S.-With
more than so persons known to be
dead, more than 100 missing, 200 in.
p iured, half of Wallace burned and two
or three villages obiterated, forest
fires tonight continue to threaten
death and destruction over large
territory in northern Idaho. eastern
Washington and western Montana.
Half dozen villages are seriously
threatened and their inhabitants are
hurrying to places of safety. RELIEF
trains are helpless in many cases,
owing to burned bridges and fires
that lap the tracks. Wallace is now
safe and no towns are burning.
The situation is NEST acute in north
ern Idaho. Reports from other parts
OF the northwest are more encourag-
ing than they were yesterday. Some
of the fires have been controlled
others are less threatening in the alb
sence of wind, while in some place.
the fire fighters have diverted the
ilamos from towns that were threaten.
ed, The new fires that have sprung
up in the last hours have not proved
serious thus far.
A report today that n fire in east
EN- Washington had broken out with
renewed energy Is untrue. The fire in
the Wallace reserve in Oregon an.
pears TO be under control. A fire In
the Wenah reserve in southeastern
Washington became dangerous yestei.
day and 1t is still raging with undim
inished fury.
In eastern Oregon between Bake,
City and Lagrande are several fires
which are doing serious damage 10
live timber
Despite the efforts of $50 fire fight.
ers, among whom are $50 more regu,
lar soldiers from American Lake.
Washn., who arrived today, none or
the fires have been put out. All the
men obtainable have been drafted In.
TO service.
The fires In southern Oregon IN
many cases are said to be incendiary
This has been n matter OF general
gossip In Medford for several DAYS.
but 1t became officially known today
through dispatches from Washington.
No hope of rain is yet given by the
United States weather bureau. The
prediction OF the district forecaster
Tor tonight and tomorrow is for fair
weather for Washington, Oregon ana
Idaho.
Thirty men out Of crew OF AZ who
We're under the charge OF Fores,
Ranger Hollingshead. are missing and
are believed to have persisted Sa.ur
day night when their camp came on
Big Creek, n tributary or the st. Joe
river l6' miles from Avery, Idaho
was swept by flames. This news was
brought to Spokane today by w. d
Mcclellan, newspaper photographer
Mcclellan was one OF the relief party
which made the trip to Big Creek OF
Sunday. The heat was so intens,
that the party was unable to approach
the spot where the camp stood
According TO the II survivors VIII,
reached Avery, the fire came on Will,
they were sleeping and they wer,
aroused by flames. The men scat
tered and ran for safety. Little hon
Is entertained by the II men tina
their companions survived. AT leas
hye farmers are dead now at Newpor
Washn.
Several persons were rendero
temporarily insane.
One woman broke away from he
rescuers after they had borne he
from her burning home and rushe
into the flames Fire Is still threa
ening Newport.
Soldiers Of the 25th United State
infantry (colored) who are patrollln
Wallace. Idaho. under the directio
OF Mayor Hansen. have been ordere
TO shoot vandals, whose degradation
have begun.
Chicago Milwaukee and Pug,
Sound refuge trains through the bur
ed region are furnished with guar,
Of negro soldiers.
The discipline. yalor and gener
efficiency OF the negro troops is ellie
Ing the highest praise from residen
OF the burned area.
AZ Liberty Lake. a summer resol
Is miles from Spokane. several c,
tagcs have been burned.
The St. Joe and the st. Marie VI
t'fNf ~ AAt H'hiA VI the tlIlUtI ~
IN Idaho are swept by flames.
ready 100 homesteads have be
burned out. Five hundred men n
lighting the blaze. Sc. Joe riy
steamboats, are kept ready TO take /
people to safety.
correspondent gives the folio
ing account Of the Journey OF n Nor
ern Pacific special. relief train
All the way from Mullan TO
Regis the Northern Pacific r
through two walls OF burning limb
The relief train got as far as Dor
aud was compelled to turn back on
count OF burning bridges
Getting back to Saltesc. Il "
found that the bridges east had be
burned. Il was impossible to me
either way. tn train was compel
to stay at Saltese and that fact s
ed the town, which soon began
burn. There were 100 men on
train. Bucket brigades we're form
aud men were set at work W
shovels. The train was Just half
hour ahead OF the IRE and only
small houses ON the west end of
town we're burned"
AZ the Bullion mine. elaht n