The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-23
SALTESE SAVED AFTER
LONG, HARD BATTLE

MISSOULA, Mont, Aug. 22.-The fol-
lowing from the Missoulan's correspond
ent with the Northern Pacific relief train
at Saltese was received this evening.
after hours OF the finest fighting I
ever saw Saltese is safe. Supcrlntcnd
ent Fouler and his Northern Pacific
men did the work and they did IL so
well that there were no property losses
IN the little mountain town except the
railway stociyards and six residences
on the west end Of the fiat II was
well organized. well equipped and splen
ddly directed. II did not seem possible
that the town could be protected when
the flames came sweeping down upon II
from three sides. but Mr.. Fowler and his
men did the work and the people who
fled from Saltcse Saturday night will re-
turn to find their homes and places OF
business intact,
Terrible Situation.
'The Northern Pacific relief train
which left Missoua at o'clock Sunday
morning 10 help Mullan did not get over
the divide to the Idaho town, but II per-
formed It's mission just as satisfactorily
In another place, The train reached
Saltese. Sunday forenoon. through dense
smoke and flashes OF fire. the pail OF
the impression that fire was near and
the sensation OF impending danger was
heightened by the roar OF the ever
strengthening wind and the increasing
heat OF the atmosphere. At Satcse 1T
was found that the wires were all gone
on the Idaho side and there were stories
OF advancing walls OF flame on the di-
vide. II was doubtful situation. but
after looking II all over, Mr.. Fowler de-
cidcd to push on as far as he could and
II Mullan could rot De reached 10 help
wherever help was needed.
up the steep mountain grades west
OF Saitcse we went through an ncreas-
ing volume OF smoke, and the air became
laden with ashes and embers. At times
he 60 f1n IN
dangerous, but the train pushed on. and
would have crossed the divide down to
Mullan had u not been for burned
bridge. which was encountered near Bo-
raX. There stopped. Further prog
ress was impossible and there We're signs
that the flames were thanking us, so We
dropped back down the mountain 20 Salt
csc. 1t WAS we'll that we did. VIC were
not needed at Mullan and We found Salt
csc In dire danger. We reached Satcsc
none too soon; the fire was n scant half
hour behind US and IL was coming with
a rush down the narrow canyon through
which we had just passed. The main
canyon Of the St Regis was aflame on
! both sides: II was sitting hot. Also.
down Silver creek 10 the south and down
| Packer creek TO the north. two other
| fires were coming at the rate OF four
miles an hour. The wind had increased
TO a gale and swirlcd in all directions.
Borne upon the fierce blast were huge
flaming brands and great chunks OF moss.
all attire. like firchalls OF the Chinese war
|
erywherc. II was almost impossible 10
see and 70 breathe was TO burn the
| lungs until they smartcd.
Prompt, Efficient Work,
| ''Such was the situation which Super
| intendent Fowler faced. From three
| sides the fire was coming with rush,
| and each of the channels led right into
| the town. Then came the best and fast
| est work have ever seen. II was worth
while to see the railway forces swing
| into action. Bucket brigades were
| formed; men were sent out with shovcls:
| the officers In command had their men
| lined up with the precision and effcc-
| t!veness OF soldiers moving into action.
In n few minutes tho flames closed
In. there was "A ronr as OF thousand
| cyclones: there was the cracking OF
| flames: there was the dread glare and
there rwas the awful realization OF the
| force OF the on-ruslinR destroyer. But
the hro did not encounter the easy prey
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