Omaha daily bee., 1910-08-22

visor reports that the entire country be-
tween Wallace and the st. John river is
swept practically clean and that the loss
of timber Is stupendous. Fires between
Burke and Mullan threaten both towns to-
night and many women and children are
being sent away.
With daylight a relief expedition will be
organized TO go to Placer and Big creeks,
where the fire fighters camps are located.
These men have been scattered over the
country, driven hither and thlther by the
flames. At War Eagle tunnel. three miles
from Wallace, six dead were found and two
were badly burned.
Burned in Tunnel.
Five OF the dead in the tunnel had sought
refuge. They lay with their faces down in
the water, covered with blankets, and had
died partly from the flames and partly
from suffocation.
The injured were relieved by temporary
dressings and we're brought to the hospitals.
At Big creek twelve dead were recovered,
two injured and three unfortunates who
were completely blinded. One Fighter was
found dead near Mullan and sixteen who
we're more or less seriously burned At
Pine creek three are dead, five blinded and
five otherwise injured.
1t is impossible to learn the names of the
dead, most of whom came in from Spokane
and other points at the call of the forestry
service. The bodies are being buried wher-
ever they found. Days and weeks may
0lapse before anything like complete esti-
mate Of the fatalities is available
Fires are still b2rning around the city,
but most of the hillsides facing the town
are now burned off, and unless the wind
rises the town is believed to be compare
lively safe.
Two or three hundred people are left
homeless in Wallace, many having lost
their belongings.
Marrow Escapes.
Stories of narrow escapes and stirring ad-
ventures come in with every group Of weary
fighters.
In a tunnel of the old War Eagle mine on
Placer creek, seven miles from Wallace,
forty-one men under Forest Ranger Pulaski
were packed tightly together to escape a
sheet Of flame that swept down the gulch
They Rugged the ground and buried their
faces In the mud on the floor of the tunnel
until the fire went by, when, half mad from
the heat they threw themselves into the
creek. Five were left dead in the tunnel
Ana another cut off from the crew was
found burned to a cinder.
MISSOULA, Mont, Aug. 21.--Mercilessly
and relentlessly the forest fires in western
Montana and Idaho are sweeping over a
vast area, driving hundreds of fugiuves
before them, destroying small settlements
and wiping out OF existence millions OF
dollars worth OF property.
The situation tonight is more serious than
II was In the early morning except at Wal
lace. Idaho, where 1t is believed that nearly
half of the city will be saved
Elsewhere in the fire zone the situation
has gone from bad to worse today. The
most serious incident was reported late this
afternoon from the ST. Coe country, where
lSe men engaged in the forestry service are
missing. and 1t is feared they have been
burned to death.
When the fire approached the camp where
there were 200 men two OF the fighters took
. horse, and riding the animal to death
reached another camp and ordered rescue
party, which penetrated the fire to Bird
creek.
Save Themselves in Water.
Eighteen OF the men were found in the
water, where they had gone for safety, and
they were not harmed. OF the remaining
$50 no word has been received. The forestry
service has iorganized a relief train vel
equipped with pack animals carrying pro
visions and hospital supplies and will
endeeyor to get through the fire.
About 1000 refugees have been brought
into Missoula today There is much distress
among them. Their wants are being sup.
piled by Missoula people and they have
been given temporary homes. The first Of
the trains came over the Northern Pacific'l
CnAnr ID Alana hranah nd th0t M.
tients who had been in the Sisters hospita
at Wallace and as many refugees as coulC
find places on the small train.
There were $50 on the train and a second
train at noon brought as many more. Thes,
people came from the small towns alonl
the line between here and Wallace. Many
Of them had been reused from their sleeI
by the people on the train. whose summons
had been the first intimation that the FIRE
was near; there had been no sign OF 4
when the people went to bed saturda!
night In most instances these peopl,
escaped only scantily clad.
Child Born la BOX Car.
A woman who had fled from her home
midnight gave birth to a child in a boz
car just after the arrival OF the first trail
at Missoula.
Local hospitals are caring for the sick
Missoula homes have been opened freel!
and the homeless are comfortable for tn,
present.
Another train with 500 people on board Il
expected over the Chicago, Milwaukee 8
Puget Sound railway.
A dense pail OF smoke hangs all owe
eastern Montana. In Missoula II was a.
dark as midnight at 5 o'clock, the dens
smoke being given lurid hue which ha'
all the semblanee of the glow of fire. blu
which was probably due 10 the sun.
The town OF Taft. near the Idaho line
was entire destroyed by fire before day
light this y ming.
Saltez. jLsl below Tart, has been aban
doned by its Inhabitants and is known 4
be surrounded by fire Deborgia is seri
ously threatened and one man is missing. A
St Regis the fire has crossed the river an
threatens outlying buildings though n
fears are entertained for the town.
Haughan Is reported to be deserted, tn
last word from there being that the FIR
is dangerously near and the telephone oper
ator was preparing TO flee. The area GOV
cred Is roughly estimated at a hundre
miles square. most OF II In the mountain
and sparsely settled. II Is difficult 10 oh
tain information frfm any Of the point