The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-08-22

MYHEoUIiA, Mont. Aug. 22.-Mer- |
.ilessly and relentlessly the forest
nres in western Montana and Idaho
are sweeping over vast area, driv-
lng hundreds Of fugitives before them
destroying small settlements and wip-
inr out Of existence millions Of dol
lsrs worth OF property.
The situation is more serious than
II was. except as to Wallace, Idaho,
where It 10 Extraordinarily half OF the
city will be saved.
Communication with Wallace to
the west has been possible at inter-
yals today; but eastward 1t is entire
" cut off. It is known the entire
east half Of the town, above Seventh
street, has been burned. West Of that
street hard fight is being made, and
with an Improvement in the water
supply there is more chance the
flames may be driven back. For
few minutes the Daily Missoulian's
reporter had wire at Wallace.
He summarized the situation as fol
lows:
Thirteen lives lost; property loss,
100000; fiye still threatening.
Many Reports o. Deaths.
Elsewhere in the fire zone the sit
uation has gone from bad to worse.
The most serious accident. is reported
from st. Joe County, where lS0
men engaged in the forestry service
are missing, and it Is feared that
they have been burned to death.
When the FIRE approached the camp
where there were 200 men two of the
fighters took a horse and rode the
animal to death, reached another camp
and ordered rescue party, which
penetrated the fire to Bird Creek
Eighteen OF the men were found IN
the water, where they had gone for
safety, and they were unharmed. o.
the other 180 no word has been re
oeived.
The Forestry Service has organized
relief train. well equipped with
pack animals, carrying provisions
and hospital supplies, and will en-
deavor to get through the fire.
About thousand refugees have
been brought into Mhssoula. There
Is much distress among them. Theil
wants are being supplied by Nilsson
la people and they have been giyer
temporary homes
Refugees Jam Trains.
The first of the trains came IN ov
er the Northern Pacifics Occur d
Alene branch and brought the pa
tients who had been in the Sister
hospital at Wallace and as man.
refugees as could find place on tn
small train. There were 25O on tnl
train. and the second, arriving q
noon, brought as many more. Thes
people came from the small town
along the line between Missoula an
Wallace. Many OF them had bee
aroused from their sleep by the pee
pie on the train, whose summons ha
been the first intimation that tn
FIRE was near.
In most cases, these escaped seal
tily clad. One woman, who fled frol
her home at midnight, gave birth
child in box car, just aft-s the a
rival of the train in Missoula
Another train with 500 people Q
board is expected over the Chicag
1 Milwaukee and Puget Sound railwa
Dense Pail overhangs Sky.
A dense pail of smoke hangs a
over Eastern Montana. In Missoula
was as dark as midnight at 5 o'cloc
the dense smoke being given lur
hue which had all the semblance
the glow Of fire, but which probab
was due to the sun.
The town OF Taft near the Idal
line, was destroyed by fire befo
daylight Sunday morning.
Safest, just below TAFT, has BET
abandoned by it's inhabitants and
surrounded by fire.
De Borgia is seriously threaten
and one man is missing.
At st. Regis the fire has cross
the river and threatens outlyil
buildings, though no fears are ents
ained for the town.