Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1910-08-22

SPOKANE, wash, Aug. z2.-Hourlx
reports from fires In the forests Of
Northern idaho and Western Montana
are increasing the toll of death. It r.
possible ZOO lives have been lost The
latest figures from wallace are that
forfy-f1ve fighters probably have per-
tshed. In the hills near sand Point.
Idaho, Forest Ranger VIM Dycixe and :
crew OF sixfy-ive enlisted In Spokane
are reported surrounded by flames. 4
womnn and her daughter perEzhed in
Cabinet, Idaho. Five are known to
have died near Newport. WASH, in an
attempt 10 reach the town. Nothing
but rain can save the situation.
Forester Cecil, or Portlnnsi, says In !
dizpateh to the war Depnrtmenz -t,zt
Crater National forest and az hfedford
resulted from incendiarism snd thar
new fires are being set constantly. He
reports that he has started twenfy-flve
men ON scout duty I'm an enorf to
catch the culprfts.
The general fire situation in the Mis-
soula district, as far as reports show
today. is still discouraging No word
can be obtained from any points On
the Occur D'Alene line farther west
than st. Regis. which has been de-
serted.
Hundreds Dead In Idaho.
Twenty persons are known to be dead
as a result of the forest fires within a
radius of $50 miles of Wallace. The
death list for the fire-swept district OF
Northern Idaho alone is expected to
reach 100 and probably more.
Intermittent communication. which
was in effect with Wallace early this
morning, was cut off later and fears
are entertained that the fires have
again started in that place. Saltese Is
still safe, but is surrounded by flames.
The Northern Pacific officials special
train is still at Saltese, but cannot be
moved. as bridges are burned on either
side. Telegraph and telephone COM
munication to the place is cut.
st. Regis. Old Town. has been aban-
doned by the women. children and dis
abled men, only force of ablebodieu
fire-fighters being retained under
Supervisor Koch to make a stand
against the flames, which are steadily
advancing. Since daylight the wind
has risen and little hope is felt of saw
ing the place. The breeze has yeered
slightly and is moving toward the city
from the east. and it is probable tbs
new town will fall first.
Tho towns Of Rivuief. Superior and
Iron Mountain have been abandoned
The Iron Mountain Tunnel Company's
mining property located near Iron
Mountain caught fire early today and
was destroyed.
Fires In the Crater National Forest in
Southern Oregon and at Medford, Ore.
are proving more serious every hour.
There are 300 men there now under the
forest service, the war department al
ready having 100 soldiers detailed in this
district and has ordered ESQ more from
American lake. Assistant District For
ester Buck has gone from Portland TO
take personal charge of the situation.
All along the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific railroad tracks be-
tween Spokane and Helena. numberiess
fires are known to be raging iercely.
but definite reports cannot be secured
as the telegraph and telephone wires
are down. Before communication with
Libby. Mont, ended it was reported
that every masculine resident Of the
town was working. with 200 paid fire.
fighters, to divert Flower Creek, to the
south side of the village. as a pro-
lection against the flames driving up
from that direction.
Settlers Have Fled.
In the Clearwater forest reserve In
the hills East OF Lewiston. Idaho. new
fires create no excitement. as the set
tiers have fed from the claims through
out the district and Forest Super
visor Fem has refused to send any
more fire-fighters IN. unless he can
get pack trains to aid in getting sup
plies to them. A train OF twenty 1--WE
horses was yesterday afternoon turned
back in an attempt to reach force Of
sixty-five men near Peck. which Is
known TO have but two days rations.
Five fires are burning on the shores
of Coeur d'Aiene Lake. One Was
threatening the village Of sunnyeide.
three miles from the town Of Occur