The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-09-16

Assistant District Forester Homer
Fem of the grazing department OF the
forest service here has returned from
continuous service in the Clearwa.
fires ragged so ilercely during the re-
cent forest conflagrations. he having
charge of the working forces there
during the freflghting campaign.
Mr.. Fem states that the Clearwater
fires were extensive and did much dam.
age to the timber belt The fires COY
cred an area of 100000 acres of tim
ber lands and 100000 acres of the tim
Der was destroyed Mr. Fem states,
however, that the firehghters saved
millions of feet of timber in their
work and he never saw more fear
less lot OF men,
The organization OF the working
forces was almost as perfect as the
army organization and the discipline
was in line with the military rule OF
things. He said that men formed in
line on the fire line became so anXi-
Gus 10 move forward that the person
In command at times had TO threaten
death TO the man that would advance
a single step without orders.
In some places supplies had to be
carried 100 miles by pack trains,
which necessitated the handling of
twelve trains from Lewiston, Idaho.
800 horses being put in service for
the purpose There were over 400
men employed in the work and some.
thing over seventy messengers were
engaged carrying messages from the
scene OF the conflagration to telephone
and telegraph stations. from thirty to
fifty miles away. The messenger men,
mounted on cOwponies, made il pos.
sible for the outside world to learn
something of the burning forests.
He relates one instance 10 show
the bravery exhibited by some OF the
men in the fight to save the pine trees
One of the foresters was placed in
charge Of a pack train of twenty.nine
horses. with the only order, GO
through" The leader was accompan-
led by a force OF men TO aid in handl,
ing the packs. They hurriedly made
their way through the forest over a
trail taking the shortest cut TO the
men who had to have the supplies.
Nothing retarded their progress until
they came to the divide in the Clear
water mountains. where they were
confronted by solid breast of smoke
and fire. which completely intercepted
them. A consultation was held and
the leader said to the boys.
II have orders from headquarters
TO go through and | am willing to
lead the way through this smoke and
fire TO carry out those orders. II you
boys will follow me, Give me the bell
mare and / Will lead the way | think
the other horses will follow, il you
prod them to IL"
The assistants readily consented to
join in the race through fire and
smoke TO deliver the pa-'ls 10 the
men in need of food Selling the
rope attached 10 the bellmare's neck,
the captain galloped into the fire and
with whoop and yell the boys fol
lowed forcing the other animals to
follow the sound OF the bell The
feat was accomplished but when the
party reached the other side of the
fire not a single horse Wore hair upon
his tail or name and many of their
legs were horribly burned Some of
them died of their burns, but the
men escaped with slight injuries
Some of the BOYS had part of their
clothing burned from their backs and
they suffered numerous burns, none
however. of serious nature The pro-