Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-23

forest service mas POSITIVE evidences
that many fires in Oregon are OF IN
cendiary origin.
Millions In Property Destroyed.
Missoula, Mont, Aug. 22.-Merci-
lessly and relentlessly the forest fires
in western Montana and Idaho are
sweeping over a vast area, driving
hundreds of fugitives before them, des-
troying small settlements and wiping
out of existence millions of dollars
worth of property.
For few minutes Sunday after
noon the Daily Missoulian's reporter
at Wallace had wire. He summar-
lied the situation as follows:
Thirteen lives lost; property loss
$1,000,000; fire still threatening.
Elsewhere in the fire zone the situ-
alton has gone from bad to worse.
The most serious incident is reported
from the st. Coe country, where $50
men engaged in the forestry service
are missing and it is feared they have
been burned to death.
When the fire approached the camp,
where there were 200 men, two OF the
fighters took q horse and, riding the
animal to death, reached another camp
and ordered rescue party, which
penetrated the fire to Bird Creek.
Eighteen of the men we're found In
the water, where they had gone for
safety and they we're unframed. Of
the remaining $50 no word has been
received.
The forestry service has organized
a relief train well equipped with pack
animals, carrying provisions and nos
pital supplies, and will endeavor to
get through the fire.
About a Thousand refugees have
been brought into Missoula. There Is
much distress among them and their
wants are being supplied by Missoula
people and they have been given
temporary homes.
The first of the trains came in over
the Northern Pacif1c's Occur dAlene
branch and brought the patients, who
had been in the Sisters hospital at
Wallace, and as many refugees as
could find place on the small train.
There were $50 on this train.
A second train at noon brought as
many more. These people came from
the small towns along the line be-
tween here and Wallace.
Refugee Gives Birth to Baby.
Many inhabitants of towns between
here and Wallace had been reused
from their sleep by passengers on the
train, whose summons had been the
first intimation that the fire was near.
There had been no sign Of 1t when the
people went to bed Saturday night.
In most instances these people
escaped only scantily clad. A woman
who had fed from her homo at mid
night gave birth to child in a box
car Just after the arrival of the first
train at Missoula. Another train, with
500 people on board, is expectee over
the Chicago Milwaukee & Puget
Sound railway.
A dense pail of smoke hangs all
over eastern Montana. In Missoula 1t
was as dark as midnight at 5 o'clock
yesterday afternoon, the dense smoke
being given luyid hue which had all
the semblance of the glow OF fire, but
which probably was due to the sun.
Situation Still Discouraging.
Missoula, Mont, Aug. 22.-The gem
eral fire situation is this district 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 deserted.
Wallace is Cut or.
Missoula, Mont, Aug. 22.-Communi-
cation with Wallace is entirely cut of,
and it is feared the fires have again
started there. Reports from the sur
rounding country continue the stories
of the onward rush of the flames, the
flight Of settlers. and of scores of per-
sons being endangered or missing.
The fire is now on the east side of the
Bitter Root valley.
Washington Gets Reports.
Washington, D. c., Aug. 22.-Asso-
ciate Forester Potter of the forestry
service has reports from various
points in the fire swept zone of the
far west.
These report only two lives lost at
Wallace, but at other points twenty
five dead are reported. Two hundred
forest rangers are in danger in the
Bitter Root mountains. The war de-
partment already has ordered thirty
companies into the fields.
John E. siIvers Dies.
Cantril, Aug 22.-(Special.)-John
E. Silvers,- who attempted suicide on
Friday by hanging himself in his barn,
died late Saturday evening. DR.. PAIL
,oa ~ rohop voro ca11od and ovorv.