Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-24
THlRTY-THREE DEAD IS
REPORT FROM WALLACE
Three Companies of Soldiers Are
Ordered to Tahoe Forests

WASHINGTON Aug 23.-Forest SER
vice officials here issued a statement
today summing up reports from agents
in the field concerning the fire situa-
ton. The situation in the Missoula dis
trict has improved and the winds are
less violent today, says Assistant Dis
trict Forester Silcox In a dispatch re-
ceived here.
Thirty-three fire fighters are known
to be dead in the Lolo and Occur
d'Alene region, and two more are re-
ported to be fatally hurt. These figures
cover only the lives OF the fire fighters
and no attempt is made to estimate
the total loss of life.
The summary of the situation is con-
tanned in the telegram received at the
bureau today from Assistant District
Forester Silcox at Missoula. Following
is the text of the message:
THIRTY-THREE DEAD
"The known dead of flre-fghters in
Lolo and Coeur d'Alene region now
number thirty-three, with two more
reported fatally hurt. Several large
crews, not yet heard from, are in dan
ger. All towns in the st. Regis and
Saltese burned. Wind less violent to-
day, and hope to get rescue and fire.
fighting parties started tomorrow.
situation also better in Missoula,
where fire burning ranches is under
control, but other fires are burning.
Fires in Gallatin and Bear Tooth for
ests. north of the Yellowstone park,
also are under control. Supervisor
Skeels reports three days high wind.
Town of Troy now in grave danger.
Entire Fisher river watershed on
fire. and hundreds fighters forced to
abandon tools and spplies are heeing.
Sylvanite destroyed and Yakt river
Watershen afire for miles. Upper Fish
er, Yakt and Pipe creek fires have been
abandoned and crews can probably get
out safely Nothing known of situa-
ton on Flathead and Blackfoot for
ests"
Acting Governor Jay Bowerman of
oregon, in telegram TO the 1orest
service, has offered the assistance of
the state militia. 1t is expected this
will be accepted
FIRES WORSE
The fires on the Colville Indian reser-
walton are growing worse and cannot
be cxtinguished without the aid of rain,
according to telegram from Superln-
tendent Webster of the reservation, re-
ceiVed at the Indian bureau today. The
fires, he says, are threatening the In
dian ranches. While thus far they have
been confined mostly to dead and down
trees, underbrush and grass, 1t is feared
that under prevailing high winds the
flames will spread rapidly.
The guards, he says, report that not
more than 1000 feet an acre of standing
timber is being destroyed. He reports
the situation at Republic to be growing
worse.
Three companies Of troops to fight
the fires which have broken out in the
Tahoe national forest in California
have been asked for in message to
the forest service. The message, which
comes from Assistant Forester Olm-
stead at San Francisco, gives the first
information that the fires in that Vi
cinity are proving serious.
The war department ordered three
companies of troops from the Preside
barracks, San Francisco, to the Tahoe
forest for fire-fghting duty
Pack trains as distant from the burn
ing fore is as Fort Mead. N. d. and
Fort Robinson, Neb., are being kept in
readiness under orders of the war de-
nartment to be dispatched should the
demand for them arise.
The expenses to the war department
in rendering aid fighting the fires is
footing UP into the thousands of dol
lars. 1t is probable congress will be
asked to make a deficiency appropria-
tion to cover the expense incurred.