The Prescott daily news., 1910-08-23
RAIN IS ALL THAT CAN SAVE TIMBER LANDS IN THREE
 STATES.
FLEE FOR THEIR LIVES
Homeseekers, Fire Fighters anc Woodsmen Are Seeking Safety Beyond Danger Zone-RaiI-
 roads Run Relief Trains.

Spokane, Wash, Aug. 23.--Twenty persons are known to be dead as a result of the forest fires within a death list for the entire fire-swept dis tict of northern Idaho is expected to reach 100 and probably more.
 Thousands Pray for Rain.
 Missoula. Mont, Aug. 23-From ev- cry corner of western Montana and Idaho there are prayers that the weather bureau has forecast accu- rately in predicting showers. Moth ing but rain can save the situation The hundreds of weary men who for days have battled with the flames in the forests are staggering to safety with bloodshot eyes and aching limbs, immersing themselves in streams or burying their faces in mud for pro lection from the maddening heat of their conquering foe.
 The towns of Taft, Deborgia, Hen derson and the old part of St. Regis are in ashes. The old placer town of Murray. in Idaho. is in danger. The flames have the upper hand of the situation in score of places. Rain is the only salvation of hundreds of miles of timber and of many camps and small towns. Men have fought the flames to the limit of human en- durance and are withdrawing from the contest in many places.
 ,<
 The only improvement in the situa. tion is at Wallace, where the remnant of the town that is left seems to be safe from fire, and at Mullan, where the town, which was imminently threatened, is believed to be safe. It is reported that Saltese, in western Montana, is also out of danger, but this may prove bit of overconfi- dence.
 The situation is especially serious in the densely timbered country along the lines of the Milwaukee's western extension; here the Railway has suf- fered tremendous loss from fire in the very region where snowslides wrought havoc all last winter. Bridges have been burned and little stations wiped off the map.
 Wherever possible the railway con- pany has brought the men to safety in special trains, Two rescue trains on the Milwaukee sped towards Mis- soula with about 800 people aboard. There is another on the Northern Pa cific Occur dAlene branch with 250 women and children taken from the burned twn of St Regis, and a sec, ond is following.
 Unless there are more men in isolated positions in the woods than 1 is believed to be the case, the loss of life in this section will not be great. 1 The men in the forest service gangs are in charge of experienced woods men and they know how to take care of themselves It Is only where they are utterly exhausted by their bat tie with the flames or have suffered disabling accidents that they are lia- ble to be overcome by the fires.
 In Wallace. however the death list may grow. The fires swept that 1 town with such terrible swiftness that 1t is feared there will be more bones found in the ruins as the search progresses.
 Fire Fifty Miles Long.
 The 6ercest forest fires in this dis trict are those in Saners county, be- tween Thompson and the Idaho line. These fires extend along an unbroken line for more than fifty miles and are in dense timber. There are several towns in this district, built in the very midst of the timber.