The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-08-24

cFOhfAlNG, w uSu., aug. IL. ! AS
end Of the northwestern forest fire
horror is not in sight. despite the
improved conditions according to to-
days reports from all parts OF the
( fire zone.
The apprehension expressed by
Supervisor Wiegel at Ellensburg yes
terday, over the fate of 800 rangers
was increased today when a report
came from Thompsons Falls, Mont,
that 500 forest rangers, fighting the
flames in that vicinity had not been
accounted for.
The alarm had hardly abated when
H. F. Kottky, ranger in charge of 300
men, reported missing yesterday, stag
gered into Missoula last night with a
few Of his men and reported that he
did not know what had become of the
rest. He said that when he last saw
\ them they were out in the burning
district near Avery seeking means
s Of escape.
News of the disappearance OF the
500 men were brought here by Forester
Barney, who reported the men we're
lent to the Cabinet reserve to fight
ne names, four days ago.
Aside from the many reported dis
isters TO forest rangers. the forestry
chicials both here and at Missoula
declare that about 75 men, women and
children have perished and that the
loss OF tirber alone will not be less
than ten million dollars. The dam.
age to property cannot be estimated.
The calling out Of the entire state
militia Of Idaho and part of the mil.
lila Of Oregon and Montana is be
lleyed to mean a long step ir the
right direction. President Taft has
teegraphed the governors Of these
three states, commencing their action
and has promised to rush all avail
able U. S. troops to the fire section
on the sole condition that they must
not do police work.
The fire near Thompson's Falls IL
now the most severe in Montana. The
700 inhabitants of this place are
ready to fee and Barney fears no,
only Thompson but several nearby
towns including Plains and Paradise
would be consumed.
Terrible Experience.
MIssoULA. Mont, Aug. a. Rus
sci B. Jones, a foreman in charge Of
the bridges in this division of the
Puget Sound road arrived here to
oay after spending a night on the
loup in the midst of the big fire. Jones
vas penned in by the fire which
swept through the wooded mountain
over which the road runs. He tool
refuge in a coyote hole on the hill
SIDE and from that point of vantage
lay half suffocated until the fire
passed.
4 The fire swept along the mountain
With roar which Is terrible From
where ! lay could see nothing bu
solid wall OF flames. The way the
ME travelled Is almost beyond belief
fanned by the wind, 1t fairly flew
s through the forest and the sparks ant
embers that flew ahead, look
@ for all the world like thu
o'lving snow of a heavy blizzard
There was steady stream of then
IN the air and they were goinl
straight ahead. ! lay there In th
neat and smoke until thought wa
surely gone. Near me twelvl
tons Of dynamite which we had lburfe,
& IN the hill, exploded. The fire cam
within ten feet Of where lay. Fir
ally the fire. passed and l made m
way to the railroad line"
In California.
SACRAMENTO, Cal, Aug. "a
The U. S. troops fighting the fores
nres In the Cahoe national forest i
riacer county are making little pre-
sress. The flames are spreadin
rapidly through Placer and Eldor
counties. The property loss will b
enormous. Fires are raging in Sisl
you and Sashk counties also. Thre
thousand acres Of land have bee
iald waste and the town of Minersvill
y !. in danger. Back firing was begul
today.
Flames .jtiu1n Five Miles