The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-09-02
PERCY STEWART NARROWLY
ESCAPES

! ILnCl SIhWhftI NAhhl)WL1
ESCAPES
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. l. Stewart of Blacl
foot have been on uneasy street tn,
past two or three weeks, their sol
Percy being with the fire fighters il
North Idaho. They read of the casu
alties from day to day, OF the squad.
of men surrounded in the forest.
where the flames frequently ran al
fast as a horse can travel in the open
OF dead and charred bodies beins
found in the wake of the flames and
no word from the boy. Finally they
received message from A. T. Ryan
saying he was safe, then another say
ing he had Suffered some burns that
were not very serious, and a letter
explaining that he was one of the
forty or fifty men who took refuge In
tunnel where the smoke sutfocated
part of the company. After getting
cut of there they got cornered again
and took to creek bed, and lay
along in sheltered places, weltering
in the heat and turning over occa-
sionally to get relief.
When he wrote he was in the hos
pital having the burned places cared
for and his lungs treated, suffocation
having partly accomplished his UNI
doing. Percy writes that the cam
paign in the woods. was full of ter
rible experiences, and the folks at
home are some of the gladdest people
in town since they got the news of
his escape.
The following letter from A. T.
Ryan gives some light on the situa-
ton:
Aug. 26, ITO.
Dear John:
Percy has written you and know
he made light of his experience. The
facts are that he with thirty-nine 9TH
ers were fighting fire under a man
named Pulaski on Placer creek. They
were surrounded by the fire, the wind
blowing gale. Percy was sent back
to round up ten men who had taken
refuge in tunnel and were panic
stricken. He went after them and
got them with two horses and brought
them to the main party. This he did
in an orderly manner and does him
credit as he had to use some force to
do 1t. The entire party then tried
to make run for it but were cut OF
and took refuge in mining tunnel
about six miles from here. At this
time the forest was a veritable furn-
ace. They lay with their faces In |
the mud and their bodies in about
two feet of water for about four
hours. Percy does not remember
much about this part as he was near
~ unconscious. After the main fire
had passed somebody kicked him out
of the tunnel into the creek which
revived him and he was later brought
20 the city and to the hospital where
lis Durns We're dressed. His checks
Ind nose were burned but very slight
y; one hand was slightly burned.
yesterday l took him to my home
lere and after a good nights rest he
eels pretty well. The burns are heal
ID and will not leave trace. His
yes are all right but have insisted
lpon his wearing dark glasses for a
ew days. His lungs are full of smoke
nd he suffers from the cold. | can
ay positively that he is in fine shane
nd you need have no uneasiness
'hatever about him. He will STAY
18th me until he feels like leaving.
lie expects to go back to work and
is experience does not seem to have ,
isturbed him. All possible danger .
now past as everything is burned [
nd the most beautiful country has
cen transformed into an ash heap
Though the city is not hurt either (
appearance or prosperity. The I
lrnt portion will be rebuilt with t
stter structures. The well built part 4
town was not hurt although every '
le had to be on the job to save It. lc
soon as we had saved the town 8
lother fellow and l organized par
to 90 up Placer creek as a rescue /
lrty but the smoke was too thick b
ID it was not until morning that any h