The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-23
PRAYERS FOR RAIN
IN FIRE DISTRICT
Many People of Montana and
Idaho Are in Terror
SALVATION IN RAIN
Only Hope of Thousands In Threatened
Region Is a Downpour, As Flames
Are Spreading Rapidly in
the Forests

morning there were prayers that the
weather in their forecast Is accurate in
predicting showers for today. Nothing
but rain can save the situation. The hum
dreds of weary men who for days have
are staggering to safety with bloodshot
eyes and aching limbs, immersing them
selves In streams or burying their faces
in mud for protection from the intense
heat
The only improvement in the situation
Is at Wallace where the remnant of the
town that is left seems to be safe from
fire, and at Mullon where the town
threatened all day yesterday is believed
to be safe. It Is reported that Saltez In
western Montana is also out of danger.
but this may prove a bit of over-confi-
| dence.
The towns of Taft Deborgia, Hender-
son and the old part of st. Regis. are in
| ashes. The old placer town of Murray,
Ida, In 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 endur-
ance and are Withdrawing from the con-
test in many places.
Especially is the situation serious in
the densely crowded country along the
lines of the Chicago, Milwaukee and st.
Paul's western extension Here the rail-
way has suffered tremendous loss from
fire in the very region where snow
slides wrought havoc all last winter
Bridges have been burned and little sta
lions wiped out Wherever possible the
railway company has brought the men to
safety in special trains. This morning
there are two rescue trains on the st.
Paul road speeding toward Missoula with
about 500 people aboard. There Is an
other on the Northern Pacific Occur
D. Alene branch with go women and child
rem taken from the burned town of st.
Pacific train before noon
Unless there are more men In the iso-
lated positions in the woods than is be-
lieved to be the case, the loss of life In
this section will not be great. The men
In the forest service gangs are in charge
of experienced woodsmen and they know
how to take care of themselves.
In wallace, however. the death list may
grow. The fires swept that town with
such terrific swiftness that it is feared
there will be more bones found In the
ruins as the search progresses.
The most disastrous fires in this dis
triot are those In Sanders county between
fires extend along an unbreken line for
more than 50 miles and are in dense tim
Der. There are several towns in this dis
trict. built in the very midst Of the
timber.
J. M. Boyd, former Northern pas
senger agent at wallace, met death In
a vain endeavor to save his parrot. His
son. Fire Captain Boyd, had forced
the members of the family to nee from
their home on the hillstdes when the
flames drew near. The father went
back to get the parrot and was not
missed for Is minutes. When search
was made he was found lying face
downward in the road, 100 yards from
the house.
In the ruins of one house two skulls
presumably of mon, were Iouno. DIX
men are known to have died IN an at
tempt to reach Wallace from Big Creek.
st. Joe county. some assert
more are lost.
Ranger Pulaski and Al men were
forced to leave Big Creek and attempt
ed to cover the 10 miles to wallace.
Three miles from town they were
forced by wall of fire to crawl into
mine tunnels nearby and remain ~
hours. Two men reached here at 4
o'clock yesterday and gave the alarm
and a party of rescuers with physl-
clan hastened to the War Eagle mne'
where the men were. One of Al was
burned to a crisp on the trail Five
of tho in the tunnel were suffocated
and dead and dozen others were re-
susticated only after an hours work.
Three men are known to be dead on
Pine Creek. Ranger Bell had 70 men
under him there. ALI were caught;
three were killed; three others were
blinded for life, and five had their
legs broken by falling trees. Three
more men met death yesterday after
noon. They and 20 others were trapped
| in a IRE on Boulder creek, near Null
Ian. Twenty of them managed to walk
to the train to come here. Anoth er
was killed a mile from Wallace. He
and a companion, penned In by flames
took refuge in a creek and kept each
other from scorching by throwing wa
ter with their hands. While thus en-
gagged a falling tree struck one OF
them on the head and killed him in
stantly. His companion was able to
escape to Wallace but his clothing
was burned off. He was stopped at the
city limits by a policeman who OBJ
tained clothing for the man before he
would permit him to enter the city fol
| treatment
Manager Pavey Of the Bell Tele
phone company was advised this after.
noon that practically all persons have
been taken from Iron Mountain. TIL,
fire which Is bearing down upon tha'
town has made eight miles of progress
since last night and is travelling to-
ward the village. A man has been dis
patched on horseback to cover the ter
ritory between Iron Mountain ant
Quartz to warn all rancheAs to fee.
The telephone line IL down to tn,
Kansas Commercial clubs mine on Ce
dar creek and seven or eight mon ar,
known to be at the prQpe rty. Thes,
mon refused to leave when warned las
night and are believed to be in immi
nent danger.
ShaIlenberxer Wants a Recount
Lincoln. Neb. August 2z.-1n order t.