The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-08-25
G O Min u T. D
r o
p A G F. Q II T.
RED, LEAPINC

hNcly. OhC sang VI 20 iuCH was III
charge of Ranger Jack Allen, an
other under Rangers Rock and
Randall, a third In charge of Rang
err Bartlett, fourth with Jim She
hee in command and two or three
others, of which little is known
yet.
Frank Kruse of Missoula, and E..
kane, were with Aliens gang and
were at the I. w. w. hall this morn
ing, where they were given temper
airy shelter
The story Of the bands expert
ences during the last five awful
days was graphically depicted by
Kruse, brawny giant who lowered
several inches above the newspa-
perman-who is we'll over six feet
himself-and looks as if he would
be able to life a flat car. He left
Missoula Saturday and got to Av-
cry Sunday. They were sent out
50 strOng-to a place about is
miles from Avery, under Ranger
Allen. They fought fires there UNI
til Monday and then were near Bird
creek.
FIRE EVERYWHERE.
"The situation and scenes are
simply beyond description in the
country around Avery" said Kruse
| There seems to be fire every.
where except where the country is
black and singed. The fire was
rushing towards Avery and while
We were out fighting the flames the
people in the town started back
firing. And they gave us no warn
ing that we were In such dire peril
The first we knew of it was when
we found that we were practically
surrounded by flames.
I'VE fought the fire all day Mon
day and were almost exhausted
We were told that when veg OF tC
camp that we would have blankets
and food, but we had nothing tC
sleep on but the bare ground.S As
for eating, that was almost worse
We had not meat; nothing. but
beans and rice for two or three
days, and we were fighting, the
flames from 16 to 18 hours q day
and were awake most of the crest
of the time. We had some biscuits
that were nothing more than dough
andwater and that was all we had
to sustain our strength"
One of the men took out a sam
pie biscuit that he had brought
with him in his pocket, and II
looked like a sodden lump Of dough
But It wasn't sodden. for when II
was knocked on the table it made
a noise like a granite block.
1--WE started between 1 and !
o'clock Tuesday morning for Avery
and had nine miles to go. l should
Judge" continued Kruse. 1--WE cu1
our way through the flames ano
hewed out a trail where the trees
had fallen across our paths. l can
not remember all that happened
during that terrible journey, NUT tc
cut a long tale short we finally go'
to town before noon. Other mer
from other bands were there anc
we saw about 10 altogether
around there, who had broken
| through the flames.
First we wanted food and ther
we wanted our money. We got g
little food, but couldn't get the
money. Chief Forest Ranger Deb
bit absolutely refused to give us
any. giving various excuses. He
said that the bank had burned
down, and then we asked him tt
give us something in writing sc
that we could later prove our claim
against the government; he said ne
hadn't time.
"Debbitt wouldn't give us any
satisfaction and finally we were
made to leave town without even
time check. Some Of the men had
as much as $50 coming, but they
had been working for about three
weeks. The chief ranger made the
militia in Avery escort us to the
station and we were forced to board
a freight train, with the promise
that we would be ditched this SIDE
of Spokane. The fire cut Off our re
turn to Missoula and so most OF us
wanted to come to Spokane.
CAPTURED A TRAIN.
"The train took US as far as st
Mary's and there they tried to
make us get off, but we absolutel,
refused and stuck to the train. Their
we went on a little farther and fin
ally consented to get off at Rosalia
as we were fearfully hungry. we
got off there early yesterday morn
ing and asked for something to ca,
and transportation. The ipeople
there treated us as If we weB meI
and not chattels, and anmefchan'
there, NJ. Paulin, Who owns achard
ware store, bough us all Hur 8reak
fasts. He treated us royalty and
the mayor was no SLOUGH, either. He
got us a meal at noon and then al
2:3O we fent down TO the depot and
took possession of freight train
which was going to Spokane. The
crew objected, but wenwefe toe
many for them and climbed on toy
of the cars" Ds2