Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-08-22
FOREST FIRES
Many Persons Perish-Losses Amount
to Millions-Great Distress Among
Homeless and Destitute Families.


burned to death upwards OF forty per-
sons and caused millions Of dollars of
property loss, rage throughout Montana
and Idaho today.
The property loss is millions, how
many millions none can tell at this
time. In Wallace, Idaho, alone, the
property loss will be upwards of 81 ,OOO,-
900, and at least twenty-four persons
are known to be dead there. In add
ton to these dead four have been kill
ed at Newport, Wash, and reports
from the St. Joe country say that Id
forest rangers engaged in fighting the
fires there, have not been accounted
for, and it is feared they NAV have
persisted. In idaho besides Wallace.
Saltez has been entirely destroyed, Elk
City. Occur d'Alene City and Muilan
are ringed with flames, and already 4
number Of mining camps have been
wiped out.
In Montana the destruction has been
even greater. The town OF Taft, u
thriving new town, Belknap, White
Pine, Noxen and Heron were burning,
according to the latest reports. Haugll-
an is believed to have been burned,
De Borgia, ST. Regis, Thompson Falls,
and Henderon, all are threatened, and
the Camas Valley has been swept
almost clean OF habitation.
In Washington, several towns have
been wiped out Newport is burning.
The flames were entering Niehart ut
last reports Anatone. Gallatin county,
is seriously threatened.
Everywhere in the stricken states
the flames have gained 4 foothold III
the government reserves and hundreds
OF rangers, assisted by federal troops,
appear powerlcss TO check them. In
the stricken districts, especially around
Wallace, reports show that hundreds
OF families, whose homes were destroy
ed, have fled to the open country.
where they are shelterIcss and without
food or means OF getting any. The con-
dition is pitiable. Arrangements are
being made today in Montana and
Idaho to hurry supply trains to these
people with supplies, but the railroad
lines are SO badly crippled by the fires,
that in many places it will be lmpoSsl-
BILE to afford relief.
So desperate has the situation become
in the two states most affected, that
Governor Norris, of Montana, and
Governor Brady, of Idaho, are plan
ming to unite in petition to President
Taft demanding further federal aid.
The United States troops in the two
states and the northwest are not nearly
adequate, it is said, to cope with the
flames, and the president will probably
be asked to hurry soldiers from more
distant points to the scene to fight
menace that has already become the
greatest in the history of the American
northwest Governor Brady and Gov
ernor Norris have both dropped all
other duties and are personally super
vising their states measures for relief.
Today's reports indicate that, if any
thing, the situation is more serious
throughout the stricken states than on
yesterday.
A little more than half Of Wallace
was destroyed, according to the latest
messages, and the male residents OF the
city are making desperate fight
against the flames in the other half.
II is estimated by newspaper men to-
day that not more than one-thlrd OF
the city would be saved.
The most alarming development Of
the day, however, was in the st. Crois
district, near the Idaho-Montana line.
Two hundred forest rangers were COM
pletely surrounded by fire there, ac-
cording to last reports, with little hope
OF escaping. Their water supply was
said to be cut off, preventing them
from making an adequate fight against
the flames.
The plight Of the rangers was report
ed by one of their number yesterday.
The fire approached their camp so
rapidly that the chief OF the rangers
ordered one OF his men to ride to a
nearby camp and hurry rcscuers. The
ranger rode the horse until it dropped
dead and then staggered into the nearest
camp with the news. A rescue party
is reported to have found IS OF the rang
ers standing in the bed OF small
creek, but at last reports bad not locat-
cd the others. Fights against the
flames ut Mullen, Elk City and Cocar
d'Alene City, Idaho, arc progressing
today, but the fighters are discouraged
and have not succeeded in preventing
the fires from spreading.
Throughout Montana the situation
is still critical. The entire western part
Of that state is enveloped in a pail of
dense smoke, and the inhabitants are
panic-strickcn. Taft has been ahan-
doned to its fate, and at last reports
not enough Of the town was left stand
ing to show that it had once been Il
promising settlement. De Borgia and
ST. Regis are both in great danger with
little prospect Of saving them.
From the Idaho line more than 90
miles eastward the country is one sea
of fire and in the path of the flames are
Thompson Falls, Heron, White Pine
and Belknap. Much railroad property
has been destroyed. Refugees are
pouring into Missoula and Spokane to-
day from all sections. At Missoula the
hospitals are crowded.
slump In Potatoes.
Bridgeton, N. j., Aug. 22.-Potato
prices in south Jersey have slumped to
a very LARGE extent. and many OF the