Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-22
FOREST FIRES SWEEPING
VAST AREAS IN FAR WEST.
Millions of Dollars Loss in Idaho and
Western Montana---24 Lives Reported
Lost and Fate of Scores Unknown
Thousands ofRefugees lin Distress.

Missoula Mont, Aug H.-Mercilessly
and relentlessly the forest fires In
Western Montana are sweeping over a
vast area, driving hundreds of fugitives
before them: destroying small settle
ments and 'wiping out of existence mil
lions If dollars worth of property.
The situation tonight is more serious
than it was in rhe early morning, eX-
cert as to Wallace. Idaho, where it is
believed that nearly half Of the city
will be saved. Communication with
Wallace to the west has been possible
at intervals today. but eastward it is
entirely cnt off. 1t is known that the
enire east half of the town above Sew
enth street, is burned.
West OF that part fight is being
made. AMI with an Improvement In the
water supply is more chance that the
flames may be driven back. For a Few
minutes this afternoon the Daily Mis-
soulias reported at Wallace had WIRE.
He summarized the situation as fol-
lows:
"Thirteen lives have been lost; prop
ertv loss one million; fire still theaten-
ing
Elsewhere in the fire zone the situa-
zion has gone from bad to worse today.
The most serious incident was report
ed late today from the st. Coe country,
where $50 men engaged in the forestry
service are missing and 1t is feared
thew have been burned to death.
When the fire approached the camp
where there were 200, two OF the heh' :
ers took horse, and riding the animal
\ h
organized a rescue party, wmch pehe-
trated the fire at Bird Creek.
Eighteen of the men were found IN the
water. where they had gone for safetS'
and they were unframed. or the re-
naming $50 no word has been received.
The forestry service has organized a
relief train we'll equipped with pack AMI
mails carrying provisions and hospital
supplies, and will endeavor to get
through the fire.
About a thousand refugees have been
brought into Missoula today There is
much distress among them. Their wants
are supplied by Missoula people and they
have been given temporary homes.
The first of the trains came in over the
Northern Pacific's Occur D. Alene branch
and brought the patients who had been
in the Sisters hospital at Wallace and
as many refugees as could find places on
the small train.
There were $50 on this train and sec
ond train moon brought as many more
These people came from the small towns
along the line between here and Wallace.
Many of them had been reused from their
sleep by the people on the train, whose
x.x@r,
that the fire was near There had been
no sign of it when the people went to
bed Saturday night. In most instances
these people escaped only scantly clad
A woman who had fled from her house
at midnight gave birth to child in a box
car just after the arrival of the first
train at Missoula.
Local hospitals are caring for the sick.
MissOula homes have been opened freely
and the homeless are comfortable for
the present.
Another train with 500 persons on board
is expected over the Chicago, Milwaukee
& Puget Sound Railway.
A dense pail of smoke hangs over all
eastern Montana. In Missoula it was as
dark as midnight at S o'clock. the snake
pSihS 6ANVh Il iui III iuc WIHCIl ldu ali
the semblance of the glow of fire. but
which was probably due to the sun.
The town of Tafe, near the Idaho line,
was destroyed by fire before daylight this
morning.
Saltez. just below Taft. has been aban-
doned by it's inhab itants and is known to
be surrounded by fire. De Borgia is
threatened and one man is missing. At
St Regis the fire has crossed the river
and threatens outlying buildings, though
no fears are entertained for the town.
Haughan is reported to be deserted. The
last word from there was that the fire
was dangerously near and the tele phone
operator was preparing to flee. The area
covered is roughly estimated at 100 miles
square. most of 1t in the mountains and
sparsely settled. 1t is difficult to OBJ
tain information from any of the
points, and impossible to reach some of
the isolated places at all.
There is probability that there has
been serious loss of life among camp
ing parties and lumbermen all through
the mountains