The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-23
DEAD NUMBER THIRTY-THREE.
That Many Fire Fighters Known to
Have lost Their Lives.

washington, Aug. 23.-Forest ser
vice officials here issued a statement
today summing UP reports from agents
in the field concerning the nre sltua-
tion. The situation in the Missoula
district has improved and the W1nds
are less violent, says Associate DlstricI
Forester Silcox in a dispatch received
here. Thirty-three fire. hghters are
known to be dead in the Lolo ana
Coeur D'Alene region and two more
are reported to be fatally hurt. These
figures cover only the lives of the hre
fighters and no attempt is mace 70
estimate the total loss of life. The
summary of the situation is conlailleu
this morning from Associate District
Eorester Silcox at Missoula. Follow
ing is the text of the message:
"The known dead of fire fighters IN
Lolo and Coeur -DAlene region nov
number SO, with two more reported
fatally hurt. Several large crews not
VET heard from and in danger. All
towns in the st. Regis and Saltes
burned. Wind less violent today ana
hope to get rescue and hre hgntins
parties started tomorrow
s.Situation also better in Missoula
where fire burning ranches is under
control but other fires are burning.
Fires in Gallatin and Bear Tooth Tor,
est, north of Yellowstone Natlonal
mark also under control. supervisor
Sca1ers reports three days high wind.
Town of Troy now in grave danger
"Entire Fisher river watershed on
fire and hundreds fighters forced to
abandon tools and supplies and nee.
Sylvanite destroyed and 1akt river
watershed afire for miles: upper
Fisher. Yakt and Pipe creek fires have
heen abandoned and crews can prob
ahIy get out safely. Nothing known
of Situation in Flathead and Blackfeet
forests"
Acting Governor Jay Bowerman aI, oi
Oregon. in a telegram to the foresl
service has offered the assistance OF
the state militia. 1t is expected TINS
will be accepted. The fires on ColViiie
Indian reservation are growing worse
and can not be extinguished without
the aid of rain. according to tele-
gram from superintendent webster OF
the reservation, received at the indian
bureau today. The fires, ne says. are
threatening the Indian ranches. Whlie
thus far they have been conhned most
Iv to dead and down trees, under brush
ana grass, it is feared that under pre-
vailing high winds, the flames may
snread RAPIDLY. The guards, he says
report that not more than 1000 1eel
per acre of standing timber is being
destroyed.
to be growing worse.
Three companies of troops to fighi
the fires which have broken out 1r
the Tahoe National forest In Cal1fornia
| have been asked for in message te
| the forest service. The message whicf
comes from Assistant Forester Ohm
| stead at San Francisco gives the frs
information that the fires in that vi
cinity are proving serious.
The war department ordered three
companies of troops from the Preside
| barracks, San Francisco. to the Tahoe
forest for fire fighter duty.
| pack trains as far distant from the
burning forests as Fort Mead, N. d.
and Fort Robinson. Neb., are being
kept in readiness under orders of tht
war department to be dispatched
| should the demand for them arise.
The expense to the war department
in rendering aid in fighting the fires i
| footing up into the thousands of dol
| lars. 1t is probable congress will b'
asked to make a deficiency appropria
| ton to cover the expense incurred.