Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-08-26
IDAHO AND MONTANA
SITUATION IMPROVING

SlItAIlON lMPkONING
Missoula. Aug. 26.-Reports received
today from District Forester Greedy
from the fire districts in Montana ana
Idaho reveal that the general situation
Is improving all the time. The fire
lighters are slowly gaining control and
all towns and settlements are out OF
danger
No word has yet been received from
Ranger Joseph b. Hahn and party OF
IS who were last heard of near the
headwaters OF the st. Joe river. The
party Is supposed to be safe and news
from 1t Is expected today,
W. NJ Bennett, connected with the
Occur d'Alene and Montana Mining
Company's workings near Trout Greek,
reports a distressing condition In the
Trout Greek district. In that terri
tory hundreds of people have lost
everything they possessed. Entire
families are destitute many OF them
being compelled to depend upon the
charity OF others for clothing All OF
the mining and lumber camps, together
with saw mills and other commercial
enterprises have been destroyed, while
the stock Of FISH I'm the creeks has been
killed either by the heat or pollution
Of the waters by ash lye. In hill and
valley countless carcasses OF wild
animals and birds are found roasted
and charred.
The fire which swept over the Trout
Creek district last Sunday night pass
ed from south TO north and was
combination OF three fires which had
their Junctlve point ut the head OF
Trout Creek about IA miles south OF
the town. Tho gale blew from the
south and was accom- panied by sue
ton wind from north TO south which
added greatly to the velocity OF the
breeze coming I'm the opposite direc-
ton creating n cyclonic condition. The
wind blew at n rate estimated from 40
TO 80 miles an hour.
GALE sPRANG UP,
At o'clock on Sunday night the
Trout Creek township people ana resi-
dents of that and the Nermillion Creek
section were advised by the foresters
that the fires were under control Al
that time there was absolutely no
danger but the gale suddenly sprang
up later and drove the flames furiously
over the entire country The property
and personal loss Is enormous. The
Occur d'Alene and Montana Mining
company's camp. together with bunk
houses and 2.000,0 900 feet OF timber was
swept away I'm the space OF a very few
minutes. The Burnt Fork, the Gold
Hin. the Trout Creek Development
company's camps and those OF num-
laid waste with heavy loss The for
estry station on the Trout Creek is
lost with all the stock and equipment.
Trout Creek town was saved from
total destruction only by the efficient
assistance rendered by n force Of 100
Italian laborers. The town has good
water system which made the combat
essier for the township people.
During the fight to save Trout CreeH
all OF the women and children were
placed on freight trains and removed
to o safe place while the male resi-
dents fought TO save their homes.
RANCHES LAID WASTE
on Beaver creek all the ranches have
been laid waste and scores of families
are now homeless All OF the sawmills
and logging camps are destroyed with
the exception OF the lumber yard be-
longing to Jack Stultz near Vermillion.
The lumber mill belonging to Senator
Edward DOMAIN as we'll as those OF the
Hendricks and the Cox companies wore
burned.
Near the mouth of Swamp creek all
for miles was licked up by the
flames. In that district there are still
between % and 30 persons who have
not been accounted for.
The Button FAMILY was saved by re-
naming in a well until the flames had
selves by seeking the center OF the river
where they remained immersed. One
man. carrying a bundle Of clothing, ap-
parently crazed by heat, dashed into
the river with his burden strapped 10
his back. He sank and never was seen
again.
UNDERSTANDABLE BODIES.
Charred and unrecognizable bodies
have been found on Swamp creek and
the search for others who are missing
is still being prosecuted.
one man named Wilson. together with
his partner, named Hancy. In a mining
venture sought shelter from the rapidly
FIRE by covering himself
with slide rock at the foot OF a Hill.
The flames communicated their intense
heat to the stones and fearing being
roasted alive, Haney threw OF the hot
rock. dashed into the seething tide OF
Are and was never heard Of Wilson
stuck To the improvised oven. and, savc
for few burned spots about his body.
is unhurt.
AT Gold Hin mine the family OF Con-
tractor Eppelin experienced a close call
and saved their lives only by dashing
through a surface hre to the mine tun-
mel where they remained until the
storm had swept over. Mr.. Eppeiin Is
engaged In driving the tunnel from tho
Gold Hil mine Everything the family
was destroyed.
FoRESTERS FLED
The fire reached Clark's Fork ahead
OF the foresters. who were compelled
TO seek safety in another direction
The big connagration was n combin-
alton OF the Idaho. Dry creek and the
White Pine creek blazes which Joined
forces on the Idaho line. This ANAL
gamated force swept with tremendous
fury toward the Trout creek district.
the Inhabitants OF which mistook the
roar for that of rain In the forest
OF the two residences which were
destroyed In Trout Creek town one be- |
longed to the Lee family, three male |
members OF which are now serving |
terms In the penitentiary for counter |
feitlng Mrs. Lee managed to bring her |
three children from the fire but lost all |
their belongings. On Tuesday the |
county commissioners accorded the |
destitute woman and her children an |
asylum In the county home.
ON the south side Of Clark's Fork |