The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1910-08-25
Part Of Wallace Destroyed by Flames
Causing Damage Estimated at
Over $5OO,OO0. Terrible
Experiences of Men
Fighting Flames.
Each Party Arriving in Town Reaching Points Of
Communication Reports Lois of Life and Terrible
Sufferings Endured But Every Crew has ito
Hero Some of Whom Unhappiy For
feited Their Lives in the Effort to
Save Their Fellows.


Once the Coeur dAlene country has been visited
by disaster The extent Of the damage done cannot
yet be ascertained but while large in the aggregate will
not fall very heavily individual corporations and with
in few weeks mining will its normal condition.
The heaviest property losss in the city of Wallace,
where the fire swept end Of town. reducing to ashes
almost every building in it's path and leaving only here
and there mute evidence of what was formerly prosper
Gus place of business.
What calls, however for our utmost sympathy is the
human suffering caused by the many forest fires. Some
lot the reghting parties have been cut off from COM
municaton and their condition being unknown is all the
more terrifying. Gradually relief parties are reaching
those cut off, bringing medical aid, provisions and more
necessary STILL that touch Of humanity which crave
in times of death and danger.
The death penalty to date is known to be approxi-
matey So The terrible suffering that prefaced DEATH
and the which many of those who escaped carry
centuate the universal feeling Of sympathy and horror
which time alone can rob of it's poignancy.
For weeks the forests in every direction have been
burning and it known that only heavy fall Of rain
would ultimately put them out With high and fitful
wind Saturday afternoon and evening" the flames headed
for the south toward Wallace and for time the entire
town seemed doomed Arrangements were quickly made
to get the and children to places of safety The
railroad companies assembled their locomotives and rolling
heart Of high surrounding hills with egress limited to
narrow canyon, it realized that it might become
necessary for all to flee, general conAagraton would
mean certain death for any who remained.
AS the flames neared town the southwest they fol-
lowed the hillside the SOUTH and for time it looked as
If the town might escape. Suddenly sheet of flame,
which appeared to be hundred yards long, burst hum
dred feet high into the sky and only too apparent
that the danger graver than Within short
time brand from this lighted frame building and
started the fire in town. The hills the opposite side Of
the city then took fire. and the south side the main hill
burning 20 places. The residences on this hill took
fire and were quickly demolished 1t seemed if the
town could not be saved but after several hours of vail
ant effort by the fire department. assisted by large force
of volunteers the flames stayed and the damage is
varousy estimated at from $50O00 to ST. 900 00U the
actual figures being probably somewhere near $8000O0
Among the destroyed buildings are the Occur dAene
Ironworks, Sunset Brewery, Occur d'Alene Hardware
Companys warehouse, Worstel Company's Furniture
Store, 0. R. & N. station, Corner Fishers Office and
warehouses Wallace Times Wallace Cigar company Tur-
ner Music Company Pacific Hotel Pacific Annex several
lrooming houses and large number of dwellings.
the Standard and Mammoth mills were destroyed but
they remained unnjured The fire followed the hills to
Muan and Burke and grave fears for both these towns
were entertained The damage will not be great in either
place.
The reports of loss of life are not authentic yet and
susceptible to gross exaggeration in the excitement