The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-08-24

r. r. Segmond, who resides at
Zambrota, Mimi, was a passenger on
the first train that reached Fargo
from the coast since the abandonment
of the trains Sunday. He had been in
Seattle, Wash, and was on his way
home. He left here for st. Paul when
the first No. pulled out
He said: AT Sandstone Wash, we
and FIVE other trains were held up for
twelve hours, and while we were at
this place, which consists OF nothing
more than a little frame station, we
helped to save two houses nearby, as
well as saved the farmers cattle,
sheep, pigs, etc.
"a company of soldiers came up
while we were there and we assisted
them in the work. They had been
working about this section and many
Of the poor fellows were almost dead
from fatigue and some had been burn
ed more or less by the flames from the
forest fires. Our train ran through
forests where we could plainly see the
flames and the smoke was dense and
sitting and many Of us were actually
almost suffocated. AS we passed
along after the fire had burned itself
we saw, standing on the track, two
coaches on the N. p. that had been
burned and there was nothing left Of
them but the trucks. There is a lake
out in Washington called Ceour de
Aleine and We saw scores of people
who had saved themselves from the
flames by taking to the lake and get
ting across. Many of them were car
rying their goods and luggage and
they wore hopeless expression. We
talked to some of them and they said
they had lost all they had in this
world. Some of them had the appear
ance of having had their faces almost
cooked and we could see that they had
suffered terribly. talked to one man
and he said he had fought the flames
until his house took fire, when he
gathered up his wife and children,
took the boat they had there and man
aged to reach the shore and safety.
THE N. p. did all in its power all
along the route to assist the sufferers,
for there were many of them. 1t was
an experience that never want to go
through with again, still, it was one
worth seeing and having"
Mr.. Segmond is a warm personal
friend of President Weld of the state
normal school of Moorhead and 1t was
his intention to have stopped here and
pay the distinguished instructor visit
but he said the delay was such that
he felt that he must get home as soon
as possible.
The first train on the Northern Pa
cific from the coast reached this city
at 1880 this afternoon. 1t was not a
long train, and made the usual wait of
ten minutes at the depot. The second
train arrived at 2S0 and the third was
in at 2:40, while the fourth was due
to arrive at $3.50 and there will be three
other trains to reach the city yet this
afternoon. On each train there were
number OF passengers who had passed
through the burnt district and each and
every one had some experience to tell.
The trains each remained in the city
for only ten minutes, so that not much
time could be spared for interviewing.
Helped Fight Fires.
Charles T. Nicely, a Chicago BUSH
ness man, who was aboard Northern
Pacific train No 6, which came in from
the west at l.: 80 o'clock this afternoon,
fought the flames for five hours at
Heron, Mont, where everything in
sight had been burned and the grass
was burning clear up to the railroad
track. He assisted in helping dis
tressed farmers gather what belong
ings they could to leave their homes
and helped to carry water from Trout
creek, on which the village is situated
Conductor Was Burned.
Pete Gilcrist, conductor on train No
2. which was abandoned at that point
was severely scorched and had to be
dropped at Butte. where he was placed
in a hospital 1t was stated upon the
latest advice obtained before departure
from the mining city that Gilcrist
would probably recover though IL will