The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1910-08-27


For the past week, the entire North
west and in fact people all over the
United States, have been reading with
great interest reports from the tremen-
dous forest fires that have been raging
in Idaho. Eastern Washington and West
ern Montana, the most terrible in the
history Of this country.
When our readers consider the condi-
tion of the atmosphere with smoke dur
ing the early part of the week at Dick
inson. 800 miles away from the nearest
point of fire, a slight idea can be
formed of the magnitude and consequent
havoc wrought by the devastating flames
in the Rocky mountain territory.
The early reports gave the loss of life
at several hundred lives, but since then
many of the missing fire fighters, who
were supposed to have been burned or
suffocated to death have turned up, and
the list of dead will, altold, probably
be somewhat less than two hundred.
The loss in dollars. wrought by the
flames. will be reckoned by millions but
how much cannot fully be estimated as
yet.
By Wednesday evening, after five
days of strenuous effort on the part of
every 6re6ghter. the flames were brought
under control in most places, by rain
in the valleys and snow on the noun
tains. By this time over 100 miles
square of forest had been burned and as
many as /, 500 settlers left homeless and
penniless. Every man who could was
called out to fight the fire and a good
many lives were lost in this way.
On Sunday the town of Wallace in
Idaho. was about half destroyed and
many Of the inhabitants fed. The
towns of Murray, St. Regis, Elk, Saltese,
Burke, Paradise, Thompson. Kallispell
and White Pine were all threatened and
more or less burned. These towns are
all in the vicinity Of the Couer d. Alene
valley and Bitter Root mountains be-
tween Idaho and Montana.
The fire ragged wildly in the forests
on Bitter Root mountains, Couer d.
Alene mountains and valley, Kootenai
valley, Gallatin valley and along St.
Joseph's river. in which is said to be
the largest body of standing pine timber
in the United States.
Fire fighting was easier along the
main line of the Northern Pacific, where
forest fires had burned everything
several years ago, but the flames which
roared in the virgin forests of Idaho
were beyond all human power to control.
For three days trains from the coast
were unable to pass through the fire dis
trict on either the Northern Pacific,
Chicago. Milwaukee & St Paul or Great
Northern lines. N. P. trains were stalled
at Standpoint, Idaho, all this time await
ing the temporary rebuilding of bridges
that had been burned out. AT one place
passengers, left a Milwaukee train which
was on fire and were carried over the N.
P. to safety. it is said. Passengers on
these trains say they witnessed spec
tacle never to be forgotten. The roar of
fire, and flames as far as could be seen on
either side, and the sun completely hid
by tie dense smoke. made the expert
cnce thrilling one.
Hundreds of refugees from the fire Sec
tion have been brought into Missoula,
where they are being fed and cared for.
They are all in pitiful state of des-
titution. Many are injured and bruised
by fallen trees. blinded or prostrated
by the intense heat and smoke. Mothers
and children have been separated from
their husbands and fathers, or have seen
them perish while they fed from their
blazing homes. in many instances.
Hospitals at Wallace, St. Joe and other
places are filed with refugees.
In addition to the confagration men,
toned, bad fires were raging in South
ern Oregon, supposed to have been the
work Of incendiaries. It was in the
vicinity of Medford and Ashland and
destroyed valuable property, but no loss
Of life has yet been reported.
Later reports say that $40, oo0o, OF
worth of timber has been destroyed on
the Couer d. Alene national forest re.
serve alone and that fires are still burn
ling on the ST.. Joe river and other places
Ebut not serious. Many Of the refugees
5lare returning to rebuild their homes O
Ito find them undamaaed as the cas-,
may be. They are being carried b,
the Northern Pacific free Of charge
Telegraph and Telephone communica
ktions have been restored and rairloadl
are -forwardins relief and reDair sup