Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-25
TELL OF FIGHT AGAINST
DEATH IN THE FLAMES
Woman Leads Party Through the
Blazing Mountain Forests

MISSOULA, Mont, Aug. 24.-Jack
Cassidy, Joe Miller and Joe Kelly, three
fire fighters who had been out with
Ranger r. C. w. Friday, came In from
Elk Meadow last night bringing news
of devastation and tales of miraculous
escapes. They walked forty-five miles
to get to Iron Mountain, where they
took a train for Missoula.
The party led by Friday had been
given up as lost by the forest service.
The men when last heard of were head
ing for Chamberlain's Meadows in the
Clearwater.
1--WE came through nineteen miles of
fires to get to Iron Mountain, and left
fifty square miles of fire behind US"
said Kelly, "and we never quit fighting
the flames until ordered to save our
lives. Four forest guards were left in
the mountains to search for four lost
men.
"There were about twenty-five of us
in Fridays squad. counting packers
and all. Our camp was surrounded by
fire, and Charley Bingham and Jack
Cassidy were inside the fire limits for
three days, portion of which time
they had to lie in a river eighteen
hours out of the twenty-four to save
themselves.
FLAMES 200 FEET HIGH
Sunday the wind was very high, and
by o'clock in the afternoon 1t was as
dark as 1t ordinarily is at p. m, so
thick was the smoke. The whole noun
tain side was burning at once, and the
flames mounted from $50 to 200 feet in
the air. We had to back-f1re and move
camp to save our lives.
Several fires were meeting close
above US. We dropped into a little
meadow two-acre patch-and fought
to live. The men were all excited, and
one, Rumple, tried to kill himself and
finally escaping, ran away to Garrl-
sons camp. Friday and his brother lay
in the creek bottom and tried to sleep,
but could not. The wind was travel
ing at the rate of fifty to sixty miles
an hour about p. M, and produced
sort of suction.
FOUR MEN MISSING
"By GOODNESS, courage and good judg-
ment, Dick Friday saved many of our
men. Only four men are missing, and
it is believed they will turn up in the
course of day or two"
Among the refugees who have arrived
here are George Cook and wife of Null
Ian, Idaho. They, with Gus Myers,
were mining in the mountains near
Mullan when overtaken ! the fire. Mr..
and Mrs. Cook started Sunday toward
Mullan, leaving Myers, who said he
the way out they encountered another
fire and had to change their course.
They walked all night, meeting fire
after fire, and got to Thompson Falls
at noon the next day. Mrs. Cook walked
thirty miles before they found any way
for her to ride. Myers has not been
heard from.
MRS. COOKS STORY
"I gave UP several times" said Mrs.
Cook. Had it not ben for the optimism
of George, 1 do not believe 1 could have
kept going. My feet were sore, my
limbs badly swollen, and my body so
tired that could hardly drag one foot
after the other.
IT shall never forget that trip. On
either side of the mountains trees were
burning from bottom to top Far away
on the very crests of the hills we could
see the flames, which were hardly dis
tinguishable from stars. At two or
more places L had to throw my apron
over my face to protect my hair eyes
and face.
Each time after we ran through the
flames we had to go into the creek to
catch our breath. We would have suf-
focated had not water been so close"
One of the most thrilling experiences
thus far told was that of Mr.. and Mrs.
A. Patterson of Wallace, Idaho, who
with a party Oh HNe men dTIlNeb at 4IOIl
Mountain, Mont, yesterday. When the
praty started out it included Robert
Murray, a cripple, but he was unable to
keep up and was left behind. 1t Is
feared he perished.
WOMAN LEADS THEM
When the fire overlook the party it
was in the upper ST. Joe country, one
days trip from a railroad Expecting
to be able to reach the railroad, the
party started out with only one days
provisions. After having travelled
short distance their advance was cut
off, and they were compelled to go back
over the summit of the mountain. With
fire surrounding them after the first
days travel, weay and discouraged,
and confused in their directions be-
cause of the smoke-hidden sun and wild
country through which they were pass
ing, it remained for Mrs. Patterson to
call the men of the party to account
for their encouragement. With firm
word of command, she stepped to the
head and actually led them all the
way for the next two days.
On the second afternoon the mem
bers of the party were forced to run for
their lives, but Murray the cripple,
was unable to keep up, and had to be
abandoned. Several times the men be-