Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-25
DISTRICT FORESTER SAYS
SITUATION is IMPROVED

MISSOULA, Mont, Aug. 24-District
Forester w. B. Greedy, in charge OF
district No. 1. which includes the re-
serves in Montana and Idaho through
which fires are now raging, said to-
night that the general situation was
much improved.
The locality that is causing the
greatest uneasiness Is In the Occur
dAlene reserve, where no attempt to
fight the flames is being made, all
energy being centered in relief work.
From information at hand, Mr..
Greely Is inclined to estimate that the
total casualties thus far will not ex-
ceed seventy-five.
When shown the statement of Super
visor Weigle from Wallace, Idaho, that
118 of his men had lost their lives, Mr..
Greely questioned the accuracy of the
statement that thirty had been killed
at Grand Forks, in the light of his he
ports. AS to the missing party under
Joseph Hahn, Mr.. Greedy said there
We're, according to his reports, only
fifteen In the party.
BY tomorrow night Mr.. Greedy hopes
to have full information as to the dead
and missing. He is being overwhelmed
with queries from abroad as to the
whereabouts of different men engaged
In Sighting fires.
ELEVEN DEAD
The total fatalities in Montana have
now reached eleven, two names being
added tonight. They are Z. Williams
and A. M. Barrett, laborers, who per-
ished near Thompson, where such
heavy loss of life was reported during
the early hours of the fire.
other men are still missing from the
party which was stationed three miles
west of Suscor, and searching parties
headed by Ranger Kaufman have gone
out after them.
The work of reorganization was be-
gun today in all the affected country,
with the exception of the Occur d'Alene
forest, where the flames are still raging
and where the forestry people are still
engaged in relief work.
Camps are being re-established and
the men of the service are preparing
to begin anew the fight against the
flames, broken off so suddenly by the
hurricane Sunday.
"Our reports from every side are most
encouraging" said Mr.. Greedy. "Our
first step everywhere has been to To-
cate every man-be he in the forest
service or not. We have established
clearing house system and are locat-
ing every one of our men.
RESCUE WORK
"I have also issued instructions to
all of our men to send one searching
homesteader of whom they have any
record. These people will be looked af-
ter as quickly as possible by our men
and by tomorrow 1 expect to have a
complete list of the dead. I do not
think it will exceed 20.
Conditions on the Kanlzu forest in
western Idaho were reported consid-
erably improved today. The news
that Priest river and Newport were
saved came as a great relief to the
local officials.
"All throught this forest the crews
gained ground today, and the west
branch of Clarks fork was under con-
troll tonight.
"The forest at Blue lake is burn
ing and another bad fire near Laclede,
outside the forest, was threatening
the government land at the latest re-
port.
1.-THE situation Is also serious on
upper Priest lake, and along Harvey
creek in the same vicinity.
"a telegram from Kalispell late to-
night brought word of a light rain
fall In that vicinity. Three men have
been arrested at Bozeman on
charge of setting fire to the forests.
BIG PACK TRAIN
"a pack train of twenty horses, ac-
companied by a crew of men, was sent
out today from Ovando into the lower
end of the south fork of the Flathead
Il basin, where the fires are very serious.
1.-THE Lewis and Clark forest has as
vet been untouched, but it is feared
that fires from the south fork basin
will cross the Continental Divide and
enter there.
1.-THE Bitter Root and Missoula forests
are in excellent shape and no further
danger from any of the fires there is
expected bad blaze in Big Hole is
threatening to enter the Bitter Root
valley from the south. This same fire
is endangering stand of valuable tim
ber in Beaver Head forest.
"Telegrams from st. Regis tonight
announce all of the men are safe
there"
In conclusion, Mr.. Greely said: "The
snow that fell here last night extended
from the Absarako forest, near Living
ston, on the east, to ST. Regis on the
west and checked the flames de-
cisively. A light fall was also reported
further west and in the country and
around Kalispell, but I am afraid the
Coeur d'Alene forest and the woods in
eastern Idaho and northwestern Mon
tana received but little, If any"
A telegram to the Missoulian from
Trout Creek tonight says eleven fire
fighters in that vicinity are not ac-
counted for and that fifteen families
are homeless and destitute.