The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-22
WORST EVER KNOWN.
This Years Forest Fires Break All
Previous Records.

Spokane, Wash, Aug. 22.-Never in
the history of Idaho has the baptism
of August fire reached such widespread
proportions or created such universal
famed sore, the angry flames lick
up virgin forest, homesteads, mine
buildings and human lives.
Homesteaders, wild animals and the
fowls of the air shoulder one another
in the common objecttve-the rush for
safety. Women with suit cases filled
with thousands of dollars worth of
valuables were on board the crowded
Wallace train which reached Spokane
last night.
The stampede to reach safety has
strained the facilities of the oregon
Railroad & Navigation company and
the passenger trains are made up of
day coaches and box cars. People
from sick beds, cripples and other UNI
fortunates are loaded on the trains to
be taken to Harrison, Occur DAlcne
and Spokane. The smoke and heat are
as dangerous as the flames themselves.
In the vicinity of the mines people
are seeking the deepest tunnels to es-
cape being smothered. Several parties
in the mines have been imprisoned by
the walls of flames which sweep over
the mouths of the shaft. The tide of
fire sweeps over mountain tops and
Jumps gulches before the forty mile
gale. which, without ceasing, is enter
ing upon its third day. The wind is
the greatest menace to the present
DANGEROUS situation. A seething fur
mace of flames stretches over a greater
portion of the Idaho Panhandle. The
greatest damage and danger are in the
more populated districts of the Occur
DAlene.
Mayor Walter Hanson of Wallace,
population 5000, has put himself at
the head of the police apartment and
has sworn in all able bodied men as
deputies to prevent looting. All wom- |
have been sent from Wallace, but the |
town has filed again with refugees
from Burke, Mullane, Gem and other |
towns.
Between Two Fires.
MissouIa Mont, Aug. pa report |
Bell Telephone company at St Rigis at |
III o'clock today advising that the wind |
was blowing a gale directly from the /
fire zone to the town. The report de-
clared that there is little chance for |
the old town now as the flames are /
circling and will soon come in from at |
least two sides. A marShy spot on |
one side has thus far repealed the ad-
vance of the fire and temporarily |
saved the town. At the time the report !
WAS received the Blackfoot Lumber
company had $50 men fighting the |
flames. While the greater force is at
tempting to Subdue the, fire, another
smaller crew is engaged in carrying ont
all OF the company DOOkS f1llQ G1ct NSoJ
property from the office to a place Of
safety. The mills officials declare they |
win fight to the last but the attempt
seems to be fruitless. A late report
from Hamilton received by telephone |
tells of big fire with a wide frontage. |
which is raging seven miles west #
town and men are being secured to /
fight the oncoming torrents of flames
The Northern Pacific officials are |
making a desperate effort to push tEeir |
trains through as far as possible and
will send passengers rs far west as
Plains
Further than that no trains car be |
operated on account of the bad con- !
dition of the wood trestles and bridges
and the Cabin cutoff. A bridge 955 feet
in length is burned out at Tuscor and
others have been rendered unsafe by
the fire.
A big relief special bearing $50 st.
Regis residents started out of Old st.
Regis today and will pick up refugees
along the way to Missoula. The Puget
Sound railway is performing similar
relief service on it's side of the river.
The Chamber Of Commerce met in
special session this morning to devise
relief for refugees VINO are stranded
here. Two young girls reached Mis-
soula on the first relief train from
wallace yesterday and thus far no rel |
Etives have claimed them.
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