The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-08-26

The towu Of Taft. near the Idaho line.
was entirely destroyed by daylight this
morning. Sal,esc. jus; below Taft. has
been abandoned by its inhabitants, and is
known to be surrounded by fire. Debor-
gia is seriously threatened. and one man is
missing. At ST. Regis the fire has crossed
the river and threatens outlying buildings.
although no fears are entertained for the
town
Haughan is reported to be destroyed.
The last word from there was that the fire
was dangerous. and the telephone operator
was preparing to flee.
The area covered Is. roughly estimated.
100 miles square, most OF it in the noun
tains and sparse,y settled. II is difficult
to obtain information from any Of the
points, and il is impossible to reach some
of the isolated places at all. There is a
probability that there has been serious loss
of life. as there are prospec,ors. camping
parties and lumbermen all through the
mountains. and the fire may have come up
on them while they slep, last night. or they
may have wakened this morning to find
themselves cut of.
Camas Prairie. a farming valley in the
Blackfeet country. surrounded entirely by
hills, is the scene of a serious conflagration
tonight. A courier arrived here tonight
from there with an appeal for aid. From
Bonner. so men were sent to help the farm
ers and SO more are going from Missoula.
The fire came out of the timber. and Is
sweeping the valley. Grian and hay are
being destroyed.
Three more rescue trains reached Mis-
soula tonight from the west. The Milwau-
kee ran in two Of them and the Northern
Pacific another. There were 500 people
on the train. but none of them were in the
distress that marked the earlier arrivals
The last Northern Pacific train brought
information that the town of Saltese. re
ported earlier to be threatened, had caught
fire before this train left ST. Regis.
From all directions come reports of death
in the flames. but they are not authenticat-
ed. and it IS not believed that there has
been many fatalities. Two unknown men
we're overcome by smoke today IN the for
est near Iron Mountain.
The latest word from Wallace confirms
the earlier report that half the city is safe:
the fires are yet raging in :he hills, but the
situation in the city is believed to be more
satisfactory than at any time IN two days.
A telephone message from St. Regis. re-
ceived in Missoula at 10 o'clock tonight.
says that the tire swept down Mullan gulch
tonight and cut off the towns of Deborgia
and Henderson The Mann Lumber Com
pany ran its logging train down from Hen
derson. bringing men and their families.
after all valuables had been buried. These
towns will doubtlessly burn.
The old town of ST. Regis is at 10 O'Clock
threatened: the fire Is in canyon and is
only mile from town. approaching rapid
ly. The last equipment of the Northern
Pacific in that section is being used to bring
away the women and children from ST.
Regis. Most of the men of that town
were at Deborgia. seven miles above. fight
ing fire there. and many Of them must
have been cut off. Two were killed in the
fire in Wallace. a mail carrier named Boyd
and an unknown man. There have been
20 deaths in the fires in the hills around
Wallace. according to the forestry service
bulletins. but no names are given.
The fires which have swept around theci,y
Of Wallace are now working their way up
Canyon creek toward Burke. easterly to-
ward Mulian. but are not near enough TO
these towns to cause alarm.
The Northern Pacific and Milwsukee
have suffered the loss Of important bridges.
Missoula is tonight the western terminus of
both lines. Fires are serious in all parts
Of northern Idaho and in northwestern
Montana. and the damage to railway prop
erty is chiefly to small trestles. Overland
traffic on both lines is indefinitely Suspend
ed.
The relief train which left Missoula this
morning to assist Mullan. is held by fire at
Saltese, being unable to 60 farther west.
and is prevented from returning by the de-
strlction of small bridge this side. The
train is well equipped and no alarm is fel,
for its occupants.
Since the above article was put
in type reports from the. noun
taIns are to the effect that condi-
tons are greatly improved by rain
and snow which fell in the past
three days,-Editor.