Warren sheaf., 1910-08-25

reports from fires in the forests Of
northern Idaho and western Montana
show heavy loss Of life Latest fig
ures from Wallace are that 40 fire
fighters probably have perished In
the hills near Sand Point, Idaho, For
est Ranger Van Dycke and crew Of
IS enlisted in Spokane are reported to
be surrounded by flames. A woman
and her daughter perished at Cabinet,
Idaho. Five and perhaps more are
known to have died near Newport,
Wash, in an attempt to reach the
town
All along the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific tracks between Spo-
kane and Helena numberless fires are
known to be raging, but definite re-
ports cannot be obtained, as the tele-
graph and telephone wires all are
down. Before communication with
Libby, Mont, ceased it was reported
that every man in the town was work.
ing with 900 paid fire fighters to di-
vert Flower creek south Of the village,
as a protection from the flames drtv-
ing up from that direction
Settlers Flee From Claims.
In the Clearwater forest reserve In
the hills east Of Lewiston, Idaho. the
settlers have fed from their claims
and Forest Supervisor Fem has re-
fused to send any more fire fighters
in, unless he can get pack trains to
carry supplies to them A train of
Is horses was turned back yesterday
afternoon IN an attempt to reach a
force OF IS men near Peck, which fs
known to have only two days ratfons.
Five fires are burning on the shores
of Occur d'A1ene lake. One was threat
en1ng the village of Sunnyside, three
miles from the town of Occur d'AIene,
at midnight. Many summer homes on
the beach have been destroyed.
Refugees from burned districts
poured into Spokane. Seven hun.
dred from Wallace crossed Lake
Occur d'Alene by boat and came to
Spokane on the electric line. The
Idaho and Washington Northern train
from Newport was filed with people
leaving the towns in that region.
Only Hope In Expected Rain.
Missoula, Mont, Aug. 23.-Nothtng
except rain can save the sttua.
ton Hundreds of weary men who
for days have battled with the
flames in the forests are stagger.
ing to safety with bloodshot eyes
and aching limbs, immersing them
selves in streams or burytng their
faces In mud for protection from
the heat of their conquering foe.
The only Improvement In the s1tua-
ton is at Wallace, where remnant
of the town seems to be safe, and at
Fullan, where the town Is believed to
have escaped It Is reported that Salt
ese, IN, western Montana, also is out of
danger
Towns Are Left In Ashes.
= Taft, Deborg1a, Henderson and the
old part Of st. Regis are in ashes. The
old placer town of Murray, Idaho, Is
in danger. Men have fought the flames
to the limit of human endurance and
are withdrawing from the contest In
many places Especially Is the situa-
ton serious In the densely timbered
country along the lines of the Chicago,
Milwaukee & Puget Sound The rail
way has suffered tremendous loss in
the region where snowsHdes wrought
havoc last winter. Bridges have been
burned and stations wiped out.
Wherever possible the railway com-
pany has brought men to safety in
special trains. This morning two res.
cue trains are speeding toward Mis-
soula with about 500 people aboard.
There is another on the Northern Pa
cific Occur d'Alene branch with ESQ
women and children taken from the
burned town of st. Regis.
Experienced Men In Fight.
Unless there are more men In iso-
lated places IN the woods than there are
believed to be the loss of life fn this
section will not be large. The for
est service gangs are in charge Of e1