The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-22
TOWNS in ASHES.
Fire Fighters in the Northwest
Are Worn Out.
Their Trust Is Now Placed in
Forecast for Rain.
RAILROADS SUFFER.
Bridges Burned and Stations
Wiped Off the Map.
Large Portion of City OF Wal
lace Is Destroyed.

Spokane, WASH, Aug. 22.-Twenty-
three persons are known to have per-
ished and between rs and 100 are miss
ing in the forest fires raging in the
panhandle of Idaho. in the Coeur
D'Alene district.
The dead:
]. g. Boyd, of Wallace. suffocated by
smoke.
Mrs. Charles Smith and 1-year-old
baby, drowned in a well into which
they jumped to avoid flames.
Miss Amelia Ward. stenographer, suf-
focated by smoke
Twelve unidentified fire fighters
from the crew of Ranger Bell, burned
OR suffocated
Six unidentified fire fighters from
a crew of Ranger Edward Gulaski.
One Unidentified fire fighter from
the crew of Ranger Danielson.
The seriously injured, mostly fire
lighters will number according to a
statement of w. r. Weigle, forest sup
trintendent of Coeur DAlene. more THAI
100. Many of them have been stricken
blind and others have broken limbs
Missoula, Mont, Aug. 22.-From every
d.
this morning there are prayers that the
weather bureau has forecasted accur-
ate1y in predicting showers for today.
Nothing but rain can save the situa-
tion. The hundreds of weary men who
for days have battled with the flames
in the forest are staggering to safety
with bloodshot eyes and aching limbs,
immersing themselves in streams or
burying their faces in mud for protec-
tion from the nraddening heat of their
cOnqueFing foe.
The only Improvement in the situa-
ton is at Wallace, where the renina nj
of the town that is left seems to be
safe from fire, and at Mullen, where
the town. threatened all day yester-
day, is believed to be safe 1t is re-
ported that Saltese, in western Mon
| tana, is also out of danger but thfs
bInay pHeyezaAlhit-af overeonfdence.
The GOWNS of Taft, Deborgis, Hen.
| ,1erson and the old part of St. Regis
are in ashes. The old placer town OF
Murray, in Idaho, is in danger The
| flames have the upper hand OF the stu
alton in score of places. Rain is the
orly salvation of hundreds of miles OF
timber and of many camps and small
towns. Men have fought the flames te
the limit of hurran endurance and are
/ withdrawing from the contest in many
| laces.
Especially is the situation serious in
the densely timbered country along the
lines of the Milwaukee's western extern
sion; here the railway has suffered
tremendous loss from fire in the very
region where snoWslides wrought havoc
all last winter. Bridges have been
burned and little stations wiped off the
| map. Wherever possible the railway
company has brought the men. to safety
| in special trains. This morning there
are two rescue trains on the Milwaukee
! speeding toward Missoula with about
800 people aboard. There is another on
| the Northern Pacific Occur d'Alene
! branch with $50 women and children
taken from the burned town of st
Regis. There will be second North
ern Pacific train before noon
Unless there are more men in isolated
positions in the woods than is believed
to be the case, the loss of life in this
section will not be great. The men l1
the forest service gangs are in charge
| of experienced woodmen and they know
| how to take care of themselves. 1t IL
only where they have utterly exhaust.
ed themselves in their battle with the
flames or have sustained disabling &C.