The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-08-26
INTENSELY DARK
CLOUDS OF SMOKE FROM FOREST
FIRES HANG OVER ENTIRE
NORTHWEST.
EASTERN TROOPS may aid
government Has Evidence That Fires
are Being Set by Ineendiariss.-
New Fires Breaking Out
Towns Abandoned.

Dickinson, N. d.. Aug. 22.-At .
o'clock today II is as dark as at the
same hour last night. The streets and
all places Of business are lighted as at
night, and automobilists are using their
headlights In moving about the city.
Aberdeen. s. D.. Aug. 22.-The sky
here is overcast presumably due to the
forest fires In Montana. necessitatina
stores and homes being lighted. II was
impossible to read print on the streets
at II o'clock.
Valley City, N. d., Aug. ga pail
of smoke has overhung the city during
the entire day, making 1t as dark as
II generally gets late in the evening
Lights have been on in all the store
and in many of the residences all fore
noon. The smoke Is presumably from
the forest fires In Montana.
Washington, d. c., Aug. 22.-Positive
evidence that the forest fires In Oregon
are OF incendiary origin has been dis
covered by government agents accord
Ing to q telegram received at the office
OF the forest service here today from
Associate District Forester Cecil of
Portland.
Cecil reports that there is no doubt
that the fires In Crater National forest
and at Medford resulted from incen-
diarism and that new fires are being
set. He reports that he has twenty
five men on scout duty in an effort to
catch the culprits.
The fires in Crater forest and In
southern Oregon and at Medford. Ore
gon. are proving more serious every
hour.
Spokane, Wash. Aug. e2.-Hourly
reports from the fires In the forests OF
northern Idaho and western Montana
are increasing the toll of the dead.
The latest figures from Wallace are
that forty fire fighters probably have
persisted.
In the hills near Sand Point. Ida,
Forest Ranger Van Dycke and n crew
OF sixty-five enlisted men are reported
surrounded by the flames.
woman and her daughter persisted
at Cabinet, Ida.
Five are known to have died near
Newport. Wash. in an attempt to reach
town. All along the Great Northern
and Northern Pacific tracks between
Spokane and Helena numberless fires
are known to be raging fiercely, but
definite reports cannot be secured as
telegraph and telephone wires are
down.
Washington. d. c., Aug 22-war de-
partment officials began a conference
today In an effort to find means of
sending additional fire fighters TO the
stricken northwest. At the conclusion
OF the conference n long dispatch was
sent to President Taft at Beverly.
1t Is understood 1t Is planned to send
troops from a long distance to tho
burning section.d 1t was decided to
send pack trains and medical supplies
and army surgeons into the devastated
sections.
Missoula. Mont. Aug. o2.-General
fire situation in this district as far as
early reports show today, is still dis
couraging. No word has been obtain
ed from any points on the Couer d'Al-
lene line farther west than st. Regis,
which has been deserted.
Spokane. Wash. Aug. 22.-Twenty
persons are known to be dead as a re-
suit Of fires within a radius Of $50
miles OF Wallace. The death list for
the entire district of northern Idaho Is
expected to reach 100 and probably
more.