New-York tribune., 1910-08-22
MANY PERISH
IN FOREST FIRES
TWenty-four Dead in One Idaho
Town and 180 Foresters
Are Missing.
ENORMOUS PROPERTY LOSS
Area Of the Fire, One Hundred
Miles Square. Embraces Towns
Destroyed and Many
Others Deserted.

Wallace, Idaho. Aug 2f.-Tuenty-
sides 4 number suffering from being
overcome by smoke. is the record thus
far of the forest fire which destroyed
half Of the town and still Is raging
hereaboUts
Among those who perished in the city
fire early this morning was John J.
BOYD. pioneer OF the Coeur d Aiens
and formerly agent for the Oregon Rail
road end Navigation Company.
The number of those who lost their
lives in fighting the fires approach to
the town will not he known probably
for several DAYS.
The steady work of the city FIRE de-
partment. members of the 25th Infan-
try. negro volunteers. and the forestry
forces alone saved Wallace from total
destruction. The conhagration in ths
east end was stayed shortly after II
O'Clock. and back firing on adjoining
hills TO the west and south prevented
new fires in those directions
Loss in Wallace 100000.
II is estimated that the loss in the city
is about 81 .Ooo. 900 The entire eastern
section from 1th street TO Canton street
is DESTROYED. with three terraces Of resi-
dences on the hillside. The principal
buildings burned ard the estimated
losses follow:
warehouses. S15O.OOO: Sunset Brewery,
$4,000: Pacific Hotel and Annex. $50
600: Cceur d'Alene Iron Works. $50 coo;
Oregon Railway and Navigation station,
SEQ 900: Times Printing Company. S25.
600. and WorsteH Furniture Company,
$4,000
About one hundred and fifty houses are
destroyed and many other smaller bust
ness places. The Providence Hospital
and the Federal Lead Compsny's big
mills are the only buildings saved in the
East End. The forest supervisor reports
that the country between VallaCe and
the St John River is swept practically
clean. and that the loss of timber IS stu
pendeus
Growing List of Dead
With daylight a relief expedition viii
be organized to go to Placer and Big
creeks where the fire fighters camps
are located These men have been scat
tered over the country. driven hither
and thither by the flames.
At War Eagles tunnel three miles
from Wallace. six dead were found and
two were seriously burned Five of the
dead had sought refuge in the tunnel.
They lay with their faces down in the
water, covered with wet rags and blan-
kets. and had died partly from the
flames and partly from suffocatiOn-
The injured were relieved by temporary
dressings and were taken to impTovised
hospitals.
At Big Creek twelve dead were recov-
cred. two injured and three unfortuRates
who were completely blinded
One fighter was found dead near Mul-
Ian. and sixteen who were more or less
seriously burned. At Pine Creek three
are dead. five have become blind and
five are otherwise injured
1t is impossible to learn the names Of
the dea d. most of whom came in from
Spokane and other points at the call OF
the Forestry Service The bodies are
being buried wherever they are found.
DAYS and weeks may eIapse before any
thing like a complete estimate of the
fatalities is available.
Fires are still burning around ths
city. but most of the hillsides facing tho
town are now burned off and unless the
wind rises the town is believed 10 bS
comparatively safe
Two or three hundred persons are left
homeless in Wallace. A thick pail OF
smoke stiu hangs over the city and
watch is being kept at points Of danger
The water supply is good The lighting
pIant. disabled last night, has resumed
operations.
Lines of hose are laid along the west
side of the city. where the IRE will striks
first if il comes. and all available frs
fighters are being held ready 10 start
work at once. In every direction the sly
IS red from flames.
In a tunnel of the old War Eagls
mine. on Placer Creek. seven miles from
Ranger Pulaski were packed tightly
together to escape a sheet Of flame that
swept down the gulch. They Rugged the
ground and buried their faces in ths
mud on the floor Of the tunnel until tho
fire went BY. when. half mad from ths
heat. they threw themselves into the
creek
Five we're left dead i'm the tunnel and
another. cut off from the crew. was