The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-27

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Spokane, Wash. August 2s.-Telegraphic
communication with St. Joe valley OF
Idaho has been restored, but 1t is not
vet possible to verify the reports of large
loss of life among the fire fighters, ad-
ditional to the 65 reported by the gov
ernment officers. The estimate of 141
dead in the three states Is adhered to by
those most familiar with the situation.
Tragic stories are being told by ar
rivals from the fire zone in Idaho. George
Ryan of Toronto, Canada, one of the 30
men Imprisoned in War Eagle mine Sat
urday night where six pershed, said to-
day:
There were 75 of us under Ranger Pu-
laski. We first took refuge in the tunnel
of J. I. c. mine, but 1t was not safe and
after we had been there a short time 30
of us went down the creek a quarter of
mile to the War Eagle. 1 don't know
what became of the rest of the men.
1--WE took horses into the tunnel. Pu-
laski told us to lie as close to the floor
ofthe tunnel as we could. or close to the
walls. We tried to block up the entrance
of the tunnel with blankets but the fire
burned them off as fast as we put them
up.
THE flames licked up Is feet from the
mouth like blast. The smoke was suf
locating. About an hour and half
after we had been in the tunnel, Pulaski,
who was nearest the mouth, lost con-
sciousness.
1.-TWO men got scared and rolled around
in the middle of the tunnel instead of
keeping by the edge or on the floor and
they died across my knees.
Lay Six Hours In Water
NEARLY all of us during the six hours
were lying in water that dropped from
the roof and walls of the tunnel q
"When the fire finally passed and the
tunnel cleared little nearly half of us
were unconscious. The eyes of the others
were gummed together with smoke and
tears SO that we could hardly open them.
Five were dead.
I'VE found a sixth man, burned to a
crisp, short distance up the creek from
the tunnel, but we don't know what be-
came of the other members of the party.
The two horses were nearly suffocated
and their eyes were falling out of their
heads. We had to shoot them"
George Biberbon, owner of a mine on
Placer creek, southeast of Wallace, who
reached here today, said the number of
dead would never be known He con-
tinued: Harvey Bertram, deputy
ranger, had much difficulty in holding all
his half-crazed men. Believing they were
Ii.
threatened to commit suicide. At times
Bertram was able to control them only
at the point of a revolver"
Reports Do Not Agree
Reports received today by Supervisor
Veigle at Wallace, concerning the num-
fAr of dead forest employees did not agree
y tn that obtained at Missoula. The re-
poilts to Wallace say that of Ranger
Foilingsheads 60 men on Big creek, Il
bod es have been found and the other
msH are missing. OF the go men on Set
ses sreek, 4s bodies have been found and
fiNa are missing. These 60 deaths of
sqless employees, added to the Al deaths
the Bullion mine. and on the fork of
ta Occur d Alene and the deaths in Mon
tana and various Idaho creeks, would
ling the total number of deaths in the
FsrSice up to 100.
siere is dearth of news from the
Joe valley, where the fires are rag
fgg uncontrolled. Circumstantial ac-
UNITS of deaths of 115 men in four
9rties were tr ught to Spokane and
Fkoa today ~ rvivors. The survivors
Say that GuO h were working on Big
eek whereasN number stated by the
oresfry service T. >ave been employed
ere IS 60 Joseph 3. Hahn is said by
ae Wallace Office 10 have 81 men with
IN and BY the Mssoula officers to have
y Il
Forced fe 1urn Back
Deputy Ranger Fishers relief party at
mptlng to roach l5alm by way of Avery
IS forced to turn back and Fisher will
sonnotier toraorrow rom Saltez Mont
rhe great numbar of men In Spokane
40 have arrived from the st. Joe val
where they topg ght the flames last
tursay sind Sunday, leads to the belief
~ the records of the forest service
not include nearly all the firefighters.
wo parties Of IS each arrived today.
special 70 the Spokesman-Review from
,goa Wash, says:
mes y Hire of Missoula, who was
in OF n party Of 10 fire-fghters work.
s nea cry. Idaho. of whom 20 per-
"A last Sunday. arrived here last night
sa told ithe story of his perils
Sunhsay afternoon his party was
ned til fee Tor thAir lives and the SC
startled down mountain side three
M orbx and very steep They then
thfir way TO point where the
hef&lurn of the timber. All but q
iharh started for the railroads. The
memNpg btfofe daylight three men
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