The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-13
Fla m es Sweeping I'm
checkedThroughNorth
ern Ontario.
SEVERAL TOWNS
ARE DESTROYED
Thousands of Refugees Face
Starv ation-Special Relief
Trains Sent to Stricken Dis
tricts-Michigan Towns Au
Sable and Ozcoda Present
Scenes of Desolation.


HE in Porcupine District from yester-
DAY flres is known 10 he several nun
dred. and the property loss will reach
several millions of dollars. Only three
OF the eightyfour employees of this
West Dome mine have been accounted
for and 200 miners, mucke7s etc. in
the Dome mine have been suffocated.
The mines burned include the Dome
North Dome. Preston East Dome. vi.
pond, Foley oBrien, Philadelphia
United Porcupine. Eldorado. Porcupne.
Standard Imperial. West Dome and
Success
among the dead are Robert Weiss.
manager of the Yves. Dome. and his
wife and child. All reports give but
vague idea of the loss of life. as well
as property, in Porcupine camp, which
probably Will total millions OF dollars
and hundreds of lives
In four short hours. commencing al
1890 yesterday noon, the fre swept
from the Standard mines through to
the shores Of Porcupine Lake where
II ate up the towns of South Porcu-
pine, Pottsville and part OF Golden
City as we'll as many small buildings
along the lake front While some loss
cupine Lake. the greatest havoc was
wrought around the main mines. main
iy est Dome and North Dome
Penncd In by Flames
There the entrapped miners, cut off
from escape, were forced to take TO
the shafts for safety. and, penned in
oy the flames. persisted. This was no.
taniy true at Dome and West Dome
mines. AT Preston-East Dome an un-
timoered shaft gave shelter. and none
perished
The Streets of South Porcupine are
strewn with dead persons. horses. dogs
ana cattle Along the nine roads are
the charred bodies OF those overcome
trying to escape.
Early Yesterday morning the miners
saw dense clouds OF smoke to the
southwest. where the hres were rag.
ing They gave small heed II was
not until noon that the dense smoke
clouds began 10 roll over the Porcuplno
oistrict. Then the miners became
! alarmed Messengers were sent our
and soon returned with warnings that
the fire was travelling through the for
ests at rapid pace and was licking up
many towns
Shortly after noon the fire had COW
cred an area OF twenty-five miles in
length and two miles in width. and
was licking up the base line of $
dale. sweeping over the Standard nd
Imperial mines, at Delore. the Phil
| adelphia, Inshaw. Eldorado and United
Mines. in Southern Whitney
Fire Call Sounded.
When the seriousness OF the situa-
ton was apparent the fire call was
sounded with the Dome Mine whistle
/ In half an hour the flames were rag
ing on tho spot They swept over the
Foley O'Brien. then jumped to the,
Preston East Dome and followed Over
the Dome, West Dome and North
/ Dome.
{ HundreGe fled before the flames. blu,
/ he 81 nf
! very low over the Hand and made prog
ress difficult. Many fell exhausted be-
fore the IA ging fire as IL swept over
the town OF South Porcupine. The
frame buildings burned aercely
Twenty minutes after the flames
struck the outskirts the town was in
| ashes. All who escaped the flames
made for the water, where all sorts
! of water craft were pressed :nto SER
vice. Women and children were FIRST
! huddled into small boats and started
| off for Pottsville and Golden City
! where they were temporarily safe from
! flames Many miners lost their lives in
| efforts 10 save others. and some were
| drowned
Porcupine when they were driven into
the lake by the dense clouds of smoke
| and rolling wave of fire.
! Three towns have been wiped of
/ the map. and hundreds of refugees are
+, facing starvation
a train containing 60 women and
| children was rushed out of Cochrane
this morning for the South as the
wall of flames advanced toward the
| village. The town of $500 inhabi.
| tants was soon a mass of fire. and Is
| entirely destroyed. South Porcupine
! and Pittsville are charred ruins
Surrounded by Flames.
Golden City was surrounded by
flames for hours. and is still in dang
err. although only the suburbs hnva
burned. Part of Tisdalc has been
wiped out. the fire only being con
troiied by dynamiting dozen houses
in the middle OF the town
Two special trains nave been sent
to bring the 1000 persons who are
facing starvation or death by fire In
the Tisdale district.
Communication with stricken dis
triets is exceedingly difficult:
| The town of Kelso was abandoned
day after a fight lasting since Sun
day.
Panic md Chaos
| Panic and chaos prevailed When the
light by water from South Porcupine
/ began. Men fought with each o,her
for places in the boats for their fami
lies. Police Officer Murray, with Jack
stricken foreigners. who rushed FOR
each boat as 1t came In Men were
hurled into the water. and many rush
ed In as the only place OF safety Thir-
" launches and as many canoes soon
had the wome nlanded safely on the
othe rside OF the lake.
II Acts Of heroism were numerous.
while the horrors OF the holocaust are
led through the town with both eyes
III (Continued on Second PAGAN