The Colorado statesman., 1911-07-15
HUNDREDS Die
IN FOREST FIRE
MANY CANADIAN MINES DE-
TRoYEp-PRoPER LOSS
MILLIONS.
REPORTS ARE VAGUE
DEATH LIST IN MICHIGAN FOREST
FIRE sMALL-PRoPERTY
LOSS HEAVY.
western Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Toronto, ont.-In the Porcupine dis
trict the loss of life from fires is
known to be several hundred and the
property loss will reach several mil
lion dollars
Only three of the eighty-four en-
ployes of the West Dome mine have
been accounted for and 200 miners,
muckers, etc, in the Dome mine have
been suffocated.
The mines burned include the Dome,
North Dome, Preston, East Dome,
Vipond, Foley OBrien, Philadelphia,
United Porcupine, Standard Imperial,
West Dome and Success.
Among the dead are Robert Weiss,
manager of the West Dome. and mis-
wife and child.
The Philadelphia mines loss is
about $4,000; United Porcupine's loss,
10000; Eldorado Porcupine, all build
ings destroyed; Standard, about s40,-
600; Imperial about $35,O00; Success,
probably destroyed; West mines,
about $4,000.
All reports give but a vague idea
of the loss of life and property in Por-
cupine camp, which probably will total
millions of dollars and hundreds of
lives.
In four short hours the fire swept
from the Standard mines through to
the shores of Porcupine lake, where
1t destroyed South Porcupine, Potts
vile and part of Golden City, as well
as many small buildings along the
lake front.
There the entrapped miners, cut of
from escape, were forced to take to
the shafts for safety and. penned in
by flames, perished. This was notably
true at Dome and West Dome mines.
At the Preston, East Dome, an untim-
bered shaft gave shelter and none per-
ished.
The streets of South Porcupine are
strewn with dead persons, horses.
dogs and cattle.
Along the mine roads are the
charred bodies of those overcome try
ing to escape.
OF the staff Of 300 at the Dome, but
.
Dome but three out of eighty-four en-
ployes are known to be alive. Along
the highway between East Dome ana
South Porcupine, over comparatively
open section, were found six charred
bodies.
The miners saw dense clouds OF
smoke to the southwest, where the
fires were raging. They gave little
heed. Later a small blaze started in
Lake View, of the Porcupine townsite,
but it passed almost unnoticed because
of the recent frequency of bush fires.
The dense smoke clouds began TO
roll over the Porcupine district. Then
the miners became alarmed and the
camps took on unusual activity. Mes
sengers were sent out and soon re-
turned with warnings that the fire was
travelling through the forest at rapid
speed and was licking up many town
ships.
Soon the fire had covered an area
of twenty-five miles in length and two
miles in width and was licking up the
base line of Tisdale, sweeping over the
Standard and Imperial mines at De-
lore, the Philadelphia, Shaw, Eldorado
and United Mines in southern Whit
ney.
Hundreds fled before the flames, but
the dense clouds of smoke hung low
over the land and made progress diff
cult. Many fell exhausted before the
fire as it swept over South Porcupine
The frame buildings burned fiercely.
Twenty minutes after the flames
struck the outskirts the town was in
ruins. All who escaped the flames
made for the water. where all sorts OF
water craft-launches, canoes. scows
and skiffs-were pressed into service.
Women and children were first hur'
ried into the small boats and started
off for Pottsville and Golden City.
where they were temporarily safe from
the flames.
rrr;%l, fo15 baf