The Irish standard., 1911-05-13
FIRES LICK UP
TIMBER LANDS
FLAMES ARE sPREADlNo LIKE
LIGHTNING THROUGHOUT
CANADIAN NORTHWEST,
RANGERS ARE BATTLING IN VAIN
Destruction Again Stalks on Settler
Reports From Various States
Tell Of Millions Of Dollars
Loss.

Winnipeg, May 10.-The damage
done to timber in the Dauphin, Man..
district by fire is unprecedented. The
range country is covered by fire fully
200 miles in extent. The territory
covered includes Riding, Duck and
Porcupine mountains and the timber
burned will total millions of feet.
Fire is in the timber reserves at all
points and notwithstanding the fact
that large gangs Of men are out tight
ing flames, their efforts are futile in
state of the woods.
Chief Ranger Mcleod, Of the East,
ern division Of the Riding mountains
reserve, has five gangs Of men out a&
different points but In spite Of this
the fire Is spreading fast and the dam.
age will be great. Chief Fire Ranger
Davis has 200 men fighting flames in
Duck and Porcupine mountains. but
they have been unable to get control
of the fire.
Prince Albert, Sask.. May TO-
Blackened and with their clothes torn
and burned firefighters returned after
battling with the flames In the vicin.
ity of Big River mill. They comprised
the party. on the relief train sent
from here at the urgent call Of thu
people from tflat town.
When they arrived the flames wse
within 200 yards Of the big lumber
mill and every man, woman and child
in the town was out. sparing no effort
to protect their lives and their homes.
1t was not until the fro had burned q
wide swath around the town that II
was considered safe.
Many settlements arc in danger,
for the fires to the northwest and
northeast cover a wide area and It Is
estimated the fire zone extends a dis.
lance of at least 500 miles. The
Duck and Riding mountains appear to
be mass of flames. Reports Of per,
sons having been burned are numer.
GUS, but so far the rumors lack con
firmation. Panic stricken settlers arc
rushing into the clearings with tales
Of suffering and the loss of all their
possessions. Horses. cattle, pigs.
sheep and hens have persisted, for
their owners had no time to round
them up before making their hasty
flights for safety.
This city is considered safe. but il
is covered with mantle of smoke
from the vast tracts of timber which
are being destroyed.
In northern Saskatchewan and
northern Manitoba there are timber
belts containing billions OF feet, and
through them the fires are raging.
This section of the country has neve,
seen anything like 1t before. Rain
appears to be the only salvation, for
the soil is dried for the want Of 1t,
none having fallen this year. So dry
Is the country in the bush that even
the peaty soil Is smouldering and Il
rekindled with each wind and forms
fire to meet the others.
Michigan Situation Worse.
Calumet, May 10.-The fires ara
famed by heavy westerly winds and
are spreading rapidly through the
timber buildings of the Worcester
Lumber company, about Chassell.
The South Shore railroad property al
Pelkie, Hazel Aston and Giddings Ia
threatened and fire trains have left
here for those places.
Navigation past Keweenaw point ID
impeded by smoke clouds on Lake
Superior. At Otter Lake the situation
ia better, while there is no change al
Baraga county points.