Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-13
IN NORTHERN ONTARIO.
CONTINUED from Page one.)


were found six charred bodies. In the
ruins of the town of South Poreupine
were found the bodies of VIM. Goher and
his clerk. Mac Smith, Capt. George Run
bar and Tom Geddis.
Early yesterday morning the miners
saw dense clouds of smoke to the south
west They gave small heed. Later In
the day there was a small blaze started
in the Porcupine town site. but 1t passed
almost unnoticed. because of the ire
aueney of bush fires in the last few
weeks of the dry spell.
II was not until noon that the dense
clouds began to roll over the Poreu-
pine district, then the miners became
alarmed and the camps took on unusual
activity. Messengers We're sent out and
soon returned with warnings that the
fire was travelling through the forest at
a rapid rate and was licking up many
townships.
Shortly after noon, the fire had Gov
cred an area of % miles in length and
two miles in width and was licking to
the base line of Tisdale. sweeping over
the Standard and Imperial mines at De-
lore. the Philadelphia Inshaw, Eldorado
and United mines in Southern Whitney.
At O'Clock the seriousness of the sit
uation was apparent at South Porcu-
pine when to the southwark could be
seen the wall of flames. The fire call
was sounded with the Dome mine whis-
tie and was followed by repeated blasts
from those of other mines. Miners and
women and children began TO scurry
about in the dense smoke packing val
uables and light baggage. In another
half hour the flames had swept parcels
of land just vacated by the miners. They
swept over the Foley O'Brien mine,
then jumped to the Preston, East Dome
and followed over the Dome, West Dome
and North Dome, also licking up what
remained of the Dome extension after
Sundays fire.
Hundreds fled before the flames which
were eating up the shacks in the out
lying section of South Porcupine. The
dense clouds of black smoke hung very
low over the land and made flight diff
cult. Many perished from exhaustion
and lay prostrates before tire raging fire
as it swept over the town.
Twenty minutes after the flames struck
the outskirts of South Porcupine the
town was in ashes. All those who es-
capped the flames made for the water,
where all sorts of water craft, canoes
launches, scows and skiffs were pushed
into service. Women and children were
| first huddled into the small boats and
| started off for Pottsville and Colder
| City, where they were temporarily safe
| from the flames Many miners lost
their lives in efforts to save others and
some were drowned.
Panic and confusion prevailed when
the flight by water from South Porcu-
pine began. Men fought with each
other for places in the boats for their
| families. Police Officer Murray, with
| Jack Gardner had to stand off the
/ panic stricken foreigners who rushed
for each boat as it came in. Men
were hurled into the water and many
rushed in as the only place of safety
| Thirty launches and as many ca
4 noes soon had the women landed in
| safety on the other side Of the lake
| There was one exception, Mrs VIM
| Goher, with her baby in her arms, re-
| fused TO leave until she had news oil
her husband. Mr.. Goher had gone back
| in an effort to save some valuables
and with his clerk was penned in the
! building. For over two hours Mrs Co
| her stood in the water of the lake, 10C
| feet from shore calling for her hus-
band and refused to leave until he
was found. Even after all had de,
serted the town and the fire had burn
| ed tout she remained in tent on the
| shore awaiting the recovery of hel
| husbands body.
| Acts of heroism were too numerous Il
| mention. Harry Roche, a mining eng
neer, and A. S. Shields beat their way
back through town when the flames Were
at their highest and brought out an un
known man who was so seriously burned
that portion of his hand fell off wher
ne was picked up.
Little will ever be known of the ex
perienees of some of the properties al
only the dead remain.