Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-05-16
FIRES LICK UP
TIMBER LANDS
flAMEo ARE 8PREA0lNo LIKE
LIGHTNING THROUGHOUT
CANADIAN NORTHWEST.
RANGERS ARE BATTLING IN VAIN
Destruction Again Stalks on Settler
Reports From Various States
Tell Of Millions Of Dollars
Less.

Winnipeg, May 1O.-Ine uaMaso
done to timber in the Dauphin, Man,
district by fire is unprecedented. me
range country is covered by fire 1ully
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 al!
points and notwithstanding the facS
that large gangs of men are out hght-
ins flames, their efforts are futile IN
the face of heavy winds and a dry
state of the woods.
Chief Ranger Mcleod, of the East
ern division of the Riding mountains
reserve, has five gangs of men out at
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 10
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 the
people from that town.
When they arrived the flames were
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 fire had burned q
wide swath around the town that it
was considered safe.
Many settlements are in danger,
for the fires to the northwest and
northeast cover wide area and 1t Is
estimated the fire zone extends dis
lance Of at least 500 miles. The
Duck and Riding mountains appear to
be a mass of flames. Reports OF per
sons having been burned are numer.
GUS, but SO far the rumors lack con.
armation. Panic stricken settlers are
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 1t
is covered with a 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 never
seen anything like it before. Rain
appears to be the only salvation. for
The soil is dried for the want of it,
none having fallen this year. So dry
the country In the bush that even
The peaty soil is smouldering and is
-ekindled with each wind and forms
l fire to meet the others.
Michigan Situation Worse.
Calumet, May 1O.-The fires are
'anned by heavy westerly winds and
are spreading rapidly through the
imber buildings of the Worcester
lumber company. about Chassell.
The So:,th Shore railroad property at
Pelkie, Hazel, Aston and Giddings Is
threatened and fire trains have left
acre for those places.
Navigation past Keweenaw point is
lnreded by smoke clouds on Lake
Superior. At Otter Lake the situation
is better, while there is no change az
Balaga county points.