The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-08-27
Critical Situation, Belief of
Forest Service Men
in Missoula.
RI7MORS OF DEATHS
DENIED ONCE MORE
Bears Brighten Pack-Train
and Outfit Is Ruined
by Flames.

Carrying terrible threat to tho
men who are struggling to hold the
fires raging IN western Montana for
cs,s, a high wind swept out of tho
east last night blowing ut the rate OF
A. miles an hour. 1t seemed to mock
tho forest officials who had declared
earlier In the evening that with an
other windlcss night like Saturday
night and another quiet day like sun
day they would have a fighting
chance against a situation that had
seemed worse than hopeless Saturday.
At u tate hour last night, telephone
communication with Lolo was impos-
siblc on account of the singing OF the
wires in the wind, but great apprc-
hcnsion was felt for this fire in par
ticular If the wind that was blowing
In Missoula was general.
Rumors Of Tragedy.
Rumor of a fire fighter who became
blinded and pcrshcd in the fire at
Lolo and persistent stories OF another
who has been missing Mt Seelcy lake
| for several DAYS have been current In
Missoula during the past few days.
All attempts to verify these reports
have failed.
"trosty" White. an automobile
! driver in the employ Of the forest
service. admitted bringing an injured
| man to town yesterday. but wonld not
| say anything concerning others OF
| whom he * said to have told friends.
| Il do my work and keep my mouth
! pht 10 e.. Ia cnp
! catry office for your information"
| District Supervisor K. II. Rutlcdgc
said last night that the forestry re-
ports show no mon killed but that one
man who had been fighting the Deer
| creek fir" was missing. However. the
man Is generally beloved to have
walked out" after having been there
about two days.
| Bears Cause Loss Of Train.
| A misfortune at which the officials
at the local office were forced to smile
in spite of It's seriousness occurred
| when a pack train. laden with supplies
for the men at the Gold creek fire.
was at point this side Of the Rattle
snak" fire. Two bears chanccd to
cross the trail just in front of tho pack
! horses, which were young and frisky
A stampede ensued Immediately, the
horses hucking and knocking their
packs against the trees. One of the
packs happened to contain matches.
which ignited as the pack rubbed
against tree. The pack blazed up
and the men In charge of the train
removed 1t as quickly as possible from
the horse
Other Packs All Destroyed.
other packs. some of which had
been thrown off by the bucking ami
mails and others which had been re-
moved for safety. were scattered
about. These caught fire from the
burning pack and two 25-men outfits
were almost completely destroyed. tho
: tin plates and other utensils beinG
bent and twisted SO as to be useless.
Il Some Fires Dying Down.
TIL" reports from some sections
nav" been so encouraging as to make
r possible the removal of q number OF
4 men from those fires to put on the
y fires where they are in greater de
, mand. ,rh" situation at Deep creek Is
1 so favorahl" that n number of me-,
+ have been lot out from there and 100
. men from the Adair fire In the Idaho
forest.
: homcsteaders Fleeing.
Although the fires at Seelcy lake ar,
not immincntly threatening the home
Stcadcrs, only one OF their barns hav,
| ing burned. many of them have moved
or are moving to torlctt.
Herders and sheep from the Macla,
ranch at I.nlo were found not dan
g"rouSlH near the fire. and they ar
going to stay whcr. they are unles
!, The hazard becomes more serious rh
Brown ranch on Petty creek. whicl
was endangered by the fires, was re
ported saved last night.