The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-09-24

| In connection with the forest fires
which have been raging in the North
western States, Henry S. Graves re-
calls some notable conflagrations Of
the past. A Bulletin from the National
Geographic Society contains Mr..
| Graves sketch, which follows:
There have been a number Of
great fires which have attained his
toric importance. One of these occur
ed in New Brunswick. in the fall of
1925, on the Miramichi River, during
season Of great drought.
Within nine hours that fire had
burned over strip of forest so miles
long and 25 miles wide, destroying
every living thing in Its path. One
hundred and sixty persons persisted
and nearly 1000 head of stock. Five
hundred and ninety buildings were
burned and number Of towns were des
troyed, including Newcastle, Chatham
and DOuglastwn. 1t is related that ev-
en- great quantities of fish in the riv-
er were killed by the heat of the fire.
Another historic fire was that
which occurred in Wisconsin in the
fall OF 1871. A single fire swept over
an area of more than 1000 square
miles. 1t, destroyed the town OF Pesh-
tigo, and between 1900 and 1900 per-
sons persisted. That same year the
damage by fire elsewhere in the
country was enormous.
Still another fire, which is re-
membered by many persons, was that |
which destroyed the town OF Hinckley,
Minnesota, In the fall of 1894. AS in |
other cases of great fires, there was |
a season of exceptional drought. Many |
fires were constantly starting during
that fall, but there was no effective
effort to extinguish them. Forest fires
were so common that there was no
special fear offpossible danger until
lt was too late to meet the situation.
AS often happens when there are
many fires burning under these con-
1ltlons and a high wind springs up,
he different small fires were sudden
y merged, and great crown of fire
'esulted which swept over the town
II Hlnckley and six other towns, en-.
,1rely destroying them, killing 500
PERSONS, and making over 1000 more
entirely destitute. The estimated loss
n property by this fire was more than
rs, 100000.
THE most recent great disaster
rom forest fires occurred in the Pa
ific Northwest in 1910. I nat year was
he driest ever known 10 the West,
in northern Idaho and
Montana.
"On July z3 severe electric storm.
Practically WIT tout rain, passed ever
he northern Rocky Mountains, sci. T
ing large number OF fires. The
'oeur d'Alene Mountains in particu- ,
ar suffered from these fires. II three +
avs the forest rangers put out nine I
res set by lightning in the Occur d. I
lene National Forest. From one
ause or another, many other fires /,
ere set. Heroic measures were taken
, extinguish them.
Eat one time 1900 men, besides two I
Of soldiers, were fighting +
res in the Occur dAlene forest alone
Id large crews were fighting fires
other parts of the northwestern
rests. The men fought stubhornly,
orking day and night building rsn-
les around the fires and gradually +
them to small area.
"All fires seemed to be under con-
oil, when on August 20 terrific hur-
cane sprung up, sweeping all the G
operate fires together and making q
gantic wall Of flame many miles
ng. Many of the fire fighters were
rectly in the path Of the fire. Sew =
ty-nine fire fighters were killed,
I'd IL it had not been for the skill
I'd the nerve of the forest rangers In O.
arge of the crews very much larg- =
number would have persisted. AS it =,
Is, about half of the number killed :,
1t their lives because of their fail :,
e to obey the orders of the forest :,
myers in charge of the parties" .,