, 1923-07-14
At BURKE
AND MACE ARE
BROUGHT UNDER
TODAY.
Hundreds Left Homeless
But No Lives Are Lost
In ConAagration That
Swept Through Canon
WALLACE. Idaho. JuIv IA

WALLACE, Idaho, July Ia.
Fire that swept up Burke
yesterday evening and
last night, destroying the lit
tie mining town of Mace and
all except the eastern resi-
dence section of Burke. Idaho, was
brought under control at $40 n. m.
today after having wrought damage
estimated at $1,000. 900.
Today the homeless. estimated at
upwards of 400 persons were contem-
plating the ruins of their towns,
thankful that no lives either of those
who fought the flames above ground
or Of several hundred miners who bat.
tied their why to safety from tho
depths of the Hecla mine, had been
claimed. Two persons were burned.
neither seriously.
Refugees carried hero on a spe-
cial train operated over the lines Of
thu Northern Pacific railroad to a
point as near the burned district as
disrupted trncks would permit, were
cared for here last night. others
found shelter in miners houses and
other residences in tho part of Burke
that was spared by the flames.
This morning little clusters Of
weary md sometimes ~dlsheartened
mothers and children were grouped
about pitifuIly small collections of
household furniture ana bundles of
| CfnfhfnD (nnfoparfotg,- a. I-
ed ruins OF what on yesterday morn
ing were their homes. Little insur-
ance was carried on tho dwelling
houses. it was stated. the rate was
too high to permit II.
Wants Of h refugees were being
cared for today by tho Red Cross and
other benevolent organizations, and
preparations were being made to meet
their needs until they were able to
resume tho interrupted thread of
their lives. In some cases It WINS fear
ed this might be n matter of some
time. as destruction of the outer
Workings of the Hecla mine, ono of
the large lead producers of the Unit
cd States was expected to halt oper-
atoms there for some months unit,
the burned buildings could be rebuilt
and wrecked machinery be replaced.
The mining property destroyed, It was
stated was covered by insurance and
about rs per cent of the business
buildings in Burke were protected.
The story of the escape of the min.
ers from the Hecla workings as told
today by the mon revealed how easily
yesterdays fire might have developed
into a mine disaster with possible loss
of life.
Four hundred OF tho men on the
1000 foot level found the holsts out OF
commission when the alarm of the
fire vas given and they were ordered
to the surface. The flames had cut
Off not only the power lines that op.
Grated the machinery but tho light
wires as well. and they were plunged
into darkness.
Taking LADDERS they attempted "a
make their way to tho outer all
through number 1 tunnel only to find
that the flames had blocked their way,
They were forced to retrnce their steps
and at last, after severn hours OF
climbing over the ladders, reached the
surface through number 3 tunnel.
None of the miners was the worss
for tho experience, II was stated today
except two aged employees. who found
the arduous climbing a difficult test
of their endurance.
Through the terror of the fire
t~ownspeople said today. the women
OF the towns maintained their com
posture until the report came Of their
husbands struggle to reach the sur
face. Tho panic threatened until
all OF the men had reached safety.
Il