New Britain herald., 1924-07-15
Miners E,sCaI,e

Spokane, wash, July 15.-Mine workers. homesteaders and others re- ported trapped by forest fires in east ern Washington and northern Idaho and whose fate was in doubt last night, have escaped the flames, re- ports received here today declared.
 Most Serious Fire Ever
 Forest fires raging along the entire Pacific coast. from Southern Califor- nia to British Columbia, were being fought today by forces recruited from federal, state and private timber in tercsts in the effort to save thousands of acres of timber and grazing land from being added to that already burned over in what is characterized as the most serious forest fire situa. ton that ever existed on the western coast.
 Blazes in the timber of eastern Washington, northern Idaho and Brit ish Columbia were reported to have burned over courses which had cut oft homesteads of settlers of whose fate word was eagerly awaited.
 Many Narrow Escapes
 Four members of, colony of Dou- khobors in British Columbia were fear cd to have been overcome in a fire through which twelve of the colony, at first reported killed, safely made their way late yesterday.
 Thirty of sixty-fve men, women and children believed to have been trapped at the Constitution mine at Kellogg, Idaho, last night were brought in here early this morning over rough mountain trail, their only open passage, and word came with them that the remainder of the heleaguered mine workers and their shortly.
 A family of five on Trapper Creek is unaccounted for.
 Six men on the other side of the fire at the Nabob Mill also have not been heard from.
 The Sidney mine and the Highland Surprise, are directly in the path of the flames, which are bearing down upon them and on the town of Wal. lace, on the urge of a 40 mile wind from the west. The government gulch fire, which is in it's fourth day, was within mile of Kellogg and was fast toward Warnder. The people of that town and Silver King were moving out.
 B Arc Believed Lost
 From Spokane came word that sS persons, including II children, are believed to have lost their lives in a crest fire which swept over Wheeler's Mill, six miles of Blue Slide, in northern Pend O'Reille county.
 The report said that the families ried to make their way out in auto mobile but the flames forced them back There is possibility they may have found safety in the mill pond, he message said.
 Greatest monetary loss has been in he forests of the Pacific northwest on both sides of the international boun- iary. In Idaho. mine buildings have been burned, and in Washington and Oregon, logging camp equipment of he lumber companies has been de- ,troycd.
 Rlazes in the coast region of Wash- ngton and oregon were reported ur- .ually all brought under control last night with the aid of rainfall yester- lay, but in the national forests of 'alifornia four major fires still were raging today, threatening ranches and iy estock and hattled by thousands of men. So great has been the call for ire fighters that automobile tourists nave been forced into tho work in tome instances and calls have been ,ent to the larger cities of the state or mon.
 May Have To Draft Men
 Flames which for week swept the ;anta Barbara national forest north If Los Angeles. were at last reports, increasing in area and intensity and were made by federal for st service officials that it might he Iecessary 10 conscript men from the treets of Los Angeles for fire fighters