The Spokesman-Review   August 27,1910
Page 2

FIGHTING BIG CREEK FIRES;
THEN FLEE FOR THEIR LIVES
______________

Survivor of Hollingshead Party Under Foreman Ma-
loney Tells of Thrilling Escape --- Surrounded
by Solid Mass of Flames.
______________

    ST. JOE, Idaho, Aug. 26. – George B. Cyphers, manager of the Coeur d’Alene Timber Protection association here, estimates that the fires of the last week have burned between 250,000,000 and 350,000,000 feet of timber in the Trout creek and Bear creek districts. Two-thirds of section 46 north, 2 east, and 47 north, 3 east.
    W. J. Ross, chief of the state fire wardens in the Coeur d’Alene district, states that not one of 300 men in his employ has been lost.
    This morning a party of 11 homesteaders on Mica creek returned to the burning district to attempt to save the timber on their claims, which has not yet been destroyed. They established a camp on Mica creek and are backfiring there. In the party were Thomas Kellington, John C. Devier, Charles Tuck, Linn Betten, Ole Dean, Phil Fry, Charles Stradder, William Kennedy, Newton Glover and a man named Montgomery.

Woman Braves Danger.

    In the district to which they went a Mrs. Mardue has stayed on her claim through all the danger, declining to flee when her neighbors told her that there was no hope. Her claim and those belonging to C. O. Zinn and John Ruhl have not burned yet and can be saved if the rain comes, or even if the wind stays quiet.
    The fire west of St. Joe that threatened the Flewelling mill seems to have been checked. One hundred and fifty men have been fighting there for two days, and if the wind does not rise they will get it absolutely under control tomorrow.
    R. Stump, who was one of the Hollingshead party, under Foreman Maloney, that perished on Big creek, and who has previously been reported dead, reached St. Joe today.
    “There was a bunch of 19 of us that started out to fight the fire on Big creek Thursday,” he said. “We established a camp three miles west of the fork on Big creek. We worked until Saturday without any special incident and saved some brush.
    “Saturday morning we were working two miles west of the camp fighting a small fire near Ed Stanley’s cabin. We knew that the fire was gaining on us and that the wind was blowing a gale, but paid little attention to that as we thought our trail was clear and that at any rate we could save ourselves.
    “I had been working by myself for some time and did not see the rest of the men leave their work. As soon as I discovered that I was alone I made for a spring near Stanley’s cabin. There I found the rest of the men. They told me that we were surrounded and that there was no hope. I did not believe this and set out with a man named Taylor to go to our camp. We had not gone far when we discovered that the fire had cut off all ways of escape.
    “Then we returned to the cabin where we found the rest of the men wetting quilts and rags to protect their faces. Most of us went into the cabin, where the heat was not so intense, but as soon as the cabin began to blaze we got out. Some of the fellows were so excited they did not know what to do and stood waving their hands and shouting: ‘We are lost.’

Surrounded by Fire.

    “The fire came in upon us so rapidly and the flames were so solid that it was not a moment until the opening where we were was completely surrounded by a solid mass of fire. I discovered a sort of dark spot, a blur in the flames, and knew that was my only hope. I made for it as hard as I could run. After I has passed through the first wall of fire I staggered perhaps a hundred feet and fell exhausted in a patch of green brush that had not been burned.
    “After lying for a minute or two and regaining my breath I made for the top of the divide to get some fresh air and to determine my route. After traveling on the divide for some hours I came up with a man named McAllen, who had left our camp some time before the fire closed in upon it. We fought our way along the bench without knowing exactly what direction we were going.“After several hours of this we came to a camp of seven men about two miles above Elk prairie. That was about 8:30 o’clock Saturday night. These men had back fired on one side of their camp and were then awaiting an opportunity to get out. We stayed there, about 50 or 60 yards from the main fire, until half past 5 Sunday morning, when it was decided to make a run for our lives.
    “Our only way of escape lay along an old corduroy road. Flames were rising 100 feet on each side of it for about 200 yards. About two-thirds of the way down the road was a bridge partly burned.

Scorched the Air.

    “We covered our faces as best we could and made for the opening. It was hard traveling and the flames whipped over us and seemed to scorch the air we tried to breathe. We finally got into clearer space, and, after getting out of that, it was not difficult to get to Elk Prairie. When we finally arrived at Elk Prairie we got a handcar and came to St. Joe.
    “So far as I have been able to learn all the rest of the 19 except Foreman Maloney and a man by the name of Kingsley were burned. Maloney and Kingsley left some time after Taylor and I had started out from our camp.
    “Before we made our escape Taylor told me it would not make so much difference to him if he were burned: that he had to die any way. I told him I thought we had a chance, but he seemed to give up as the rest did. I believe others of the party could have gotten out had they not become excited and given up.
    “When the fire struck my face it seemed to cut like a knife.”

___________________________