Stephen J. Pyne Year of the Fires
© 2001
page 212 :
“Thus began a tedious, often futile accounting of those injured and killed, an
exercise that exposed the ramshackle process by which the men had been hired and
shipped to the firelines. . . .
“ . . . In most instances the deceased left no identifying papers. Rumors,
reported friendships, fragments of letters, telegrams thrust into pockets all
provided clues. Newspapers across the nation printed the list of casualties, as
the dead had recorded their names. Queries rushed in; counterqueries poured out.
. . .
Coeur d'Alene National Forest Supervisor William G. Weigle in a report on June 24, 1911, to the regional forester at Missoula, had these notations about Carl Omerzu:
55.
Chris Omiso.
No friends known. With Bell's crew on Big Creek. Buried on Big Creek. Wrote to
E. A. Allen, Gen. Del., Spokane, Washington, March 16th, who claims
to have known this party. Signed name as Charles Omiso, address not known.
Thought to be a wanderer. Has certificate of deposit #3215 for $300.00 issued by
Bank of Athens, at Athens, Wisconsin. Also had savings deposit book #1410 issued
in name of Charles Omiso, Cranbrook, B. C., in the Dominion Bank, Calgary,
Alberta. Wrote to Mayor of Cranbrook, but no reply. Different names given are,
Charles Omerso
Karl Omersa
Charles Omer
Karl Omers
Chas. Omoso.
Time
Aug. 2 - 6 hours
3 - 20
4 - 16
5 - 16
6 - 14
7 - 12
8 - 14
9 - 12
10 - 12
11 - 12
12 - 12
13 - 12
14 - 12
15 - 12
16 - 12
17 - 24
18 - 12
19 - 12
20 - 12
254 hours,
$63.50
8.00 paid.
$55.50
Stephen Pyne, page 217:
“Josef Omerza of 'Duruvar, Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia,' claimed relief as a dependent of his son, Carl Omerza. He stated that three years earlier he had loaned his son 400 crowns to send him to America, where he would earn enough money to repay his father and also support him in his old age. No one had heard from him again until a relative spied his name on published death lists. Recommendation: no payment.”
- National Archives at
College Park, RG 95, Records of the Forest Service,
Division of Fire Control, General Correspondence – Claims -- Josef Omerza