The Idaho Press August 25, 1910
SEVEN VICTIMS
BURIED IN HOLE
BIG CREEK CASUALTIES.
Dead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Injured . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 18
THE DEAD.
Joe Beauchamp, homesteader.
Upton B. Smith, Kellogg.
M. J. Elliott.
A. Hukalo.
W. Cameron, Wardner, Last Chance
miner.
Roderick Ames, homesteader.
D. Brown.
Two unidentified Italians.
Four unidentified dead.
After a most fatiguing trip, Dr. Mason
and Dr. Knudson of Wardner, arrived in Wallace at 11 o’clock today after having
made the journey to the upper waters of Big creek to minister to the sufferings
of the men injured in the great fire. They found 13 dead and 18 injured.
Seven of the men were found in a small prospect hole that was
only about 5 feet long. These men were burned beyond recognition, but by means
of some papers upon them found in the tunnel their names were learned.
In addition $55 in currency, which was badly burned and $1.85
in silver was found. The men were burned to such a crisp that they could not be
removed from the tunnel prospect hole so that they were buried there, dirt being
thrown over the hole. The other men who were killed by falling trees were placed
in graves that were hastily dug near the spot where they were killed.
Of the injured only one is in a serious condition. He is Fred
Owens, a young man. He sustained severe burns and is suffering from incipient
pneumonia, caused by inhaling flames. The doctors say that it is necessary to
get him out at once or he will die at the camp. He may be brought out today.
The money that was found is believed to belong to Joe
Beauchamp, one of the Big creek homesteaders. His second papers, partly burned,
were found in the hole, also his spectacles. A wallet also was located in the
tunnel belonging to one of the Italians who was burned and by it it is believed
he can be identified.
When the great hurricane sprang up in a moment placing the
fire beyond control, the seven men fled panic stricken to the small hole, after
staying in a clearing for a few moments. They had been there but a few minutes
when the timber at its mouth was on fire.
Survivors of the camp declare that the positions of the men
show that they were engaged in a frightful struggle for safety when they
believed that they were doomed in this small hole.
Their positions showed that they fought one another with all
their strength to get the farthest away from the fire that was eating out their
lives. The fists of all were clenched and some of them had expired with their
clenched fists poised as they were about to deliver a blow on some one of those
with whom they were fighting for their lives in an attempt to get a breath of
air. They were piled in a mass. They had rushed into the death trap one after
another and had engaged in a fight for life from the moment they entered.
Three Die Together.
Three men killed by trees were all
together when they met death. To escape the falling timber and fire they leaped
behind a great tree. They had been there less than two minutes, say companions
who saw them killed, until a huge tree uprooted and fell against the one behind
which the men were standing for protection. The fall of the first tree weakened
the other and both fell to the ground, killing the men instantly.
A third was killed by a flying knot hurled by the wind
through the fire at a great rate. He was found behind a log in a sort of
stooping posture and had just raised his head over the log to obtain a view of
the fire in front of him when he was struck by the flying brand.
Another was found dying the next morning and he succumbed
soon after his discovery. The survivors were startled to see a person in human
form, but who resembled a ghost more than anything else, suddenly fall over a
log and crawl under another. His clothing had been mostly burned off and his
body was fearfully burned. He was raving when the other men rescued him and it
was necessary to drag him from underneath the log. He breathed his last soon
after being carried to water.
Doctors’ Hard Trip.
Although Dr. Mason and Dr. Knudson left Wardner Sunday
afternoon they did not reach the first camp of injured on Big creek till 1
o’clock yesterday afternoon. The guide who was to pilot them over by the way of
Pine creek became frightened for the safety of his wife and children when a
great wind arose Sunday afternoon and he left the physicians and a ranger to
find their way to the camps while he returned to his homestead to protect his
family.
The forestry officer was not acquainted with that section of
the country and since everything had been burned over it was difficult to
travel. The party of three traveled all of Sunday night and all of Monday
morning and not a trace of the camps could be found.
Finally they took a ridge and by traveling along this they at
last sighted one of the camps down in the basin, where a number of injured were
found. The other camp was shown to them and it was then learned that they had
been traveling in a circle about the places where the injured were being cared
for.
Survivors Arrive.
A number of the Big creek survivors
arrived in Wallace this morning. Some of them went to the hospitals, while the
others were not in a condition to require treatment there. All of them had been
scorched and had inhaled flames.
Albert O. Smith of E1528 Third avenue was one of the
survivors who reached here this morning. He was one of the crew which lost so
many men. When the great wind storm first struck the camp about 4 o’clock in the
afternoon of Saturday he with the others rushed to the clearing. They stayed
there but a short time when all sought the water of the creek.
"There was only a small stream running," said Mr. Smith
today, "and even with my sweater soaked in water it was scorched by the fire
that was sweeping over us. I kept it over my head and gave my jumper to another
man who had nothing with which to protect himself.
"There were 26 of us in the creek and all of us came out
alive.
"The sight of the men killed in the prospect hole was
terrible. They were piled up there showing that they had been engaged in an
awful fight for their lives when they were finally smothered and burned to
death. I think that it was just 4:55 when we went into the water for my watch
filled with water when we struck the creek and stopped running at that time."
Others who came out today were John Morsey, E. Held, C. Bush
and Hank Allen. Bush was badly burned about the eye and was taken to the Hope
hospital.
"It was the coolest men in the crew who were saved," said
Smith. "The men who lost their heads were killed."
__________________
Mansfield News August 29, 1910
Page 2
BODY OF U.
D. SMITH
_________
Who Was Killed in the Forest Fires
In Washington on the Road Home.
W. H. Smith received a
dispatch Monday morning dated at Spokane, Wash., Aug. 28 to the effect that the
body of his son, Upton D. Smith, who was burned to death in the recent forest
fires near there would be shipped from there Aug. 29, at 3 p. m. The dispatch
which is signed by E. E. Hale says that three men saw the tree fall on the
deceased and that the coffin should not be opened as it would be impossible to
recognize the features of the dead man. Mr. Hale also says that a letter will
also be sent to the father, giving additional information.
Upton D. Smith left Mansfield about three and one half years
ago. He was working in the mines in Washington state when the great forest fires
broke out and volunteered as a fire fighter. He was 21 years of age. It is
expected that the body will arrive in Mansfield by express over the Erie on
Thursday or Friday.