(Submitter's Note: -- This article was found in the archive records of Alliance Title & Escrow Corp. who acquired the information from Charles Bigsby Abstract. The Author of this article is unknown but it appears to be a first hand account of the devastating fire of 1910. Submitted by Susan G. Copeland)

            Long before the climax of the conflagration in the Coeur d'Alenes, which occurred on Saturday, August 20, when a hurricane arose which swept aside all efforts to stay the progress of the flames, fires had been burning in the forests, and from all directions came news of settlers' homes threatened or destroyed. For a week, at least, Wallace had been encircled with fires but the nearest of these was seven miles distant and any real danger to the city seemed remote.

            As the week of August 14-20 drew towards its close, however, conditions became more threatening. On Thursday afternoon and all Friday fragments of burned or burning timber, floating on a wind caused by the heat of the flames, fell in the streets. News of the situation in Wallace had spread abroad and messages of inquiry began to arrive from anxious friends of residents from all parts of the country. A few people became nervous.

            Superintendent Weigle, of the Coeur d'Alene forest, with headquarters in Wallace, was approached, and his reply to questions was not very encouraging. In effect he said, "The nearest fire is some miles away and there is no immediate danger". He admitted that the fires were beyond control and that, should the wind rise, it might be impossible to stay the progress of the flames. He advised precautions in the city.

            These already had been taken. House owners were sprinkling their roofs with water to prevent chance conflagrations caused by the falling embers, and the fire department was patrolling the city. Night fell on Friday on an anxious, but not frightened city.

            The sun rose on Saturday behind a pall of smoke so dense that it could be seen only as a faint, red disk. An absolute calm prevailed, but the fact that the fires had approached during the night was evidenced by the increase in the falling embers. Branches of considerable size, some still burning or smouldering, fell in the streets and in the yards. The day seemed one of ill omen.

            In the afternoon conditions changed for the worse. The wind began to rise, blowing fitfully and seemingly from all directions. The smoke in the city became more dense and breathing was unpleasant. News came of a fire on Placer Creek which had got beyond control and was sweeping citywards. The negro soldiers of the Twenty-fifth infantry were driven in, and other fire-fighters began to arrive, some badly burned, all defeated by the onrushing flames.

            At the Wallace and Providence Hospitals preparations were made to move patients out of the city to a point of safety. There was no semblance of a panic anywhere, and these preparations went forward without interruption.

            As soon as the danger became imminent, Mayor Walter H. Hanson took charge of the situation. He enrolled special police, ordered all doubtful characters out of the city on the evening train, pressed all available men into volunteer fire fighting force, and commenced the work of protecting the city by starting back fires up the hills which could meet the approaching flames and stay their progress.

            To those prompt measures and to the energy and pluck of the men who engaged in the work is alone due the salvation of the city from total destruction.

            At four o'clock artificial lights were necessary in offices, stores and homes. At five o'clock, it was as dark, almost, as night, except for the lurid glare which replaced the pall of black smoke which hung over the city. The wind steadily increased in violence and it was known that the fires on Placer Creek, to the west of the city, were rapidly approaching.

            From Placer Creek, King Street, with many frame residences, extends into Wallace, and this was one of the principal points of danger, for had the buildings in the west end taken fire nothing could have prevented the destruction of the entire city.

            Many people who had been content to await developments became alarmed and arrangements were made by both the O.R. & N. and Northern Pacific railroads to run special trains to Missoula. At six o'clock the movement from the hotels and residences to the railroad depots commenced. Meanwhile the wind had grown into a hurricane. The streets were swept by the gale, and sand and ashes were hurled into the faces of those who made their way against the storm.

            Mayor Hanson, using an automobile with which to reach the various points of danger with all possible speed, was here, there and everywhere, directing operations, while the streets became filled with men, women an children dragging their trunks and other belongings towards the railroad depots. At seven o'clock Wallace saw for the first time, the forest fires sweep over the mountain tops and advance towards the city.

            The scene was magnificent and awe-inspiring. A shaft of flame suddenly crept into view to the southwest, and a moment later the pine trees on the crest could be seen clearly as they swayed and fell in the storm of wind and flame. Some of the women became hysterical, but there was little evidence of a general fear. The special trains were being made up and escape was assured.

            Meanwhile, the patients in the Providence Hospital had been taken to Missoula by rail, and at the Wallace Hospital livery rigs were line up in readiness to move those under their care. The Wallace Hospital is situated at the west end, north of King Street, and at a point immediately threatened, but the fire fighters were back firing up the hillside adjoining the hospital, and as the event proved the Providence hospital, situated in the canyon at the east of the city, actually came into the greatest danger.

            Shortly after nine o'clock a large fire brand was seen to fall between the Whelan and Times building, two frame structures on the north side of Bank street, opposite the Shoshone County Court House, and east of the Samuels Hotel. Before anything could be done the two wooden buildings were on fire, and all though the department was on the scene a few seconds after the blaze started, it already had reached a stage that defied the efforts to control it. Filled with much paper, oil and other (in)flamable material, the Times building became a furnace. A tongue of the flame leaped across the street and licked the Michigan Hotel east of the Court House, and this immediately caught fire. Within a few minutes the conflagration had spread until the entire east end of the city was burning. The hurricane carried the flames right and left, and within a quarter of an hour all the buildings east of the Court House and Seventh street was blazing, including the Sunset brewery, the great ware-houses of the Coeur d'Alene Hardware company and other local concerns, and the new O.R.&N. Depot.

            Trains made up of every available rolling stock, including box and flat cars, were run west of the fires and rapidly filled with people. Three terraces of residences along the mountain, southeast of and above the burning quarter of the city, took fire.

            The situation at 10 o'clock was alarming. The whole east end of the city was burning, the hillsides to the west, east and south were aflame, while fires here and there on the hills to the north also made their appearance. The railroad leading to Missoula seemed the only open road to safety and none knew how long that would remain open. Many declared that the whole city was doomed, and that those who remained would forfeit their lives.

            Still there was no panic. One after the other trains laden with women and children and many men pulled out, but to the east and west hundreds of men fought the flames, and the progress of the fire westward was stayed at Seventh street with the partial destruction of the Worstell Company's beautiful new furniture emporium, and the Samuel's Hotel. At the west end the fire was halted, and at midnight men began to realize with relief that the worst danger was over.

            Restaurants and saloons, deserted after the outbreak of fire in the east end, began to reopen. Candles were the only means of illumination in these places, for the power for electric lights had failed long before, and the town was lighted only by the flames in the east end and on the hillsides.

            Dawn, smoky and gloomily, broke Sunday upon a stricken city. The east end lay in smoldering ruins. The beauty of the green-clad hills, in a cup of which the city rests, was gone. The people, wearied with the long fight, went to rest, but still a sufficient force kept watch upon the hills, guarding the city from further disaster. With daylight for the first time came news of lives lost in the all-devouring flames. In the city it was learned that John Boyd, an old pioneer, had forfeited his life in attempting to save a pet parrot, left in his burning home, and the remains of two others, unidentified, were found in the ruins of rooming houses. From the forests came news of the many fire fighters falling, and when complete toll could be taken it was found that upwards of 100 men had fallen before the flames. Over 200 had been burned, many very seriously.

            All Sunday the injured fire fighters limped into Wallace and were taken to the Hospitals, where they received every attention. Many of them told terrible tales of the fight for their lives. Some lay for hours in creeks with only their foreheads and noses exposed -- and these were burned. Others huddled in mine tunnels with wet sacks held at the portals. Some escaped by these means, others, less fortunate, succumbed.

            Today the ruined east end of Wallace is being rebuilt and at no time has there been any note of complaint; everyone is looking to the future and the opportunities for making good the losses suffered.

            Relief was generously given by many cities and the injured fire fighters provided for. Under the charge of Mayor Hanson these arrangements have worked out satisfactorily and it is understood that the government will make provision for the families of those men who gave up their lives in the fire-swept forests while in the service of the forestry officers.
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