The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-11
THE BURNING WOODLANDS.
Further Accounts of the Destruction
in Wisconsin and Michigan.
Timely Rains Have Reduced the Danger in
Some Localities, but the Village Of Ham
sen Is Doomed to Destruction.

MILWAUKEE, August lot is reported from
Green Bay that the village Of Big Suamico is so
beset by fire thar-the people have sent request
for steamer to take them TO Green Bay About
one hundred gathered at the rivers mouth, to
await the arrival Of the steamer. The fires in
through the town of Lawrence burning twenty
five dwelling houses and Wiliamson's saw-mill.
The flames are reported to be moving toward
Nicollet The Chicago & Northwestern track at
Pensaukee Is reported burned, and there is a
rumor that the village is being destroyed Rail
road traffic was obstructed by the fire.
A dispatch to the Evening Wisconsin from
Eau Claire Wis. says that passengers on the
Wisconsin Central noon train report the fires
thoroughly checked as far as Wausau, though
the forest north of that point is still ablaze A
ure cxtinguish the fires around Eau Claire, and
all fears of an outbreak that would result in
considerable damage are allayed. The Their
mometer at Eau Claire to-day is 102
A dispatch to the Evening Wisconsin from
Green Bay says that reports of damage by fire
come from all points. The damage at Little
Suamico Is past. Fields Of standing grain, a
barn, blacksmith shop and a number of resi-
dences were destroyed. At New Denmark. yes
terday. the house, barn and granary Of Boyce
christensen was burned, together with all the
grain raised this year. At Pensaukee, two mills
belonging to d. Z. Pendleoon were burned; also,
two barns and several fields of grain. 1t is also
reported that the depot was burned but this
cannot be verified, the wires being down
Several residences were burned in the town of
Howard, and others are in danger. The tug
Schiller arrived back at Green Bay from Big
Suamico with few refugees. The danger was
over when she got there. and the people decided
not to leave their possessions.
LATER-Opportune rains this morning at
many points where the forest fires are raging in
northern Wisconsin have impeded their
progress, and to-nights advices are that the
danger is greatly lessened while not past. Colby
would have been destroyed but for rain and
Wausau also narrowly escaped. In other places
the fires remain unquenched. The village of
Hansen is doomed. 1t is surrounded by walls
of flame and while, as well as possible, men are
fighting the fire. the water supply is becoming
exhausted. Hilton and Rantoul. in Calumet
county, are surrounded by fire, and farmers are
focking into the villages for safety. Acres of
grain have been devastated. A dozen buildings
have been destroyed at Pensauke and Howard
focked into tine village and found railroad COM
munication cut off A woman left her babe in
her house and it was burned to death. Hun
dreds of people are homeless in q stricken dis
trict
Coleman. Abrams and new Denmark are in
danger. Rains have saved Stevens Point after
thousands of bushels of cranberries and millions
of feet of standing timber in the vicinity had
been consumed.
At Sturgeon Bay the smoke obscured the sun
to-day, and vessels along the coast blew whistles
continuously 1t is almost impossible to navi-
gate near there.
CHICAGO, Aug 10-The Inter Oceans Eau
Claire, Wis, special says: Last night short
but brisk shower was effective in dampening and
impeding the progress of the running fires in
this direction and passengers on the late even
ing train over the Omaha s. Wisconsin Central
lines report but few fires observed from here for
fifty miles down the line In the direction Of
the pineries northward, however, the country is
enveloped In a black smoke, and the odor from
the burning leaves, grass and debris is unpeas-
ant. Reports from the pineries on the Eau
Claire river, thirty to forty miles east of here
received this evening are to the effect that the
worst Is OYER, though the amount of property
destroyed is quite large. w. p. Waterbury, of
Augusta, twenty-five miles east of here, loses
considerable, among which is 200 900 feet of log
several logging outfits and camps, and about
5000 worth of cord wood. The people along the
railroad have no further fears of destruction of
property as the territory contiguous to settle
ment is now well burnt over. The Methodist
Church, with all Of the furniture located few
miles from Fairchild in the eastern part of this
county, was fired by an incendiary last night,
and completely destroyed. Reported loss is
$20,0 900.