The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-10
FIRES RAGING In THE WOODS
The Complete Destruction of the Town
of Spencer Fully Confirmed.
Destruction of Timber and Other Property at
Other Points-Fears that the Horrors
Peshtigo Will Be Re-Enacted.

forest fires in northern Wisconsin are evidently
exaggerated There are no fires of consequence
along the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western
railroad, and none at all along the valley division
of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St Paul railway.
A dispatch from Chippewa Falls says large
amount of grain in shock and standing was
burned north and west of that point. No news
can be had over the wires of the Wisconsin Cen
trail railroad, as they are crowded with business,
and the Western Union wires along the fire Sec
ton are down. Small woods fires are reported
between Colman and Stiles on the Milwaukee &
Northern railroad.
A special to the Evening Wisconsin from APP
pleton says fire, at midnight, destroyed the pa
per mill of Richmond Bros, causing loss of
100000 insurance, $35, 000 The mill employed
thirty men.
A dispatch from Neillsville received this after
noon by the Wisconsin. says fires have been
burning IN the woods in that vicinity for several
days. At Hewittvile. ten miles from Neills-
vile, the saw. mill, boarding house and every
building connected Herewith was burned. Loss,
80 O00 Farm houses in the neighborhood were
burned and many families were compelled to
move into the fields with their household goods.
The fires are still raging southwest and north of
Neilsville, destroying grain and buildings. Par
ticulars are difficult to get
For an almost uninterrupted distance of nearly
one hundred miles north of Stevens Point along
the line of the Wisconsin Central, forest fires
are raging. and hundreds of men are fighting the
flames, seeking to save the towns ana villages
hemmed in by them. Taiegraphic communica
ton is greatly interfered WITH and details are
meager The complete destruction of the town
of Spencer is fully confirmed, and the loss is
now placed at $500, 900. Several hundred people
are destitute and homeless. At Colby, few
sides A dispatch to the Sentinel to-
night says that it required the desper-
ate efforts of che entire population
to save the village. A gale was blowing all day,
and several times the fires reached TO within
thirty feet of the buildings and were kept in
check. Tonight the wind quieted down, but
the people are tired out and if the gale resumes
the village Is doomed. Tonieht the village of
flames, and it is feared that it will be swept out
of existence unless the wind dies down.
Near Chippewa Falls the fires are confined to
the praries, and no buildings were destroyed.
Several farms devastated of their crops.
In the Menominee river region copious rains
have extinguished the fires that have ragged
there. Estimates of the pine burned in this
gion place the amount at upward of one hundred
million feet.
Along the Valley division of the Chicago, Mil
waukee & st. Paul railroad are located the most
extensive cranberry marshes in the West.
There has been no rain for weeks, and growers
fear that they will be swept from end to end if
the fre is once communicated to them.
Along the line of the Milwaukee & Northern
railroad forest fires are raging between Coleman
and Stiles This territory was burned over once
before, and the present confagration is confined
to the underbrush The most serious fires, how
ever, exist in the heart Of Clark and Marathon
counties. Advices received at the Wisconsin
Central Offices here are that millions of feet of
standing pine have been burned. Thousands of
cords of wood. piled adjacent to the railway
track, many hundreds of dollars worth of ties,
deserted lumber camps, Isolated dwellings and
much other property is burned. Telegraph poles
are burned off. miles of wire are on the ground
and communication between Milwaukee and
points along the northern division of the Wis
consin Central road is cut off, except by the rail-
road connpany's private wires, which are operated
by means of ground connections.
1t is feared that other villages besides Spen-
Ger, that are in the way of the flames, may be
swept away unless heavy rains fall at once and
extinguish the fires Though no fatalities are
reported as yet, it is thought that many people
must have persisted in the back woods. The
facts will not be known, however until the fires
are extinguished and search is instituted. Peo-
pie who passed through the burning territory by
train say that the blazing forests light I'D the
heavens in every direction. The air is laden
with smoke that hangs over the country like
black pail.
CHICAGO, Aug. 9-The Daily News's Oshkosh.
WIS, SPeoiai says "A iarse nre ia tuo Wooos
just west of Dspere burned the Williamson saw
mill, farm-houses and barns The path of the
fire extends north for mile and is scorching
bot. Everything is dry, and the wind blowing
briskly from northerly direction. Should the
wind shift to the west the town of Depere is in
danger unless the wind subsidies or changes.
Green Bay is also in danger Trains On the
Chicago q Northwestern are stopped near Pen
saukee Advices say they do not know when
they will get through. on account of the fire.
Old residents say that fires are starting in the
woods just as they did during the great Peshtigo
fire.
The latest advices tonight show no abate-
ment in the forest CONGREGATIONS The village
of Mosinee narrowly escaped destruction by
shift Of the wind. Wausa is now considered out
of danger AT Stevens Point Robbinss mill and
number of dwellings were burned 1t is ex-
pected the fire will reach the populous south
side Of the city by tomorrow.