The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-08-13
WISCONSIN TOWNS BEs1EGED.

WISCONSIN TOWNS BEsIEGED.
MILWAUKEE Wis, Aug. 1O.-Forest fires
are raging almost continuously for nearly
100 miles a ong the Wisconsin Central rail
road, north OF Stevens Point. Towns and
villages are encircled by the flames and
their inhabitants are heroically battling
with the devourirg element to save their
homes from destruction.
The report of the destruction of the
greater portion OF Spencer is confirmed.
The total loss is now placed at $500, 0o0
Several hundred people are now homeless
Gnd destitute.
Fire ragged at Colby, on two sides OF the
village, all day long yesterday, the flames
sometimes approaching to within twenty
five or thirty feet OF buildings, but, By the
hard work of citizens, it is believed that
the village is safe for the time being at
least. The men at Colby are thoroughly
tired out from fighting the fire, and if the
wind should blow to-day as it blew yester-
day the result is doubtful
A large fire is burning in the woods lust
west OF Depere & WiIliamson's saw-mill 4
farmhouse and its barns have been
burned. Should the wind change Depere
would be in great danger. Green Bay is
reported to be in danger. The Chicago &
Northwestern trains were stopped by fires
near Pensaukee yesterday, and at last re-
ports they had not been able to get
through the flames.
Forest fires are burning in several direc-
tions near Wausau, but no Immediate
danger to that city is apprehended. On
Sunday the smoke arose in such volumes
there as to obscure the sun, and at mid
day it was as dark as at twilight. The
woods between Wausau and Mosinee were
one mass OF flames.
The village OF Prentice, in Marathon
County, is surrounded by 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 prairies,
and no buildings have been destroyed. Sew.
eral farms have been devastated OF their
crops. In the Menominee river region CO.
pious rains have extinguislled the
fires that have ragged there. 1t is estimated
that 100, 100000 feet of pine has burned
in that region. Along the Valley division
of the Chicago, Milwaukee & 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 il
fire is once communicated to them.
Reports received at the Wisconsin Cen.
trail offices say that millions OF feet OF
standing pine have been burned, together
with thousands of cords Of wood piled adj
lacent to the railway track, many hundreds
of dollars worth OF ties, deserted lumber
camps, isolated dwellings, and much other
property. Telegraph poles are burned
off, miles OF wire are on tho
ground, and communication between
Milwaukee and points along tho
northern division of the Wisconsin Gen.
trail road is cut off, except by the railroad
companys private wires. which are oper-
ated by means of ground connections.
dispatch from Neillsville, received yei-
terday afternoon, says that fires have been
burning in the woods in that vicinity for
several days. At Hewittville ten miles
from Neilsville. the saw-mill, boarding
house and every building connected there
with was burned. Loss, $4,000. 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 Neillsvile, destroying grain and
four buildings. Particulars are difficult to
obtain.
Though no fatalities are reported as yet,
it is thought that many people must have,
persisted in the backwoods. The facts will
not be known, however, until the fires are
distinguished and q search is institUt ted.
People who passed through the burning
territory by train say that the blazing
forests light the heavens in every direction.
; Il 4 4 Z
over the country like a black pail. In
the town of Maine fires are raging, but
the chief damage done there so far is to
the timber. Instances are reported hourly
where whole neighborhoods have been
called out to fight the fires, and farm
houses, fences, haystacks and outbuildings
have been destroyed. The roads in great
many places are impossible by reason OF
falling timber and the close proximity of the
fires. Unless rain comes soon there is
danger of a repetition. of the calamity of
1872, when the village. OF Peshtigo was
swept from the earth.
IN UPPER MICHIGAN.
MARQUETTE, Mich, Aug. 10.-T'hc fires
which have been running in the woods and
brush for several days have closed in on
the city from the north and west until they
have encroached on the city limits, and
there is great danger of the destruc.
ton OF the northern part OF tho
town. This portion is newly built
and water mains have not yet been
laid there, consequently there is no
protection against fire. as the city has no
steamers, depending entire on the Holly
system. Several outlying buildings have
gone, and the fires are now coming stead
NO ha III oh II T.
The extensive giant powder and nitro
glycerine works OF the G. S. Powder Com
pany, two miles out of town, are in great
danger. Burning bark and leaves arc being.
swept over Them by the high winds Mar
quette's new public park (Presque Isle has
narrowly escaped. The fire was stopped
on the narrow neck of the point by q
change of the wind. The day was OF I'M
bearable heat here and men fighting fires
have suffered greatly. The city was Ell.
veloped in thick white smoke and the sun
looked like ared ball in the sky
Other large fires are raging ten miles to
the south of the Chocolav river and On
Sand river, just across the bay, along the
Detroit, Mackinac & Marquette railroad,
the unparalleled dryness making every
thing go like finder. The Detroit,
Mackinac & Marquette express had
to run yesterday afternoon through
the fire. The train was stopped and all
the car windows were closed The track
was examined ahead, and under full head
OF steam the train dashed through tho
flame. At Barago, on the Marquette,
Houghton q Ontonagon, the cars were
wet down before the train passed through
the worst places.
The fashion has been started in
New York of sending out cards to
meet people on the deck of the
steamer on which they sal, for Eu-
rope. OF course, it will find imitators
elsewhere, and it will not be long be-
fore invitations like the following wi |
be seen in the interior: Mr.. and
Mrs. Blank, who are about to take a
canal-boat trip to Canastota, will be
happy to meet you on the deck of the
scow Eliza Jane, at packet-dock No.
|, Monday, ten a. m. "-Te3as iSift-
ings.
"A citizen of Emanuel County, Ga.
has curiosity in the form OF a worm.
Lit has eight horns on the ton IF ifs