Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-05-15
HOMES IN ASHES.

HOMES IN ASHES.
A Con migration Sweeps Away sevsnrJ
Buildings In Moreland, a Suburb Of Chi.
cago-Towns in Michigan and Other
States snffer Severely Through Fires In
tho Forests. 49,
CHICAGO, May 0.-Twenty-fve acres OF
ground closely built up with small dwell.
ing houses were swept by fire in the sub
urban village Of Moreland last evening, and
seventy families are rendered homeless. The
fire started in the Presbyterian church,
a medlum-sized frame structure, at
O'Clock, and famed by a high wind pre-
valling at the time, burned furiously. The
flames soon spread to surrounding dwell.
ings. one after another, and before they
could be checked a terrible. con.
Migration was spreading terror
ON all Sides The lack Of water sup
ply, aided by the heavy gale, placed the
hre beyond the control of firemen police
and citizens, who made every effort to
check It's course without avail. A
warehouse in which was stored
large quantity OF gasoline proved
gigantic tinder-box, which in burning
scattered fire in all directions The fire
burned itself out by o'clock, when it waa
found that every dwelling, a large number
OF small stores and two village halls, cover
Ing an area OF twenty-five acres, had been
entirely consumed A number of dwell
ings located at distance fro1u the immedi-
ate scene Of contlagration caught fire
from flying sparks and were destroyed also.
Tho prairie in the vicinity is dotted over
with the camps OF the sufferers Those
who saved portion of their effects are
standing guard over the remnants, while
81 tlo
1t Is believed that the fire originated
from stumps OF cigarettes thrown into a
pew in the church by some boys who had
gained admittance through an open win.
dow.
The loss is almost entirely by the laboring
class. Many Of the houses were owned by
men who worked in the car-shops and who
were paying for them IN monthly INSTALL
ments While many of the families saved
some of their household goods, so rapidly
did the fire burn that none escaped without
some loss number of those occupying
houses that were burned were away from
home and their loss was total
10 figure accurately on the loss in
money entailed by the fire is next to i'm
possible 1t has been stated that seventy
buildings were destroyed, but this Is
only an estimate, as the ruin was sc
complete that it was often a question
whether a pile Of ashes represented one
or more buildings None OF the. burned
structures were costly, and it is prob
able that an average of 81 600 each would
cover tho value Allowing $4,000 fo1
damage to furniture, stocks of goods, ETC.,
the total loss may be placed between So.
600 and 100000.
THE BLAZING FORESTS.
NEGAUNEE, Mich, May 9.-The destructive
forest fires of Tuesday were partially ex.
tinguished by the rain OF Tuesday night and
Wednesday morning. All telegraph com.
munication was cut Off for twenty-foul
hours by the burning of poles. The
village of Spalding was half burned;
twenty houses in Vulcan were
burned; and minor fires are re.
ported at Daggett, Stambaugh and
other places. Fires are burning at many
places in the woods still Bad fires are re.
ported in Ontonagon County, along the line
OF the Duluth, Lake Shore T. Atlantic
railway. Bruce's Crossing, O'Brien and
other places have been badly scorched
Whether the fires spread or are extnguishec
depends on the weather. More rain is bad.
ly needed
NEsroR1A, Mich, May 9-Fires are re.
ported burning in the dense pine forests
between Hill Greek and Matchwood on the
Duluth South Shore & Atlantic railway ex.
tension between here and Duluth The post
office, express office and railway staff
OF st. Collins were burned and train
delayed by fires in dangerous proximity t
the track. The district is covered with a
dense pine, untouched by the axe, and ex-
tensive fires would destroy millions of dol
lars worth of pine and inperil the lives Of
many homesteaders.
SULLIVAN, Mich, May 9-Forest fires ig.
nited this town Tuesday noon and burned
the larger portion of it. The loss, as asce1.
tanned is: Munger, Watson e. Devoist, logs
and lumber, $4,000; Sullivan Lumber Com.
pany, lumber, $4,000; 2,5OO,OOO feet of log.
at K. G. Spauldings MILL $4,000; A. B. Klise
lumber and logs, $500; Nellie e. Son.
81 800 on lumber; others on wood, bark
etc, probably $4,000. Twenty-Five fami.
lies were rendered homeless and destitute
One hundred people were fed and shell.
tered at Ravenna q village five miles
distant
ELBA, Mlnn., May "a raging prairie fire
rushed down upon thi, town Wednesday,
burning the principal business houses and
many residences, and also the huge Elba
Touring mill Many poor families were
burned out of house and home. Desperate
efforts were made to stop the fire
but the wind blew hard, and the men, be.
ing unable to stand before the fierce heat
had to run with their wives and children
and let their homes 60 Most of the losers
are employees of the mill. Elba is a country
village of 200 inhabitants.
NEwBURGu, N. Y, May 9.-Forest fires are
burning in the Shawangunk mountains
and the Catskllls, also in the highlands
below this city and also on the
Fishkill mountains. Passengers coming in
on the New York & New England
railroad say the fires are also burn
ing on the mountains in that vicinity and
on the State line. The atmosphere along
the Hudson river is filled with
smoke, and unless rain comes soon
pilots on night boats will have
a hard time seeing their way
through. A large amount of woodlands has
been seriously damaged. The fires are re-
ported to be on the increase in all d.
rections AS yet no lives are reported lost
or no persons injured.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, May GA special from
Custer City, Pa, says fierce forest fire
ragged above the Moody tract, five miles