The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-05-09
PLAYING HAVOC.
An Immense Amount of Damage Done
by Forest Fires.
A Farmer Robbed by Two Conf
dence Men.
Unfortunate Boomers Returning From
Oklahoma.
The Mysterious Disappearance of Or.
CrOwnln UnsOlVed.

ST.. PAUL, Mimi, May 6.-Furious
forest fires are raging in Northern
Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin,
and an immense amount of damage
has been done. For miles on three
sides of Duluth the fire RACES and
many country residences have been de-
Btroyed by the flames. On the Her
mantown road near Duluth every
dwelling for four miles has been de-
SLroyed. 1t is feared that somes lives
have been lost, as incoming farmers
report vast sea of fire
which is sweeping everything before it.
A high wind is blowing which makes
1t impossible for any Roadway to be
made against the fire. 1t must simply
burn until there is nothing more for
1t to destroy. Several houses were
burned yesterday near Spirit Lake. a
large number Of telegraph poles have
been burned and communication is in
terfered with. In some places, too, ties
on the track have burned out, making
it dangerous to move trains.
South of Ashland for $50 miles the
forests are ablaZe. On the Fond du
Lac Indian reservation $40, 900 worth
OF skidded logs went up. Other losses
aggregating 800 also occurred on
the reservation. Cumberland, Wis
consin, is almost surrounded by fire.
The loss aggregates $40, 900. at North
Grantsburg, Wisconsin, the fire has
swept the country, destroying every
thing in its path. Along the Northern
Pacific In the neighborhood of Crom-
well the tamarack forests, and what
ever else comes in the way, is being
burned. 1t is hoped a heavy rain will
come soon to put stop to the further
spreading of the fire. Near Hinckley.
Minnesota, ThoDlas Campbell and
Ernest Lowell were surrounded by fire
and finally their camp outfit was
burned about them. They took ref
uge on half an acre of plowed ground,
but were terribly burned and will die.
Four yoke of cattle persisted.
AT DULUTH.
DULUTH, Mimi, May 6.-There was
quite heavy rain for a few minutes
yesterday which cleared the atmos-
phere i'll Duluth of the heavy smoke
and checked somewhat the forest fires
in that Deighborhood, but the shower
was local and the fires in most sections
are still raging. A lumberman who
arrived yesterday from Ashland, Min.
nesota on the Northern Pacific railroad,
said there was but little rain there and
1T did not do any good. Near Carton
station, Wisconsin, the house, barn
and entire plants of the brickpaTd of
+. III. Apyr were destroyed.
Superintendent Green OF the North
ern Pacific is in from Brainard. He
reports little rain in that direction and
the country covered with smoke from
the burning woods. An engineer on
the night train on the st. Paul s. Du-
luth which arrived here yesterday
morning says that on the run from
Mission creek to near Duluth, sixty
miles, there was no need of a headlight,
tho tracks being lighted up by the
flames. The damage to settlers and
farmers and to lumbermen will be
great. A good deal of stock is probably
destroyed. Several lumber camps have
been burned out. Everywhere the cry
is for rain.
THE FIRE CHECKED.
DULUTH, May 6..-Rain has checked
the forest fires to some extent. Every
incoming train reports fresh list oi
damages and the total will probably
reach over 81 900, 200. On both sides OF
Pike Lake station, even during a thun
der storm, the flames famed them
selves into fury, and the pine trees fel
and shrivelled up like matches, and fol
miles this side of Ashland the forest:
are one sheet of blazing fire. West Of
the Northern Pacific junction the fire
has done a great deal of damage. Fol
miles this side of Hinkey, on the st
Paul Il Duluth, the track was like {
skillet.