St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-19
RANCE IS SWEPT
Several Towns on the Mesaba
Range Wiped Out by For
est Fires.
Virginia and Mountain Iron
Destroyed, and Biwabik
Also Possibly Burned.
It Is Believed the Loss Will
at Least Reach a Million
Dollars.
Several Thousand People Are
Suddenly Bereft Of Their
Homes.
Eleven Hundred Of Them Be-
ing Taken to Duluth on
Ore Cars.
The Acting Mayor OF Duluth
Authorizes a Gift Of a
Thousand Dollars.
Iron River, Over the Wiseon-
sin Border, Also Report
ed Destroyed.

DULUTH, Mlnn-, June 1S.-Ihe result
of year of enterprise on the MeSaba
range has been wiped out in a single
day. AdvceS received indicate that
the towns of Virginia and Mountain
Iron have been destroyed, and that
Biwabik is partially if not entirely
wiped out. 1t is impossible to estimate
the loss, but it will approximate S1,000,-
600, and several thousand people are
homeless. For three weeks the range
been burning on all sides of the new
mining towns, and only by the greatest
effort has the disaster of today been so
long averted. The towns of the
Mesaba lie in nearly straight
line along the range and cover
distance OF some twenty-five miles.
The towns are Mckinley, Mesaba, Bi-
wabik, Virginia and Mountain Iron,
with an aggregate population OF about
5000. The most important is Virginia,
with $500, and then Biwabik with 1000.
Mountain Iron has population of about
800 and Mckinley 200. On Saturday the
first news was received which indicated
any
Serious Danger.
Up to this time the range towns had
fought the fire for themselves, and had,
so far as possible, kept the news of their
danger from reaching the outside world,
for fear their prospects might be in
jured. On Saturday evening General
Manager Philbin, of the Mesaba &
Northern railroad. received a dispatch
which convinced him that the danger
was imminent, and he went to Virginia
to look after the interests of his road,
which touches most of the mining
towns. The fire at this time was all
about the village, but there was every
reason to believe that it could not be
kept under control. This morning a
strong wind blew, and the greater part
of the range was doomed. The first
news coming from General Manager
Philbin, who telegraphed at 2 o'clock to
President Merritt, of the road, was:
Men, women and children loaded on
ore cars ready to leave. For Gods sake
send us aid"
At nearly the same time messages
We're received from the other range
towns. The operator of Mountain Iron
telegraphed that the town was burning,
and the operator for the Duluth & Iron
Range railroad at Biwabik, wired to
President Greatsinger. OF his road:
Goods removed from depot
bye"
The Wires Down.
Since that time the wires to Biwabik
have been down. The Mesaba officials
state that their advices are that Biwabik
has been swept by the flames and has
shared the fate of Virginia. At 1918
p. III. Mr.. Phllbin telegraphed: 1.-The
whole town or Virginia, including
freight houses, are burned. We are
bringing men, women and children.
Trying to get cars out with two engines.
Tell Mr.. Fisher, of the Duluth & Win
nipeg, to be prepared to let US send
women and children to Duluth"
A latter message stated that of the
whole town only three houses were left
standing. In Duluth the news was re-
ceived by immediate preparation to
care for the hundreds of homeless peo-
pie. A special train was ordered by
President Greatsinger, of the Duluth &
Iron Range, and carloads of provisions
were ordered. At 8 O'Clock the train
was ready. 1t will reach the range
about midnight. The last adviceS from
the vicinity OF Virginia are that LOO,
mostly women and children, have been
Loaded in Ore Cars
and will be brought to Duluth. The
train is expected at o'clock tomorrow
morning, and preparations are being
made TO care for the sufferers. Presi-
dent Spencer, Of the council, the acting
mayor, has authorized gift of $1,000
from the city and all the provisions that
may be needed for immediate relief. A
special meeting of the council and a
citizens meeting have been called for
tomorrow afternoon. Ample aid will
be offered the suffering people. To
night communication with the range is
almost cut off. 1t is impossible to
obtain a list or even an estimate
of the loss. at Virginia there were
AZ saloon buildings. 4 hotels and about
600 houses. Virginia losers were very