The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-06-20
YHE WEST.
Swoop Down Upon Five Towns
in Minnesota.
The Stricken villages Newly Estab-
lishcd Mining Camps.
Thousands of People on Foot. wagon and
Train Had barely Timnita Mako Their
Escapc Tho Loss VIII Reach
UF Into the Mlnlonh.


nrLufn, Mimi. June io.r-rThe. result
Of year of enterprise on tho Mesaba
range Inns been wiped cut IN 4 single
day AdviccN received Stinday indt
cate chat the towns ~ Virginia and
Mountain Iron had been destroyed and
that Biwahalx wns partially, II not en-
tirely wiped out by fro. II Il Ennp0s
siblr To estimate tho loss, hut Il will
approximate 81. O00. 900 ana ecvaral4hou.
sand people AFRO homeless For three
weeks the range has been In danger,
Forest ilies have been burning on all
sides Of the new mining towns and
only hy tho greatest ctfortA haa the
disaster 81 Sunday boon N long
inverted
saturday the firat news wax i,3edivcd
which Indicated any aeriouAl dhnGer.
Up 70 this time tho range t0wnA had
fought tho Are for themselves, and had,
III far as possible kept tha news 81
their danger from rcachingsth lbhtsidc
world for fear their proarnate n,ight ID
injured on Saturday evening General
Manager Phllbin, III the Mcssaba md
Northern road, received hdvico which
convinced him that tho danger wmssim-
inincnt, md he went 10 virginiq ~ look
after the interest of his road, which
touches most IT the mining towns The
fire ~ this time was all about the VII
lagc. hut there was every reason % be-
licve II could bc kept under control.
This morning strong wind blew up
md the greater part Of the range WINS
doomed. The first news came from
General Manager Philbin, who tele-
graphca at o'clock 70 President Mer-
rit. az tho rond.
Men, women and ohildren< loaded on
orr ears ready 70 leave. For Coda sake
scin us aid.
N nearly tho same time messages
were received from the other range
towns Tho operator at Mountain Iron
autographed that tho town was burn.
ing, md the Duluth and Iron Range
operator at Biwabaix wired TO Prcsi-
dent EreatsinRer. Of his road:
Goods removed from depot Good
BY
since that time the wires TO Biwnbnlr
have been down. The Mesnba officials
state that their advice are that Biwnbnlx
has been saved, but tho Indications nre
that the viiingc has shared tho fntc Of
Virginia, Al 6:ib p. mi Mr.. Philbin
tclegrnphed: HIhe whole town 81 yir-
gaina. including freight-housc. Is
burned. We are bringing women and
children here. and have two engines
trying to get tho cars ont. Z
In Duluth the news was followed BY
preparations to caro- for the
hundreds ~ homeless people. A special
train was ordered by President Great
singer 81 tho Duluth and Iron Range
road, and carloads Of provisions were
ordered.
The last advices from the vicinity OF
Virginia are That LOO people. mostly
women and children, had been loaded
in ore cars and taken 10 Duluth. The
train was expected nj . o'clock Monday
morning, and preparations were be-
ing made to care for the suffer
ers President Spencer. 81 the edun-
ell. the acting mayor, has authorized d
rift ~ 81, 900 from the city, and all the
provisions that may be needed for i'm
mediate relief special meeting 81
the council and citizeAAs meeting
have bcen called Tor Monday morning.
Ample aid will be offered the suffering
people.
sunday night communication With
the Range WIS almost cut on
Latest adyiccs from the Grunge add
Merit to the list of towns burned. II
was village u 200 people, and was
only about a mile from iiiwAbAk. ss'i't
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