The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-20
EEARFUL F0RESr FlREs.
Great Loss Of Life aud Destruction in
Minnesota.

Minnesota.
ST. PAUL. MINI. Jue 19.-There were
many mining camps, employing a large
number Of men, in the neighborhood Of
| Virginia. and they We're undoubtedly
| burned by yesterdays forest fires. Among
! them were the Mountain Iron, New ENG
! land, Reuchleau, one Jack and Poca
! mines.
All Of the camps had large store
| houses. IL is feared some Of the men
may have perished I'm the flames. II is
difficult 20 estimate the total loss. but if
the reports be true as TO the extent of
the destruction at the various towns
mentioned, IT VIII amount TO over sl,0J0.-
0JJ.
DULUTH. MINI. June l9-The first
train bearing the refugees from Rayaee,
carrying two hundred and fifty people.
mostly women and children, arrived at
1870 this morning. and the waared,
hungry passengers hurried 90 the hag-
gage rooms, where elaborate lunches
We're spread
Tho greater portion were peuuiless. de-
pendent absolutely upon what charity
might be offered. James Mccarthy. am
actor, accompanied by his wife and
little child. who had been payn- al
the Star Theatre. speaking Of the ire at
Virginia. said: "The fire had been burn
ing about Virginia several days. bat mo-
one else seemed 10 worry. $50 we d.d not.
Saturday night we We're called Out 20
fight the fire, but it was easily gotten
under control Yesterday morning it was
worse. and the town was almost sur-
rounded by fire. About 2 o'clock the
wind. which had been rising an the morn
ing. began 10 blow "a perfect sale. and the
hOucs on the edge of the town beean
TO burn. The people went mad. They ate
tempted at first to save everythiug. and
began moving their furniture. Then they
tried 10 save the lighter articles, but ass
the fire grew flercer they We're elad 90
save anything. and escape with their
lives. The town burned like finder, and
the light frame buildings like SO much
paper. The whole town was i'm ruins I'm
less than an hour The terrified people
gathered about the depot, where officers
Of the road were doing everything for
their safety. A train OF ore cars backed
into the depot and people loaded
In. All the way we came through a lane
of fire."
A second train bearing refugees from
the burned district arrived here at nOon
bearing nearly two hundred pc lnie. Adj
vices from Virginia are TO the effect that
only ten houses escaped the flames.
Virginia was village OF $500 people.
with all that goes 10 make "a thriving
town 1t is impossible at this time To
secure an estimate Of the loss The
city was just completing an elaborate
electric plant, and this, too is a total
loss
Mountain Iron was not so badly dam
aged as at first feared. hut ir is sur
rounded by fire. SO far as reported only
the Methodist church and half a dozen
houses were burned. Merritt and Mes
saba are completely cleaned out. not
house remaining. There are numerous
fatalities and injured reported. but no
deaths have Qs yet been actually verified
j.. Kelly and fda Vurth a song and dance
team, which was playing alone az Mer-
ritts Theatre, went back 10 the theatre
10 recover their wardrobe when they
were cut of from all means of escape
except by the lake and it Is feared that
they We're either drowned or burned
A young woman whose name has not
yet been learned went back into her
burning house 10 get her babe. and pro-
baby perished with the infant, as they
have not been seen since.
A laborer named Murphy was so badly
burned about the face and neck that #
was thought inadvisable 10 bring him
10 this city. so critical was his condition.
Three seriously sick people We're placed
on cars or stretchers and brought here
and placed I'm the hospital.
Sanborn. small numbering town on the
Duluth and South Shore road, Is entirely
wiped out by the forest fires.
Two children Of a homesteadcr there
were separated from their parents and
pershed in the flames. one bridge nearly
one hundred feet long was also burned.