Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-06-19
MILES OF FLAMES.
Terrible Ravages Reported on
the Mesaba Range.
AYEARg ENTERPRISE SWEPT AWAY

AYEARS ENTERPRISE SWEPT AWAY
seven-Fivc square Miles of Forests Ablaze
and the Coniagration SPreading-Sev-
eral Towns Licked Up and the Inhabit-
ants Driven from Their Homes-Rail-
ways Called on to Transport the People
to Duluth-A Loss Oh About 1000, 900
Estimated.
DULUTH, Mimi, June 1.-THE result of
D year of enterprise on the Mesaba range
has been wiped out in single day. Adj
vices received indicate that the towns of
Virginia and Mountain Iron have been
destroyed and that Biwahik is partially If
not entirely wiped out. 1t is impossible
to estimate the loss, but it will approx
mate 81. Co, 900 and several thousand peo-
pie are homeless. For three weeks the
range has been in danger. Forest fires
have been burning on all sides of the new
mining towns and only by the greatest eff
fort has the disaster 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 Biwabik,
Virginia and Mountain Iron, with an ag-
gregate population of about 5000.
News That Danger Was Imminent
The NEST important is Virginia, with
$500, and then Biwabik, with 2,000. Noun
tain Iron has population OF about 500 and
Mckinley 20C 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 Man
ager Philbir, OF the Mesaba and Northern
road received advices which convinced him
that the ds"ger was imminent. and he
went to look after the interests of his road,
which touches most of the mining towns.
The fire at this time was all aoout the viii
lage, but there was every reason to believe
that it could be kept under control.
Urgent Messages Received.
y strong wind blew up Sunday and the
greater part OF the range was doomed
The first news came from General Mana
ger Philbin, who tcleCraphed 1t , o'clock
to President Merritt, Of the road:
Men. women and children loaded on
ore cars ready 70 leave. For Gods sake
send rs aid.
At nearly the same time messages were
received from the other range towns. The
operator at Mountain Iron photographed
that the town was burning ana the Tu-
luth & Iron Rance operator ut Biwsbik
wired TO President tre2tsin-cr Of tijs road:
Goods removed from depot Good bye
Since that time the wires IN Biwabik
have been down. The NIeSa5a officials
state that their advice= erc tnHt Bjwab :
has been saved, but the Indications are
that the village has shared ths fate Of
Virginia.
DuIuti, Preparing Fu; t:,a i'u=itises.
"The whole own Of Virginia including
freight house IS burned. We are bringing
women and e. illren here and have two
engines trying to get cars ont. Tell Mr..
Fisher, OF Duluth q Winnipeg. to be pre-
pared to let rs send women and children
to Duluth by special \ later message
stated that of the whole town only three
houses were 1T standing. In Duluth the
news was fol wed by immediate prepare
ton to care for the hundreds of homeless
people. \ special tr:tin ordered by
President GreatsinGer, of the Duluth \
Iron Range road, and carloads of provisions
were ordered and the train left as soon
it was ready.
Women and Children Sent Forward.
The last advices from The vicinity of
Virginia are that II people. mostly
women and children. have been loaded in
ore cars and viii be brought to Duluth.
The train is expected this morning and
preparations are being made to care for
the sufferers. President Spencer of the
council. the acting mayer, has authorized
a gift of 81, 900 from the city and all the
provisions that may be needed for imme-
date relief A special meeting of the
council and citizens meeting have been
called Ample aid will be offered the suf-
fering people.
Communication About Cut Of.
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 a considerable number of saloon
buildings, five hotels, and about 500 houses
Virginia losers were very generally insured,
the Sun of London carrying the greater
portion of the risks. At Mountain Iron
there was no insurance, as the companies
cancelled all their policies some days ago.
Seventy-five Square Miles of Fire.
The last advices are contradictory.
There is no question as to Virginia, but it
is said that considerable portion of
Mountain Iron is safe. Mesaba, the first
town located on the range, now nearly de-
serted is burned There We're about
twenty houses there. But little can be
learned of Mckinley. 1t has probably es-
capped. The fire area is said to be twenty
five by three miles and spreading rapidly.
WISCONSIN TOWNS IN FLAMES.
IRON River Likely To Be Entirely Wiped
EDc Of ri