Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-06-24
TOWNS laid WASTE.
Forest Fires Devas ate Villages in
Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The Villages of Mountain Iron aud Iron
City Wiped Out.

The result Of year of enterprise on the
Mesaba range has been wiped out in single
day. Adviees received at Duluth indicate
has been destroyed and that Biwabik was
partially if not entirely wiped out 1t l. inn
possible to estimate the loss, but it will ap-
proximate 81, 000, 900, ana several thousand
people are homeless.
For three weeks the range has been in
all sides Of the new mining towns, and only
by the greatest effort has the disaster been
so long avsrted.
Saturday the first news was received which
indicated any serious danger. Up to this
time the range towns had fought the fire for
the news OF their danger from reaching the
outside world, for fear that their prospects
might be injured. On Saturday evening Gen
eral Manager Philbln, of the Mesaba and
Noitbern road, received advices which con-
WINGED him that the danger was imminent.
and he went to Virginia to look aft the in
terest of his road. which touches most OF the
mining towns. The fire at this time was all
to believe 1t could be kept under control.
During the morning strong wind blew up
and the greater part ofihe range was doomed.
The first news came from Gent raj Manager
Philbin. who telegraphed 10 President Yer
rift. of the road;
Men, women, and children loaded on ore
cars ready to leave. For Gods sake send us
aid"
AT nearly the same time messages were re-
ceived from the other range towns.
The operator at Mountain Iron telegraphed
that the town was burni &, and the Duluth
and Iron Range operator at Bwabik wired
TO President Greablnger of his road, Goods
removed from depot Good by.
Since that time the wires to Biwabik have
feen down. The Mesaba officials state their
advices are that B.wabik has been saved, but
the indications are that the village has shared
the fate OF Virginia.
Later Mr. Philbin telegraphed: "The
whole town OF Virginia, including freight
house, is burned.
In Duluth the news was followed by inn
mediate preparations to care FIR the hum
dreds oil homeless people. A special train
was ordered out by President Grea, niger, OF
the Du nth and Iron Range Railroad, and
carloads OF provisions were also ordered
sent.
The last advice from the vicinity of Vir-
ginia are that 100 people, mostly women
and children, have been loaded in ore cars
and will be brought to Duluth. President
Spencer, of the council, the acting mayor,
| as authorized gift of ~, 900 from the city
and ali the provisions that may be needed
for immediate relief. Ample aid will be or
cred the suffering people.
Latest advices add Merritt to the list OF
towns burned. II was a village OF ZOO ople,
and was only about mile from Riwabik.
ASHLAND, Wis.-Iron River, a thriving
lumber town OF over 2, 600 population. twenty
miles from Ashland, is likely to be e4tireiy
wiped out The fire caught In the outskirts
of the village from forest fires, destroying
the new schoohouse Congregational and
Roman Catholic churches, and Hessey 4
Hatton's big warehouse
Forest fires have been raging all through
Northern Wisconsin, causing the hot air TO
sweep that section Ike hot winds in the desert.
Washburn had a close shave, and fire has
made heavy sweep in and about White
River.
II is likely to sweep on south and turn
millions of ieet Of standing pine 1t was only
year ago thet Iron River was entirely de-
stroyed by fire. The town had Just com
pleted n system OF waterworks.
The latest advices from Iron River state
that the town is gone. The wires on the
Northern Pacific and Omaha Railroad are all
down, the poles being burned away by the
are.