The state chronicle., 1893-06-20
WHOLE TOWNS LAID WASTE:

WHOLE TOWNS LAID WASTE:
eorest Fires Devastate Villages In Min
nesota and Observation-Disclosures are
Homeless.
DULUTH, June 1S-The result of
year of enterprise on the Mesaba
range has been wiped out in a sin
gle day. Advices received today
indicate that the towns of Virginia
and Mountain Iron had been de-
stroyed, and that Biwabik wss par
TALLY if not entirely wiped out. 1t
is impossible to estimate the loss,
but it will approximate 100000.
and several thousand people are
homeless.
For three weeks the range has
been in danger. Forest fires has
been burning On al sides of the
new mining towns, and only by the
greatest effort has the disas' er of
today been SO long averted.
Saturday the frst news was re-
ceived which indicated any serious
danger. Up to this time the range
towns had fought the fire for them
selves, and had 80 far as possible
kept the news of their danger from
reaching the outside world, for fear
that their prospects might be in
jured. On Saturday evening Gen
eral Manager Philbin, of the Mesba
and Northern road, received advi-
ces which convinced him that the
danger was imminent, and he went
to Virginia to look after the interest
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 it
could be kept under control.
| This morning strong wind blew
up and the greater part of the range
was doomed. The first news came
from General Manager Philbin, who
telegraphed at 2 o'clock to Presi-
dent Merritt, 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
, we're received from the other range
, towns.
q The operator at Mountain Irol
, telegraphed that the town wal
: burning, and the Duluth and Irol
Range operator at Biwabik wired t.
a President Greabinger of his road
- Goods removed from depot Good
~ by"
4 Since that time the wires t
n Biwabik have been down. Tn
q Mesaba officials state that their ad
10 vices are that Biwabik has bee
n saved, but the indications are tha
J. the village has shared the fate c
+. Virginia.
v At 6:15 p. m. Mr.. Phiibiu tele
# graphed "The whole town of Vii
4 ginia, including freighthouse,
" burned. We are bringing wome
and children here and have the er
gines trying to get cars out"
In Duluth the news was followe
i. by immediate preparations to Cal
u for the hundreds of homeless pei
le pie. A special train was ordere
Of out by President Greabinger, of tt
g. Duluth and Iron Range railroa
D. and carloads Of provisions were als
e ordered sent.
1e It will reach the range about mi'
l 1rhk ac% IL
d, vicinity Of Virginia are that LII
of people, mostly women and childre
a. have been loaded in ore cars ar
oy will be brought to Duluth. TT
to train is expected at 2 o'clock tomo
ok row morning and preparations a
being made to care for the suffere,
is President Spencer, of the counc
tn the acting mayor, has authorized
W. gift of $1,000 from the city and ,
ar the provisions that may be need
~. for immediate relief A speci
Iu- meeting of the council and citizel
ne meeting have been called for I
of morrow morning. Ample aid W
be offered the suffering peop
as Tonight communication with t
be range is almost cut off
he Latest advices add Merritt to
ich list of towns burned. It was '
he lage of two hundred people, a
of was only about mile from Biwab
ASHLAND, Wis, June 18-Ir
River, thriving town of over 90
MO population, twenty miles from Al
land, is in flames and is likely to
'ne w entirely wiped out. The fire caue
~ t in the outskirts of the village fir
~ W forest fires, destroying the n
81 81. schoolhouse, Congregational a
~ ~ Roman Catholic churches, land 81
~ 49, sey and Hatton's big warehouse.
'ne Forest fires have been racing
'aa wa through northern Wisconsin tod
~ causing the hot air to sweep t
nmu1 m section like hot winds in the des
'oee Washburn had a close shave, 6
oul @ the fire has made heavy sweel
sou and about White River. It is lik
NJ ~ to sweep on south and burn milli
.. ~ of feet of standing pine.
aG-