The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-06-21
TOWNS In ASHES.
Forest Fires Devastate Mining
Towns in Minnesota.
Hundreds of Families Homeless and Much
Suffering Reported Property Losses
Estimated Mt Over One Mill
lion Dollars A Wisconsin
Town Destroyed.

Town Destroyed.
DULUTH, Mimi, June l9.-The result
of year of enterprise on the iLesaba
range has been wiped out in single
day. Advices received yesterday indi-
Gated that the towns of Virginia and
Mountain Iron had been destroyed and
that Biwabik was partially ii not en-
tirely wiped out. 1t is impossible to
estimate the loss, but it will approxi-
mate $1,000, 900, and several thousand
people 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 effort has tho disaster been so
long averted. The towns of the Mesaba
lie in nearly straight line along the
range and cover a distance .of some
twenty-five miles. The towns are Nc
Kinley. Mesaba, Biwabik, Virginia and
Mountain lron with an aggregate pop
ulation of about six thousand. The
most important is Virginia, with $500
and then BiwabilS, with 1900. Noun
tain Iron has population of about 500
and Mckinley 200.
On Saturday the first news was re-
ceived which indicated any 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
injured. On Saturday evening General
Manager Phillbin, of the Mesaba &
Northern road, received advice which
convinced him that the danger was i'm
minent and he went to Virginia to
look after the interests 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 un-
der control.
Sunday morning strong wind blew
upand the greater part of the range
was doomed. The first news came from
General Manager Phillbin, who tele-
graphed at o'clock to President Mer-
ritt, 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 received from the other range
towns. The operator at Mountain Iron
telegraphed that town was burning
and the Duluth and Iron Range opera
tor at Biawibik wired of President
Greatsinger, Of his road: Goods re-
moved from depot. Good-by."
Since that time the wires to Biwabik
have been down. The Mesaba officials
state that their advices are that BIZ
wabik has been saved, but the indica-
tions are that the village has shared
the fate Of Virginia. At 6:l5 p. m. Mn
Phillbin telegraphed: 'The whole
town of Virginia, including freight
house, is burned. We are bringing
women and children here and have two
engines trying to get cars out. Tell
Mr.. Fisher, OF the Duluth & Winnipeg,
TO be prepared TO let us send women
and children TO Duluth by special
Latest advices from the range add
Merritt TO the list Of towns burned. 1t
was a village of 800 people and was
only about mile from Biawbik. The
latter town is probably safe though re-
ports concerning IL are contradictory.
The towns are about seventy miles
from Duluth and the only means OF
communication with them is by the
hallway company's line.
No complete story of the fire can be
obtained until the train from Virginia
bearing tho women and children ar
rives in the city.
A special from Ashland, Wis, says:
Iron River, numbering town of 1000
people, is in flames and likely to be en-
tirely destroyed. The fire caught from
the forest fires, destroying the new
school house and two churches. The
fire started ate o'clock and by o the
entire residence portion was in flames.
Help was asked and detachment OF
The fire department was sent from Ash
land.
Several people have been brought to
Ashland who were badly burned. For
est fires are raging all through north
ern Wisconsin and Washburn is in
danger. Millions of feet of standing
pine are in danger. A bad fire is re.
ported at North York, but no details
can be obtained.