Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-09-21
ALL on FIRE.
A Vast Section of Northern Wis
consin in Flames.
Hundreds of Residents Are Homeless and
the Fires Hourly Spreading-Losses
VIII Reach MilliOns-No Loss
of Life Reported.
A FIERY FURNACE.

MARsHFIELD, WIS, Sept. l6-North-
ern Wisconsin is one smouldering fur
mace. The line of fires which are raw
aging the forests between here and
Lake Superior is complete Where they
will end no one can say. Unless there
is rain in northern Wisconsin within
the next forty-eight hours even greater
disasters than have already occurred
may be expected.
FAMILIES HOMELESS.
Many families are homeless ana desti-
tute. And yet no one has been found
who has been able TO confirm the re-
ports of losses of life from the flames.
That some settlers have been cut
very probable and in another day
or two proof of the death of many
persons may be obtained. So far all
who have been reported as missing,
however, have been located. Many
persons escaped death only after adj
ventures of most thrilling character,
and some of the stories OF the refugees
who are hourly driving in from the
country to this place Of their escapes
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HEAVY LOSSES.
The fire is the greatest since that of
1871 The extent of the damage can
not be estimated owing to the fact that
the fires have cut off telegraphic com
munication with most Of the smaller
towns. On timber the losses are the
heaviest, and Frank Mcmillan of the
Mcmillan Lumber company IN an inter-
view said the loss to Wisconsin forests
would probably amount to between
s., 600, 600 and $4,000, 600. This repre-
sents vast amount of pine as well as
hardwood timber, covering land
area which even those most familiar
with the forests Of Wisconsin cannot
estimate.
DISASTER EVERYWHERE.
On every side are evidences of Thurs
days battle with the flames. The citi-
zens of Marshdeld had a hard fight to
prevent portion of the city from be-
ing swept away. The fire came from
the northwest, and sweeping it's path
through the timbers it wiped from ex-
istence six houses and an old mill owned
by Henry Sherry at Manviile Two or
the houses were owned by Mrs Michael
Powers, a widow, who barely escaped
from the house with her four children.
DAMAGE Al OTHER POINTS.
At Merrill, Wis, reports are pouring
in from all directions, telling how the
disastrous fires are leaving death and
restitution in their wake In the towns
of Pine River and Scott, eighteen fami-
lies have been rendered homeless.
Swope's sawmill in the town of Pine
River was completely burned. 1t was
valued at S25, 900 and was insured for
1000. At Powers station fifteen
families were burned out, the people
barely escaping with their lives
ENvELoPED IN SMOKE.
MILWAUKEE, Sept. 16.-Milwaulzee is
enveloped in smoke from the forest
fires which are burning throughout
northern Wisconsin. The wind is blow
ing a gale from the northwest, which
is certain to spread the fires. and the
worst may be yet to come unless there
is rain, which is the only relief. n-I'T!a
men arriving here say the smoke ex-
tends 200 miles south from the burning
sections and vessel captains report the
smoke ON the lake to be as thick as a
fog.
CLOSED THE SCHOOLS
Forest fires in the vicinity of Mari
nette are causing considerable alarm.
The smoke there was SO dense that it
was necessary to close the public
schools. The fires are burning close to
the city. The agent at Babcock says
that cranberry and hay marshes have
been burned over at Tomah and Wor-
den. Advices from several villages on
the Milwaukee & Northern railroad
say that the people are fighting the
fires with fire engines. wet blankets
and every other means possible The
marshes have burned o a depth of 4
to feet and the fire is running through
the woods to an alarming extent.
DANGEB At ASHLAND.
ASHLAND, Wis, Sept. lS,-A prayer
for rain is the hopeless cry throughout
northern Wisconsin The forest flames
continue to sweep everything be-
fore them. It has been an excit-
ing day in Ashland. Settlers are com
ing in from all directions fleeing for
their lives. At noon Sunday the people
We're called from worship by fire
alarms. The cinders and smoke be-
came almost binding all over the city.
Over a thousand volunteers were added
TO the fire department to check the
flames which rushed in on the city from
the Odanah In ian reservation.
SPREAD OF THE FLAMES.
As near as can be estimated fire now
covers nearly 200 square miles and is
sweeping north. Damage to standing
pine viii be heavy and approximate
not less than $1,000. 600. Indians are
camping on a raft in Bad river and
hemmed in with an archway Of flames
All communication is cut off from the
surrounding small towns and it is i'm
possible to give details Of the holo-
causts and losses, but if rain does not
come soon the death list will run up
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