The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-16
DISASTROUS FOREST FIRES
Woods of Northern Wisconsin Re-
ported to Be All Ablaze.
Losses May Reach Millions-Many Towns
in Danger and Several Small
Places Burned.

MILWAUKEE. Sept. 15.-The woods of
northern Wisconsin are abIaze Great
damage has already been done, and the
forests arc still burning fiercely. Every
square mile of the vast timber district OF
Wisconsin is as dry as tinder. no rain hav-
ing fallen for weeks and the flames are
sweeping without check. The losses
cannot. Of course. be estimated.
but are doubtless In the mil
lions The district already swept by
tho fires and that still threatened includes
nearly One-third the State. A pail of smoke
overhang and Lake SUI perior
and reaches from the extreme border of the
State to the Mississippi. Marshtield. juno.
tion City, DeXterville, Prentice, Spencer,
Medford. Rhinelander. Stephens Point and
other places with q population of 1000
to 5000. are surrounded by flames and
In gre at danger of being wiped ont. Every
thing between Wood county and Necedah,
IL st. Paul road. is burned. Dexterville is
threatened with annihilatlon. Hundreds
OF scattered dwellings known TO- be-
In the path Of the flames are dout-
less burned. Manville, with q popu.
letion of 200, has been swept away.
The Pine river settlements. near Merrita,
containing score of buildings. were licked
uD by the flames. The people saved them
bolNcS Oy QosCcDulO8 INTO Wells anu cover
ing themselves with wet blankets.
A dispatch from Marshheld Gays: Il is
scarcely an eXageration to say that all Of
northern Wisconsin ls one smOldering fur
mace. so com plete Is the line of fires which
are ravaQing the forests between here and
Lake Superior. Where they will end no
one can say. but unless there is rain In
northern Wisconsin within the next
forty-eiRht hours even greater disasters
than have already occurred may be ex-
ead hA Hrna hGAln
Is entirely surrounded by the fires. and
while it is not now In any immediate dan-
ger from the flames, reports are hourly
brought TO the city by residents along the
are raging along these lines. and which
have already made many families home
less and destitute. AS yet no one has
been found who has been able to confirm
the reports or loss of life from the flames.
That some settlers have been cut of by the
hsmes and burned is very proba ble 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. how
ever, have been located.
Other Fires.
EMPoRrA. Kan, Sept 16-Fire threat-
ened the most valuable portion of
Emporia at 12 o'clock tonight.
lleved to be under control. however. and
the loss Ill probably not exceed $4,000.
The fire started in tho block
bounded by Commercial. Mechanic.
Sixth and Seventh streets, In tho
livery stable of g. +. Barwiok. The stable
and thirty-hve horses were burned. after
which the lumber yard of j. s. Watson,
the furniture store of William Clark. the
drug store of Benjamin Sheldon. tho new
knights OF Pythias Hall and the market of
John Henig were destroyed.
LOUISVILLE. KY. Sept ia fire. sup
posed to be incendisry In origin. cansed a
loss of $4,000 To Crutcher X Stark retail
clothing merchants. at Fourth and Jefier-
son streets. at 1880 O'Clock tonight.