St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-20
FIERCE FOREST FLAMES
Waging Destruction Through
Central Northern Wis
cOnSin.
Sanborn Destroyed, Several Lives
Lost and the Worst
Feared.

ASHLAND, Wis, June ~. - F0reSt
fires are raging everywhere in Northern
Wisconsin. and have done great damage
to standing timber. No rain has fallen
for over a month, and the fires run
through the woods with a rapidity that
is Irresistible. Iron River, a numbering
town twenty-eight miles west Of here,
was saved last night by strenuous
efforts, only the school house and six
dwellings being destroyed. At last ac-
counts this afternoon the fire was ap-
preaching from the west, and grave
fear is felt for the safety of the town.
The little village of Sanborn, ten
miles south of here, was wiped out yes
terday, every building in the place be-
ing burned. At Moquah, twenty miles
west, John Meagher, well-known
lumber scaler, was sutfocated Sunday
while fighting the fire which destroyed
his homestead. Many other fatalities
are rumored, and as the weather is yet
hot and dry the worst is feared.
Two children, names not known,
burned to death at Sanborn, and the
townis wiped out. The Northern Pa
cific bridge at Minersville is gone. and
a bridge 800 feet long OIL the South
Shore, at Sanborn, was destroyed. Many
freight cars are destroyed. The total
property loss is in the millions.
WEST SUPERIOR, Wis, June f9.-The
forest fires were still burning tonight
along the Eastern Minnesota and South
Shore railways, and millions of fine
standing pine is being consumed. The
Northern Pacific train which arrives
from Ashland at 7:20 did not
arrive tonight until nearly
10 o'clock, and all the trains
on the South Shore railroad have been
abandoned until further notice. Dis
patches from Iron River tonight state
that the fire Is under control, but that
all around the city the forest is burning
and several of the saw mills are in
danger. The iremen sent from
Ashland and the citizens are. still
fightinfi the fire, and should
the wind change the village stands
good chance Of burning. All along the
South Shore from Middle river to with
in few miles of Ashland is like sea
of fire. All the towns along the road
are fighting the fire and trains have
stopped running. AT SanbOrn the big
wooden bridge which is forty feet
high caught from the burning tim
ber and was soon mass OF smoking
ruins. Among the. passenger trains
which have been discontinued until
further notice is train No. 6, which
leaves the city at $50 a. m. The Bos-
| ton express which arrived here direct
from Boston will not go through until
further notice. At the very best no
| trains will be running over the South
Shore until Wednesday. No attempts
will be made by the road to move any
freight, although they could use the
Omaha tracks. The Northern Pacific
train from Ashland which should have
reached this city at 0:30 did not arrive
|. until nearly o'clock, and the cars were
| covered with cinders and paint on them
was raised in great blisters from the
intense heat.
Boylston, on the Eastern Mime
sofa, caught Sunday afternoon and
the train, which left Superior about,
noon, had great difficulty in get
ting through. A special train was
sent out from this city with number
of section men and others to fight the
flames, and the village was saved, al
though all the timber around 1t is de-
stroyed. Word was received from
Even tonight that the forest fires
were raging in that vicinity. but the
last report reached before the wires
went down stated that the railroad
I property was saved and all danger aD-
parently passed. Reports received
from Rhodes mills, between Dedham
and Holy Oke, about 80 miles out from
| this city, states that the timber is being de
! stroyed rapidly, and that the railway
company has a large force Of men work.
ing TO save its property, but with little
hope of being successful. 1t is almost
impossible to secure accurate news, as
wires are at present down.