The Indianapolis journal., 1893-06-19
BIG FIRES In WISCONSIN
Iron River, a Lumber Town of 1000
Souls, Threatened with Destruction.
One Year Ago the Place Was Entirely Wiped
Cut by Flames-$3OO. 900 Blaze Breaks Out
in the Business District at Chicago.

ASHLAND Wis, June 1S.-Irou River
thriving lumber town of over 1000 popula-
tion, twenty miles from Ashland. IS In
flames and is likely to be entirely wiped
out The fire caught on the outskirts of
the village from forest fires. destroying d
new schoolhouse, the Congregational and
the Catholic churches and Hessey " Hat
toms big warehouse. The fire started about
2 O'Clock. and at O'clock the entire resi-
dence portion of the city was in flames.
Help was called from Ashland and
special train sent out with O detachment of
the firemen from here. At MOquah the
special jumped the track, causing several
hours delay, but no one was injured. The
loss will exceed s1.000O00.
Forest fires have been raging all through
northern Wisconsin, causing the hot air to
sweep this section like hot winds on the
desert. Wasnburn had close shave and
hre has made "A heavy sweep In aud about
White River. 1t Is likely to sweep on south
and burn millions Of feet Of standing pine.
1t was only year ago that Iron River was
entirely destroyed by fire. The town had
just completed system of water
works. several people were brought to
Ashland tonight who had been badly in
jured. narrowly escaping with their lives.
The latest advices from Iron River state
that the town Is gone. The wires on the
Northern Pacific & Omaha are all down.
ment has been fighting the ire since s
o'clock this morning.
A bad fire Is raging at North York. Ten
cars on the siding burned. A special was
sent out this evening for help to tight the
flames and save the bridges.
devastated by Forest Fires.
DULUTH. Juno 1a-The rowns Of Vir-
ginia and Mountain Iron. on the Duluth.
Messaba & Northern road. have ibeen de-
stroyed by forest fires. which have been
raging for week. Messaba and Biwabik,
on the Duluth Il Iron Grange. were
also visited by serious fires. and Tower
had y like experience. There are 1000
people homeless In Virginia and without
food or shelter, every provision depot and
it's contents In the place being destroyed.
The women and children were put In TO
box cars, but there was not an engine
there to move them and they have nothing
to eat. The situation at Mountain Iron is
little better. AS soon as the news OF these
facts reached Duluth arrangements were
begun to send relief to the distressed
people. President Greatsinger, of the
Duluth & Iron sRange. prom mptIy placed
train at the disposal of parties who had
already taken steps to obtain tents and
provisions. President Alfred III. Merits.
of the Messaba road, ordered the purchase
of q thousand dollars worth of provisions.
which will be sent by the road TO the peo-
pie at the various towns that have su ffered.
Arrangements have been made for the city
20 SEND food, and several contracting firms
contrl buting numerous tents.
Latest advices from the range add Mer-
rirt 10 the list of towns burned. Ii was
village OF 2C0 Inhabitants and was cnly
short distance from BIwabik. The latter
town Is probably safe, though reports COZ
oerning it are contradictory. The towns arc
about seventy miles from Duluth, and the
only means of communication with them is
by the railway cOmpany's line. No COM
plete story of the fire can be obtained
until the train from Virginia bearing
the women and children reaches the city.
The Mechanics of Milwaukee will be a
heavy loser by the fire. Its risks in vir-
glnI0 are said to have been more than
100000. The Sun of London will lose
about the same amount.
Damaged Caused by an Electric Wire.
CHICAGO, June 1s.-As the result of fire
in the six-story building at the corner of
Wabash avenue and Congress street. this