The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-16
Whole Northern Portion of the
State One Vast Furnace.
Loss FIVE OR SIX MILLIONS.
The Splendid Pine and Hardwood
Forests Totally Destroyed.
Lifsis laundering Villages Licked Up
by the FLAMES. Inhabitants Fleeing
for Life-Msrshaeid saved After .
Hard Battie-A Black Pail OF smoke.

As&hFIEih. WIS. sept. ia-NeVer since
the IRE of is7i have such terrible forest
fires burned in this state as have ragged
through Northern Wisconsin the past lew
days. The extent of the damage cannot
be estimated owing 10 the fact that the fire
has cut of telegraphie communication
with most Of the smaller towns. On tim
Der the losses, Of course. are heavy,
anu Frank Mcmillan, of the Nc
MILAN Lumber Company. in an interview
tonight said the loss to Wisconsin forests
would probably amount TO between S.
100000 and 100000. This represents q
vast amount of pine as we'll as hardwood
timber, covering land area which even
those most familiar with the forests of
Wisconsin cannot estimate; in fact it
II scarcely an @xaggcration to say that
all OF Northern Wisconsin Is one smolder-
ing furnace. so complete is the line of fire
which 10 raging In the forest between here
and Lake Superior. Where il will end no
one can say. Unless there is rain In North
ern Wisconsin within the next
forty-eight hours even greater dis
asters than have already occurred
may be expected from the fires. Marsh
field itself is entirely surrounded by fire,
and while not now IN any immediate
danger. reports are hourly brought to the
city by residents along the different rail-
ways of terrible fires raging and which
have already made many families home
less and destituts. As yet no one has been
found to confirm the reports of losses of life
from the flames. That some settlers were
cut of by the flames and killed Is very
probable. Many persons escaped death
only after adventures of the most thrilling
character. On every side are evidences OF
yesterdays battle with the flames, in
which the citizens of Marshfield had
hard fight to save the town. Several
buildings were destroyed on the outskirts.
Reports Of terrible fires at Spencer and
Cobb were received tonight Just how
many families were left homeless by the
fires cannot be learned, but surely fifty.
Nearly all the residents between this city
and Mcmillan yesterday packed MP their
goods and moved to this city. and settlers
from other parts of the county
are fast following in their footsteps.
Reinforcements have gone to Mcmillan
from this city and Stevens Point. but Il is
doubtful II they can save the mills. which,
with the lumber around them. are worth
$4,000. Southwest of the city, on the
burning. and o large party of men have
gone from here to head il off
GREEN BAY. Wis. Sept i5-This after
noon a terrific wind storm set in. Prairie
fires northwest of McDonald's lumber mill
in Fort Howard increased in volume and
In less than twenty minutes the FIRE
reached the lumber yards aud the mill
and destroyed them. The loss is over
$4,000. There is heavy gale of wind
tonight and il Is feared more fires will
occur before morning.
MARrsETr. Wis, Sept. i5.-The smoke
was so dense today from forest fires that
the public schools had TO he closed.
MILWAUKEE,, Sept. Dispatches from
score of Northern Wisconsin cities tell
stories of great loss from forest fires.
Junction City. Dexterville. Prentis. Med
ford. Rhineiander, Stevens Point and
other places with a population of from
1000 10 5000 are surrounded by flames
and in the greatest danger of being
wiped out. Everything between Dabier.
Wood county. and Nocedah. juneau
county, on the Miiwaukee a ST. Paul rail
way, IL burned. Dexterville is threatened
with humiliation. Hundreds of scattered
dwellings known 20 be in the path of the
flames are doubtless burned. No loss Of
life - reported, bur that all settlers In the
burned districts escaped Is impossible
Every square mile of the vast
timbered district of Wisconsin is
as dry a. finder, and the flames
are sweeping along without check. The
losses will doubtless run into the millions
The district already fire swept and that
threatened includes nearly one-third Of
the state. Wisconsin is overhung by q
pail of smoke reaching from Lake Michi-
gan 70 Lake Superior. and from the ex-
treme border of the state 10 the Mississippi
river.
srEScxa. Wis, Sept. i5.-Mannville, q
village of 300 inhabitants, was DESTROYED
by FIRE. No loss of life is reported.
MERRILL, Sept. i5.--The Pine river set
element near here, is wiped out score
of buildings were burned. The people
saved themselves by descending into wells
and covering themselves with wet
blankets. Two children Of Fred wegge
were burned TO death.
wAusau. Wis, Sept ia terrible
windstorm passed over this city this after
noon, unroofng buildings and tearing
down lumber piles. scattering Lumber in
every direction, prostrating shade trees
and creating general havoc throughout the
city. People rushed for their homes In
great horror, and for time il looked rs
the town would be swep, out Of existence
either by fre or the fearful storm. The
forest fires are stlll raging around the city
without statement,
sNIGGIIsG or CHINESE.