The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-20
LIVES LOST IN THE FIRES.
narrowing Stories Brought in by the
Refugees.


Many Lumber Camps Caught in the
Rush Of the Lurid Monster and Sew
eral Men Probably Burned to Death.
Only Ten Houses Left Standing az
virginia--A Couple of Song and
Dance Artists Among the Victims.
St. Paul, MINI, June l9.-There were
many mining camps employing largo
number of mon in the neighoorhood Of
Virginia and they were undoubtedly
burned by Yesterday forest fires. Among
them were Mountain Iron, New England,
Rouchleau, One Jack and Poce Mines. All
the camps had large store houses. Some
men may have perished in the fierce
flames. It is difficult TO estimnte the
total loss, but if reports be true as to the
extent Of the destruction at tho various
towns mentioned it will amount to over
81 200, 900.
REFUGEES REACH DULUTH
Duluth, MINI, June 19--Irhe first train
bearing refugees from the fire swept Sec
tion, carrying $50 people, mostly women
and children, arrived here this morning
at 80 o'clock, and the wearled, hungry
passengers hurried to the baggage roomss
where elaborate lunches were spread.
The greater portion were penniless and
dependent absolutely upon what charity
] might be offered
james Mccarthy, an actor, accompanied
by wife and little child, who had boon
playing at the Star theater, speaking OF
the fire at Virginia, said "B1re had been
burning about Virginia for several days,
but no one else seemed to worry so We
did not Saturday night we we're called
! out to fight the IRE, but it was soon gotten
under control. Yesterday morning it was
worse and the town was almost SUR
rounded by fire About 2 o'clock the
wind, which had been rising all the morn
ing, began 20 blow a perfect gale and
houses on the edge Of the town began to
| burn
THE PEOPLE WENT MAD.
"The people went mad. They at
! tempted at first to save everything, and
began moving their furniture Then they
tried to save their lighter articles, but as
the fire grew fercer they We're glad to
save anything and escape with their
lives. The town burned like tinder, and
the light frame buildings like 30 much
| paper. The whole stown was in ruins in
| less than an hour. Terrified people
gathered about the Missabe depot, where
the officers Of the road were doing every
thing for their safety. A train Of ore
cars was backed into the depot, and the
people were loaded in All the way We
came through u lane OF fire.
SECOND TRAIN or REEuGEEs
The second train bearing refugees from
! the burned district arrived here at noon
| bearing nearly 200 people, Advices from
Virginia are to the effect that only ten
| houses escaped tho flames. Virginia was
village of $500 persons, with all that
| goes to make o thriving town. II is iIny
| possible at this time TO secure an estimate
of the loss. Tho city was just completing
! an elaborate electric plant and this, too,
| Is total loss.
| Mountain Iron was not 80 badly dam-
aged as at first feared, but it is sur
rounded by fire. So far as reported only
| the Methodist church and half q dozen
| houses were burned.
| Merritt and Messaba arc completely
cleaned out, not a house remaining.
There are numerous fatalities and injured
reported, but no deaths have yet been
verified.
Ed Kelly and Ida Vurth, song and
| dance team which was playing at one OF
the Merritt theaters, went back to the
| theater to recover their wardrobe when
| they were cut of from all means Of es-
cape except by the lake. and 1t is feared
that they We're either drowned or burned.
| A young woman whose name has not yet
| been learned, went back into her burning
| house to get her babe and probably per-
ished with the infant, as they have not
been seen since. A laborer named Muir
! ply was so badly burned about the
| face and neck that il was
thought inadvisable 10 bring him
TO this city, so critical was HIS condi-
| tipn. Three seriously sick people were
| placed on the cars on stretchers and
! brought here and placed in a hospital
! Sanborn, small numbering town on the
| Duluth and South Shore road, was en-
tirely wiped out by the forest fires. Two
children Of homesteaderi there were
| separated from their parents and per-
| ished in the flames. One bridge nearly
100 feet long was also burned.