Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-20
TOWNS WIPED OUT.
FATAL FOREST FIRES IN MINNESOTA
AND WISCONSIN.
Thousands OF People Made Homei and
fenniies' - Refugees Crowding Into
Du1uth-aIining-C Camps Destroyed.
tBy telegraph to the Dispatch. J


arrived at 1880 this morning. and tho
wearied. hungry passengers hurried TO tho
bagga.e-rooms, where elaborate lunches
were spread. The greater portion were
penniless. dependent absolutely upon what
charity might be offered.
James Mccarthy. an actor. accompanied
by his wife and little child, who had been
playing at the Star Theatre. speaking Of
the fire at Virginia. said: The hre bad
been burning about Virginia for several
days. but no one elso seemed 10 worry
so we did not. Saturday night we were
called ont 20 fight the fire, but IT was
easily gotten under control. Yesterday
morning II was worse and the town was
almost surrounded 10y fire.. About 2
all the morning. began to blow perfect
gale and houses on tho edge OF town began
to burn.
THE PBoPLy CRAZY.
"The people went mad. They attempted
at first 10 save everything. and began
moving their furniture. Then they tried
TO save the lighter articles. but as the ilre
grew fercer they were glad to save any,
thing and escape with Their lives. The
town burned like tinder-tbe light frame
buildings like so much paper. The whole
Tho terrified people gathered about the
depot. where the officers of the road are
dong everything for their safety. tram
of ore cars was backed INTO the depot and
the people loaded in. All the way we came
through lane of fire."
MORE REFUGEES.
A second train bearing refugees from
the burned district arrived here at noon
bearing nearly two hundred people: Ad-
vices from Virginia are 20 the ehect that
only ten houses escaped tho flames. VIZ
ginia was village of $500 people, with oil
that GOES 10 make thriving town. 1t IS
impossible at this time TO secure an estl-
mate OF the loss. The city was Just com,
pleting an elaborate electrlc-pant and
this, too. ls a total loss.
Mountain Iron was notso badly damaged
as at first feared. but 1t IS surrounded by
fire. so far as reported only the Methodist
church and half dozen houses were
burned. Merritt and Mesaba are CON-
pletely cleaned out not house remaining
POSSIBLE FATALITIES.
There are numerous fatalities and IN
iured persons reported, bat no deaths
have rs yet been verified. Ed. Kelly anu
Ida Nurth, a sODg-and- dance team, VINO
were PLAYING at one Of the Merritt theatres,
went back to the theatre to recover thelr
wardrobe. when ;hey were cut of from all
means of escape except by the lake, ana II
is feared that they were either drowned or
burned TO death.
A Young woman whose name has not yet
been learned went back into her burning
house TO get her babe and probably
persisted with the infant, as they have not
been seen since. >,
A Iaborer named Murphy was so badly
burned about the face and neck that IL
was thought inadvisable TO bring him to
this city. so critical was his condition.
Three seriously sick people were placed
IN the cars on stretchers aud brought here
and placed in the hospital.
sANpBoRN NO MORE.
Sandborn, a small numbering town on
the Duluth and South Shore road, is en-
tlrely wiped out 10y the forest fires.
Two children OF a homesteader there
were separated from their parents and
persisted IN the flames. One bridge nearly
100 teet long was also burned.
THE USUAL ExAGGERATIoS.
DuLUrH. MINI, June 19.-The first ac-
curate news of the fires in the Mesaba
RANGE was available tonight. The only
communication with the Range towns yes
terday and to-day was over single wire,
working badly. Press dispatches. fled by
sueclal correspondents who were sent with
until late to-day. and then only little III
advance of the newspaper-men. Accurate
news shows the usual exGggeratlon IN the
first reports, but the money loss Will be
greater than estimated yesterday. The
first stories regarding Mountain Iron and
Blwabik were untrue. At Biwabik only a
few detached buildings were burned ana
at Mountain Iron only Six buildings,
VIRGINIA SITUATION As REPORTED.
At VIRGINIA the situation is "a serious as
reported. The entire business portion OF
the town is destroyed. About thirty
houses are standing and $40 were burned.
Merritt Is nearly wiped ont, only sixteen
buildlnps now remaining III the town. 1t
was lmpossible to reach Merritt to-day, a.
the woods are still burning about the
village.
particularly unfortunate. Most OF them
are without shelter. Clothing Is scarce
and food, despite the supplies that have
been sent from Duluth, Is still scanty.
Everything possible 10 being done for
them. and railroads reaching the Range
are carving all supplies and provisions
free. On the whole range about $500 peo-
ple are Tor the time being entirely depend
ent on charity. In large measure the
women and children have been brought 70
Duluth.
TOTAL LOSS, 81. .5000O
The total loss. as estimated tonight by
those best qualified 10 know. Is put at
Sl.5O0.OsJ The insurance, as nearly as II
can be estimated, IS about $500 900. flres
are burning all along the Range sui, ana
n change Of wind will cause more damage,
but the danger of this Is not imminent.
The mining camps suffered heavily.
II is fairly well established now that no
lives were lost "a "a result of the fires. The
stories current last night cannot oe con-
frmed. aud the reporters who were on the
Range say there are no authenticated losses
of life.
NINISG-CAMPs BURNED.
ST. PAUL, MINI, June 19.-There were
mauy mining camps. employing large
number OF men in the ncighborhood Oh
Virginia. and they were undoubtedly
burned by yesterdays forest fires. Among
them were Mountain Iron; New tngland
Richelieu, One Jack, and Poca Mines. All
the camps had large storehouses. II Is
feared that some of the men may nave
perished in the fierce flames. 1t is DUH
cult to estimate the total loss, but II re-
norts be true as to the extent OF the de-
struction at the various towns mentioned,
II will amount to over Sl,OOO,uOo.
SUNDAYS STORY.
The news Sunday was that the result OF
n wear of enterprise on the Mesaba Range
had been wiped out in single day. Al:
vices received indicated that the towns or
Virginia aud Mountain Iron Lad been de-
stroyed and that Biwablk was partially IL
not entirely, wiped out.
For three weeks the Range had been III
danger. Forest fires had been burning on
all sides of the new mining towns ana
only by the greatest effort had the disaste.
nf sunday bean so iOnn 0NtTltu.
SATURDAY. the first news was received
which indicated any serious danger. Up
TO that time the Range towns had fought
the ere for themselves. and had, so far as
possible, kept the news of their danger
from reaching the outside world, for rear
that their prospects might be injured.
WIND SWEPT THE FLAMEL.
On Saturday evening General. Manager
philbin. of the Mesaba and Northern
road. received adyices which convinced
him that the danger was imminent and no
went to Virginia to look after the interests
Of hls road, which touched most OF the
mining towns. The fire at this time was
ali about the village. but there was'eyery
reason to believe 1t could be kept under
control.
Sunday morning strong WIND blew up
and the greater part Of tho Range was
doomed. The first news came from Gene,
raj. Manager Philbin. who telegraphed a,