The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-06-21
FIGHTING THE FLAMES
Graphic Description of Forest
Fires In the Northwest.
THOUSANDS OF PENNILEss PEOPLE

Hundreds Were Huddled Into Orc Cars
and Hurried Away Through Lane of
Fire-Loss of Life Less Than at First
Reported but Much Property Destroyed.
DULUTH, June 20.-The first train bear
ing the refugees from the Mesaba range
which has been swept by fire, carrying $50
persons, mostly women and children, ar
rived in Duluth, and the wearied, hungry
passengers hurried from the coaches to the
baggage rooms, where elaborate lunches
were spread.
sOf all the crowd the greater portion were
penniless, dependent absolutely upon what
charity that might be offered Few had
saved anything beyond the most meager
effects, and for the whole train load there
was but single trunk Among the first
lew who alighted from the train were two
tired looking women, each with baby on
her arm, and the entire absence of other
belongings told the story of u mothers
love. There was another family, IL mother,
father and one child. Between them they
had saved but one thing, Il babys picture.
second train bearing refugees from
the burned district arrived here, bearing
nearly 200 people.
Prosperous Towns Destroyed.
Advices from Virginia are to the effect
Inat only ten houses escaped the flames.
Virginia was II village of $500 people, with
all that goes to make II thriving town 1t
Is impossible ut this time to secure an esti-
mate of the loss. The city was Just com
pleting an elaborate electric light plant
and this too is a total loss
Mountain Iron was not so badly damaged
as ut first feared. So far as reported only
the Methodist church and half dozen
houses were burned
Merritt and Messana are completely
cleaned out not house remaining.
There are numerous fa'alities and in
Jured reported, but no deaths have as yet
been verified. Edward Kelly and Ida Vurth,
song and dance team which was playing
mt one of the Merritt theaters, went back
to the theater to recover their wardrobe
when they were cut off from ali means of
escape except by the lake, and it is feared
that they were either drowned or burned.
young woman whose name has not
been learned went back into her burning
house to get her babe and probably per-
ishcd with the infant, as they have not
been seen since
a laborer named Murphy was so batlly
burned about the face and neck that it was
thought foolish to bring him to this city
SO critical was his condition.
Description of the Fire.
a most graphic description of the fire at
Virginia was given by james Mccarthy.
an actor who had been playing at the Star
thcater He was ccoml,anied by his wife
and II little child.
THE fire had been burning about Nir-
gina for several days" he said, but no
one else seemed to worry, so we did not.
Saturday night we were called out to fight
fire, but it was easily gotten under control.
In the morning it was worse and the town
was almost surrounded by fire About
O'Clock the wind, which had been rising all
the morning, began to blow IL perfect gale
and houses on the edge of the town began
to burn.
People went mad. They attempted at
first to save everything and began moving
furniture. Then they tried to save lighter
articles, but as the fire grew ficrcer they
We're glad to save anything and escape
with their lives. The town burned like
finder The light frame buildings were
like so much paper The whole town was
i'll ruins in less than an hour. The terri
fled people gathered abont the 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
loaded in. All the way we came through
Il lane of fire"