davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03
MAYOR SMITH SPEAKS.

The People Asked to Respond
i.iberally With Aid.
Mayor Smith issued the following last
evening:
To the Citizens of st. Paul: The pub.
lie press has already made known to
some extent the awful calamity which
has Overtaken the residents OF the CITY
of Hinckley and of the adjacent couu.
try. The true character and extent of
that calamity have not yet, however,
become generally understood. From
advices received by me from the
scene Of the sad occurrence it appears
that hundreds of psople have lost
their lives, and that those who survive
are rendered homeless and are deprived
Of their entire worldly possessions.
Hunger aud destitution threaten entire
communities, while the existing actual
suffering cannot be exaggerated. Steps
have already been taken to relieve the
immediate suffering, but the occa sion is
one which will for some time test the
humanity of the people. not only of this
city, but perhaps of the entire state.
A public meeting has been called to
take place in the chamber of commerce
tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock, at which
it is earnestly urged that all who can by
act or advice aid in relieving the pre-
vailing distress will attend.
deem it advisable, furthermore, to
appeal to the members of the various
churches. and of all religious and benev-
olent societies, to at once take united
action in collecting everything in the
way of food, clothing, medi-
cine and articles of household
and domestic use, and forwarding
the same to the afflicted commun-
tiles. The railroad companies have
volunteered the free use of their facili-
ties to transport everything which is
contributed. and have otherwise aided
in the work of mitigating the distress of
the sufferers. 1t behooves every char
table and publlc-splrited person to take
steps forthwith to advance this good
work, and to that END it Will be made
publicly known how best Individual
citizens can promote all undertaking
which should be the concern of US all.
ROBERT A. SMITH, Mayor.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03
COMMITTEES APPOINTED.
A Distressing Report Comes From
Sandstone.

A Distressing Report Comes From
Sandstone.
Special TO the Globe
PINE CITY, Minn., Sept. 2.-Up on the
arrival of the train from st. Paul at
Pine City conference was had with
the citizens there as to the best means
to accomplish the work of taking care
of the dead and injured. A meeting
was afterwards held in one of the cars.
at which the state of facts was laid
before the st. Paul party. A meeting
was called for Hurley hall. Harris
Richardson, of st. Paul, presided, and
the following committee was named to
conduct the work in systemlzed man
ner:
General Relief Committee - James
Hurley, of Pine City, chairman; J. D..
Markham. Rush City; John F. Stone,
j. Y. Breckenridge, S. A. Hough. E. A.
Hough, II. Borschers. all of Pine City;
H. H. Hart. st. Paul; j. F. Mapnix,
Minneapolis; A. E. Quinn. White Bear I;
j. G. Nethaway. Saltwater: j. 81. Bur-
we'll. Cess Buncker,D. Ii. Moon. Lieut..
q. r. Smith, P. Fl. Kelly, Samuel K.
Stone aud George r. Finch, of st. Paul;
II. 7. King, Saltwater. T
Committee to Bury Dead-J. G. Don-
nelly, St, Paul; 81. d. Davis, Hinckley;
A. G. Perkins, j. w. Hunt. Frank Web
ber, Pine City; H. II. Hart. st. Paul;
John E. Dougherty, Father Beebe.
Word was received from Sandstone,
on the farther side Of Hinckley, stating
that there are 125 people there without
anything to eat and 10 means of getting
away. because of burned bridges on
both sides of them. Relief from here
cannot reach them because of, the
burned bridges. AS soon as the roads
are fitted for travel wagons will be sent
out with supplies.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03
HUNDREDS ARE DEAD,
The Calamity One Of the Most Ap.
paliinE Character.

The Calamity One of the Most Ap-
palling Character.
Special TO the Globe.
PINE CITY, Minn., Sept. 2.-The de-
structiOn of life and property around
Hlnckley is something horrible for a
civilized country. The cremated bodies
number hundreds, and the injured
number hundreds. The vast val
ley between the Kettle river and
Cross lake is laid waste, includ-.
ing several villages and settlements.
Hinckley and Mission Creek, two -four
ishing towns, were reduced to ashes,
farms were swept clear by the flames.
the forests are still burning fiercely, and
rain is required to drown out the fires
that have swept vast region of coun-,
try. Whole families have been Gre.
mated. In some instances only one or
two men escaped from a neighborhood
to tell of the destruction. These saved
their lives by running to small lakes or
hiding in potato fields, and reached Pine
City more dead than alive.
The dead are being picked up by the
score and taken 10 Pine City. Search
ing parties are penetrating the burnt
district, but find none but the charred
remains OF the inhabitants. The people
from Hinckley and Mission Creek who
escaped with their lives are destitute,
having neither homes nor eatables.
The relief sent out from st. Paul was
timely. The supply of provisions was
more welcome than even the blankets
sent out later. because the majority
were still anxious to continue the
search for the dead and sufferers. The
tents and hospital supplies were very
necessary for the injured and badly
burned people.
Harris Richardson. OF st. Paul, wired
Gov. Nelson to send out more supplies
Of provisions and bedding. Ii. Ii. Hart.
of the state board of charities, is at
Pine City collecting data preparatory to
providing state relief. Joe Mannix, of
Minneapolis, is here also to report the
situation to Mayor Eustis, so that sup.
plies may be sent later from that city.
A committee OF five from Saltwater is
getting information as to what lumber
supplies are needed, and will contribute
building material. Assistant General
Manager Miller, of the st. Paul & Du-
luth road. has been here, and returned
to st. Paul to send out a sleeper iospi-
tai and camp supplies for the wounded
and homeless.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03
HORROR UPON HORROR.
The Scenes Among the Worst
Ever Witnessed.


Ever Witnessed.
Special to the Globe.
ST. CLOUD. MIMI, Sept. 2.-The first
report of the terrible loss OF life at
Hinckley was received here early this
morning from Pine City, and message
to the Great Northern officials here said
that Hinckley had been burned, the
Great Northern roundhouse being the
only thing left, and that thirty lives
had been lost. At noon telegram
placed the dead at nearly 200, and word
was also received to be prepared to
render assistance. The Great Northern
is doing all in its power to reach
the fire-strlcken town. Ever since
yesterday afternoon work trains have
been engaged III rebuilding burned
bridges. All the men that can be used
are rushed to the front. but three large
bridges are down. At this writing the
road is clear to point four miles of
Mora. and within about fifteen miles of
Hinckley, but the officials do not expect
to get into Hinckley until tomorrow. 1t
is thought here that the town will be
reached quicker from Pine City.
The scenes at the front, where the
work trains are engaged, are frlghtful.
One crew OF men reported that they
saw the flames sweeping down on
house close to the track. The place was
enveloped In fire before the people
could escape. The men were powerless
to render any assistance, although they
were so close that they could hear the
people screaming as they were being
burned to death. Newspaper men are
trying to reach Hinckley over the Great
Northern from here, but it is not
thought that they will get there before
tomorrow; besides. all telegraph CON-
munication Is shut off.
The Eastern Minnesota train which
came here from Princeton last evening
is still lying IN the Great Northern
yards, the company keeping the passen.
gers at the Grand Central hotel here,
and they will not 20 away before to-
morrow. AS so9p as Mayor Bruckart
received the request for aid he called
III number of prominent citizens for
consultation, and steps were taken to
perfect an ORGANIZATION for the relief
q the destitute people. Of whom
there must be hundreds. A special
meeting Of the city council has been
called for tomorrow morning. when an
appropriation will be made. A relief
train will be sent out tomorrow after
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03
THE LOSS $1,OoO,OOO.
Losses TO Property Heavy in the
Ashland District.


ASHLAND. Wis.,. Sept. 2.-As a result
OF the forest fires Saturday and Sunday,
Sl,0o0,0o0 can be added TO the amount OF
loss occasioned this season. 1t is doubt
fut If $1,000 coo will cover the entire
loss when the damage to standing pins
and logs is estimated. Washburn had
narrow escape from total destruction.
1t was only by the most heroic efforts
that second thriving North Wisconsin,
city was saved from the flames.
1t still stands in precarious condition.
with smouldering fires all around it, but
in nearly every household midnight
vigils are being kept, and unless the
fires gained extraordinary force WASH
burn is now safe. A dispatch from
Brule, out on the Northern Pacific.
states that the scene there Is dark and
smoky. Saw mills have been shut down
and men will remain on duty all night
fighting fire. Highbridge and Marengo
are reported to be In great danger.
A telegram about o'clock this after.
noon announced that the South Shore
and Bigelow mills at Washburn and
lumber yards were burning. Chief Scott
received message to the same effect
that the whole town wolld burn up il
help was not sent over. There was not
boat in the harbor at the time. Mr..
Scott concluded to help Washburn out
and about o'clock portion Of the fire
department boarded the Keystone tug
and started for Washburn.
The forest fires about the city have
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03

Sentrely and the other is injured. His
right hand Is badly burned. He said he
supposed there were twelve on that ILL
lated train that lost their lives. they being
the ones that jumped from the windows
and fell into the flames. There were
two Chinamen in the smoker, who. in
their fear. got under the seats and could
not be removed by force.
The relief committeeare now holding
a conference with a committee of Pine
City citizens, and as soon as plans are
arranged the train will move on to
Hinckley. The mayor of that city esti-
mates that some 200 are missing. His
wife is among the missing, but he has
heard that she may be in Superior.
Among the msssing are: Charles An
derson. cashier of the Pine County
bank; George Bartlett. Andrew Gran
strom, Alex Hanson, county commits
sioner; Louis Nelson, employe of the
Eastern Minnesota railway; N. f.
Blanchard. Frank Blanchard and wife;
Charles Anderson, head sawyer in the
sHinckley mill; William Nesbitt and
James Bean. foremen OF the mill.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03

force of this city are out to prevent the
burning of the village The usual Sab.
oath services were dispensed with. and
the church members fought like de-
mons. The council had taken precau.
tons and hired crew of men to watch
the fire. The he avy fires west of the
st. Croix river ragged last night and have
DESTROYED millions of feet of standing
pine, also loggers' outfits and hundreds
OF oxen have fallen prey to
forest fires. The hay crop is almost en-.
tirely destroyed. Hundreds OF tons of
the settlers hay was destroyed todav.
Clouds of black smoke would shoot
heavenward. The fires were famed by
heavy south wind. aud travelled with
great rapidity. The oldest settler can
not recall any season when fires were
so numerous as now. The loss to this
community from fires this fall viii
amount to several thousand dollars,
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03
APPALLING DEATH LIST.
It Will Reach aG Least Three
Hundred.

Special to the Globe.
PINE CITY, MINI. Sept. 2.--The re-
lief committee returned from Hinckley
at IL p. IN, and reported that 200 bodies
had been found at that place and forty
six at Sandstone. There are still mum
Der OF uneXplored parts of the place,
and it is thought other bodies will be
found. The st. Paul & Duluth
road will be open at noon
tomorrow. A conductor on the
Eastern Minnesota road reports that the
condition at Sandstone is even worse
than at Hinckley. There are 200 people
burned in there, and they are digging
up potatoes and carrots aud eating
them. They are also destitute OF cloth.
Ing. The relief committee will 60 as
near Sandstone as they can by train in
the morning, and will then take teams
with provisions and blankets for
the people. There will also
be provision made for burying
the dead there. The st. Paul relief
committee left its supplies here under
charge of the detail of troops, and it
will he apporrioned among the needy by
the general committee. Other supplies
will be taken In charge as they are sent
in. The work of caring for the desti-
tute will be carried OH as long as there
is need for relief.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03
BADGERDOAf ABLAZE.
Hundreds of Wisconsin Peopl,
Rendered Homeless

hundreds OF Wisconsin People
Rendered Homeless.
WEST SUPERIOR, Wis, Sept. 2.-The
gentle breeze that sprang up fro m the
east about night-fall brought to sutfo-
Gated humanity at the head of Lake
Superior the first breath of air for
thirty-six hours that was not freighted
with burning embers and SCOT, but how
far into the burning forests its refresh
ing influence has been felt it is impos-
to say. Within radius OF seventy-tive
miles the immense forests of pine,
dry as tinder from the prolonged
drought, have been a seething mass
of flames, and death and desolation
mark the terror of its progress. Despite
the destruction Of the wires and the
meager details that can be received, 1t
is known that many lives have been
sacrificed to the fiery demon; that hun.
dreds. ii not thousands, of people have
been rendered homeless. From every
section come tales most narrowing, and
not In all the many messages is there
encouragement to hope that the first
wild reports have been exaggerated.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03
IN ROUGH BOXES
Will the Bodies or Most of the
Dead BE buried.

Will the Bodies or Most of the
Dead BE Buried.
Special to the Globe.
PINE CITY, Minn., Sept. 2.-Several
undertakers, Including forces from two
establishments in this city, are at work
on the grounds preparing the boties for
interment. A quantity of lumber was
sent from Pine City to Hlnck-
ley. and rough boxes ara be-
ing made for the hundreds of
dead. Workmen were digging an
immense trench IN which bodies Will be
buried. The digging is slow because
of the baked condition of the EARTH. 1t
was necessary to send for picks before
any progress in the digging could be
made. In many instances a heap of
ashes. with charred bones. Is all that is
left of the bodies. There are a number
of instances where only one of family
is left.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03

Those Travelling Upon It Save Them
selves by Hurriedly Rolling Into
Skunk Lake.


Special to the Globe.
HINCKLEY, Mnn., Sept. 2.-Over
200 people dead, three towns blotted
from the face of the earth, and over S.
100000 worth of property destroyed
this is the record of the fire fiend of the
pine forest between noon and midnight
yesterday in the counties of Pine. Mile
Lacs and Chisago. The catastrophe is
the most trightful that ever visited Min
nesota. The cyclones of st. Cloud.
Rochester and New Ulm were awful in
the cost of human life and property,
but they were p:gmy accidents along
swept this fair town and miles on miles
of country Iortl, south. east and west
of it. 1t all came so suddenly. too. that
it bereft people by the score of their
reason, and they plunged like maddened
cattle into
The Forest Inferno
of seething flame. When the sun went
down last night but two buildings were
left standing in Hinckley-a water tank
and a roundhouse, and into the latter
were crowded $50 people, all that were
then known to be alive of the 1000 peo-
pie who have made this place their
home. The dead are lying in field and
forest for miles north and south of
Hinckley, and there are so few left to
tell the tale that it is almost impossible
to secure names of the dead. Dozens
of heart-rending stories are told of
escape and attempts at escape whic h
ended In death. ST. Paul & Duluth
Train Ne. 4, south-bound, with eighty
passengers, ran into Hinckley at g
o'clock yesterday afternoon, and pro-
ceeded thence to Mission Creek, two
miles further south, only to find that
village in ashes. Conductor Sullivan
issued immediate orders to his crew to
back into Hinckley. but before the
train, running at twenty miles an hour,
could reach HinckleY, the place was in
hames. The train stopped at the depot
One Fatal Minute,
during which the wood work of the en-
CINE and the baggage car caught fire.
The train quickly resumed its backward
Journey toward Duluth. and the very
motion of the cars famed the flames to
fury, and they soon enveloped the
Ileepers, passenger coaches and the
smoker. While the train was stopping at
Hinckley nearly 200 panic-stricken peo-
Pile of the place rushed upon the plat
forms and into the cars. When they
discovered the train on fire they began
to moan, shout and pray. which, with
the awful roar of the flames, made the
picture Of Satan's realm perfect. A
mile out of Hinckley, people on the
platforms. rendered stark lunatics by
the heat and their terror, began to jump
from the ears and plunge into streams,
Into sand heaps or into the
Sm6ke-Enc ompassed Forest
A little further on, those in the cars.
Itifled with smoke, began to smash the
windows of the coaches In frantic at
Tempt to get breath of fresh air.
Driven back by the flames eating their
way up the sides of the freshly warn.
shed coaches, they stood in baffied
Amazement for moment, when dozen:
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03
PoKEGAMA DESTROYED.
A Thriving New Town Entirely
BlOtted Out

A Thriving New Town Entirely
Blotted Out.
Special to the Globe
ST. CLOUD. Mlnn., Sept. 2.-The re-
port that Milaca had burned is not true,
that town having escaped, and Poke
gama, seven miles this side of Hnckley,
was wiped out, and several people were
badly burned. ihirty-five families are
homeless and need assistance as quick
as it can be got to them, and Conductor
E. E. Parr, of freight 46, telegraphed
that his train was in the ditc Ii
one and half miles west of
POkegama. There are twenty-five peo.
pie in the ca5oose. He says send relief
at once. This was sent last night. The
place cannot be reached until tomorrow.
Hans Nelson. section foreman at Poke
gama, started away yesterday afternoon
with his family on handcar to escape
the fire, and nothing more has been
heard or seen of them, and 1t is almost
certain that they persisted.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03
SERIOUSLY INJURED.
Several of the Hurt Arrive at
West SUPERIOR.

WEST SUPERIOR, Wis, Sept. "A
special Great Northern relief train ar
rived at $3.50 tonight from Kettle River
with eleven Injured men. They were
transferred to St. Mary's hospital.
Some OF them are terribly burned and
suffering great agony. The two most
severely injured are Archie Mcdonald
and Robert Sargent, who are burned
about the face and head. DR.. II.
j. Connor is caring. for the
injured, and says that all will recover.
Their names are: John Pilky, C. j.
Peterson, Dennis Allen, Stephen
Murphy, Henry Foss, Thomas Cleary
Charles McPike. Harry Staples, Archie
Mcdonald. Patrick Brady, Robert Sar.
gent. Supt. Thorn, who was with the
relief train. says the reports have not
been exaggerated. and that unless ram
comes within twelve hours the loss of
property will be doubled.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03
ONE LONE BUILDING
Now All That Is Left OF the VIII
lage OF Baronette.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
SPooNER, Wis, Sept. 2.-The destruc-
tion Of Baronette was complete. Ono
lone building is left OF city of 700
Inhabitants. One man was burned. The
total loss il quarter Of a million. Shell
Lake has fifty-two dwellings burned,
with total loss of SIS, 900. Three hun
dred and sixty people are homeless and
many are without dollar of insurance.
Deeds Of heroism were plentiful. One
widow dragged her typhold-sick son
from the house into a potato patch and
there protected him from the flames,
while the rest Of the inhabitants fled In
terror. The fires are now under control
in this vicinity,
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03
LOST AN EYE

While Saving the Life Of His Lit
tie Boy. :
Special to the Globe.
Pune CITY, Minn., Sept. about z
p. M, when the Duluth special reached
Pine City, there were about 100 men,
women and children around the depot.
who had been brought down from fths
burned district The majority of them
were poorly clad and more or sless
burned. Fine men were especially ins
jured BY the fire in trying to. save the
women and children. Robert DOwney,
who was aboard No, I, the train hpfped
last night, was the most unfortunate
OF any that were celgysgatea here. In
saving his little boy he had lost one eye
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03

of them In sheer desperation tumbled
themselves out through the open spaces
to the ground below, some being in
stantly killed by the fall, and others
lingering in the horrible heat and smoke
until suffocated. In spite of the fact
that the train was on fire from
engine to rear brake, the train
crew bravely stood at their
posts and ran the train entire
back six miles to Skunk lake. where the
passengers rushed out and into the
water. Some of them were in such
state of exhaustion that they were un-
able to walk, and half dozen were en-
tirely unconscious. All of these latter
were rolled in the mud and water and
laid on their backs just far enough out
into the lake to keep the water from
running
Into Their Mouths.
All around the lake the forests were
roaring like the furnace of an imaginary
OF the people in the water were
still in such a state OF excitement
that they stood and offered pray
ers in loud voice for deliverance. The
scene was one of the most remarkable
ever witnessed. Engineer jim Root,
who had so bravely piloted the train
through that awful six miles of fur
mace, was found to be seriously burned.
Conductor Sullivan, cool and fully col
lected all through that awful journey,
had, after it was all over, become raw
ing maniac. A little latter he was put
aboard special and taken to Duluth
hospital. Along toward nightfall many
of the passengers, most of whom were
bound for st. Paul, began to make cal
culations on how to get home. AS q
rule. they agreed that it would be best
to 20 to Duluth and make
Circuit Through Wisconsin.
Three men, however, resolved to walk
back by way of the track to Hinckley
Those were James Edward Lobdell, of
st. Paul; James Anderson. of Mime
apolis. and Charles Holt, of Duluth.
The thrilling story of their trip to this
point is thus told by Mr.. Lobdell:
81 had been travelling man for the
past dozen years, and had been over the
DuluthIine so many times that l felt
| safe in making trial. | was so we'll
acquainted, with. the location of the
streams that l thought II we got in a
tight place we could run into one of
them and save ourselves. We had lost
all our baggage, as had the rest of the
passengers, and we had nothing what
ever except the clothes we wore and
each light overcoat. With the rest
Mr.. Anderson had lost
Twelve Thousand Dollars,
worth Of bonds which could not be re.
placed, We got along for the first half
an hour, but we then ran into smoke so
dense that we could not see three feet
in front Of us. We were In Imminent
danger of being suffocated. We could
| not see the track, and the ties were
burning beneath our feet. Each of us
took an overcoat and wrapped 1t about
our heads. leaving only small opsnfflg
from which to breathe. To add to the
horror of the situation, every little ways