Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06
THREATENING FOREST FIRES.
Citizens Fearful! that the Flames
would Enter the Cities SUNDAY.

OlQeSt lnnaDitanC mas tnlS section OF the
state suffered so extended drouth and
dry season as it has passed through this
summer. For eleven weeks we have
had no rain to speak of, only one little
shower which Iayed the dust for a few
hours on Friday of Fair week. In
consequence of this long spell vegeta-
ton has dried up, timber, logs and
shrubbery of all kinds is like tinder.
The cranberry and hay marshes,
usually soaking wet with water standing
upon their surface, are so dry that even
the reservoirs and deepest bitches are
empty and have been SO for weeks. 1t
is necessary to dig several feet down
from the bottom of the d1tches before
water can be found. The fires have
been running in every direction, both
in timber and marsh districts, until
millions of dollars in property has been
wiped out of existence.
All day Sunday the forest fires were
raging within half mile of the twin
cities in every direction. The most
Immediate danger was feared from the
fire coming northeast with the wind
into the Lyon field on the west side of
the city of Centralia. The Centralia
Fire company was called out immedi-
ately after dinner, the new hose was
attached to the nearest hydrant and
stream played upon property closest to
o11 1,fJ io+o
danger from that side was removed.
The strong wind famed the flames
until they reached high in the air
destroying everything before them.
John Paterick's residence was saved
only by hard labor and back firing.
Miles of fencing was converted into
smoke all around.
While the fire was being fought in
Centralia on the west, it entered into
Grand Rapids on the south and east,
and it was all the residents in the 4th
ward could do to keep it in partial
subiection and from burning some of
the homes in the Corcoran district.
The Sunday fire in this ward called to
our attention the utter inadequate
water supply as means of protection
from fire. If fire had started in any of
these dwellings, with the strong wind
blowing, there would have been nothing
to stop it until it had swept clean up to
or very near Chase's corner where the
only reservoir is sunk. We also under
stand that there is not water enough in
that reservoir at this time to last the
fire engine half an hour. .cEhose having
these matters to look after ought to
know just what and how much should
be done in this line to give proper
protection. The cost of large reser-
voir is nothing compared with the loss
that might be entailed, for example if
the fire had once started on the day in
question. The great losses in Phillips,
Nesper, Hinckley and other cities and
towns should prove valuable object
lessons toward extreme cautiousness in
providing for the Twin Cities the most
perfect fire protection possible. We
have every reason to be thankful that
we have escaped with so little loss.
The Grand Rapids fire department
made a cOmmendable move by taking
out the engine after dinner and playing
two streams of water all afternoon in
the business part of the city. They
started from the end of the bridge and
went up the entire length Of Main st.
thoroughly drenching and wetting down
every business block as an extra pre-
caution. 1t cooled things off nightly
and seemed as though the powerful
steamer might heave the Whole Owls
conse" upon us.
The two cities are now fairly we'll
supplied with fire protection-with
fire works in Centralia and fire engine
here. With plenty Of hose in Centralia
to carry the water and a sufficient
supply of water and reservoirs on this
side we ought not to suffer from the
rayages of a great fire. We sincerely
hope not.
FIRE NOTES.
Mrs. J. w. Cameron was sick in bed
when the forest fires were approaching
Nesper and while half mile away her
husband assured her that there was no
danger. 1t was but few minutes after
that the f 3 reached the village limits.
At this moment Mrs. Cameron arose
and only had time to dress and escape
when the house in which she had been
living sick took fire and was consumed.
Only an elegant piano belonging to Mrs.
Frank Cameron and trunk filled with
clothes were saved. This will give the
reader some idea Of how rapidly the
fire travelled.
DAILY, small station on the c., NJ. &,
St. P. Ry. was destroyed by fire Sunday
including the planning mill, old saw mill,
boarding house and residences. The
cranberry marshes of DAILY q Sampson,
James E. Ingraham, NJ. Gordon, ". 7.
Jones, Lon Scribner, VIM. Boden, A.
\. Cross were burned over and only
the cranberry buildings were saved by
hard work. In fact every cranberry
marsh III that vicinity has been
DESTROYED by the recent fires. Men
fought for twentv-four hours without
food or water and then had to give up
in despair. The strong wind blowing
was too much for them.
Report reached here Monday that if