Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-09-14
FATAL FOREST FIRES.
HUNDREDS PERISH AMID THE
SEETHING FLAMES.
The ID III Lie in Heaps in Minnesota,
Wisconsin and MichiGan-Fright-
full Fate of Observation-Disclosures
tiOn I'm Pennsylvania and New
Vnpk

Il
York
Never in the history of the Northwest, ex-
cept at the time Of the fires In the Michigan
pinerios in 1871, has there been such terri
BILE loss of life and such suffering as has Just
been caused by forest fires in Minnesota,
Wisconsin and Michigan.
The loss OF life has been awful. At late
hour it was estimated that between eight
hundred an1 fifteen hundred persons hat
been burned to death or sIffOcated md the
wtdo Discrepancy in thnsa figures was proof
Of the uttnr imp0ssibiIitv OF getting reliable
information, Property losses already reach
up into the millions
One Of the most painful features Of tne
whole affair fs the charge that these death
dealing fires were started by incendiaries
among the wOoimnn, who were led to COM
NIT this terrible crime hv desperate desire
to get work. as the conf grafton will necessi-
tatO the Immediate cutting OF n vast uuan-
titv Of scOrched timber to save 1t from total
loss.
The work of recovering scorched and
blackened bodies and identifying and bury
ing them went forward in those districts
where the flames had spNnt their fury, while
in other parts men were fighting grim death
all day long in towns threatened with like
destruction
The aggregate loss will run into millions,
but 1t Is absolutely impossible to give anv
trustworty estimate, as so wide an extent OF
country was devastated. Tho largest single
lOss was that Of the Brennan Lumber Com
pany, OF Hinckley. Mimi, which IS placed at
5000, 900 by the officials OF the company The
aggregate loss is variOusly estimated at from
three to five millions and this does not in
clu1e the standing timber destroyed.
The following towns in the Northwest have
been either totally or partially destroyed by
the flames: Pokegama. Hinckley. Sand
stone, Mission Creek, Rutledge, Mansfield
and Milaca: In Minnesota Bashaw, Barron
cite, Benoit. Cartwright, Fif1eId, Granite
Lake, GrantsburS, Glidden, Marengo. Mus
cado, Shell Lake, South Range, Poplar,
Spencer, Highbridge, Ashland, Junction and
Washburne. In Wisconsin Even and Trout
Creek, In Michigan.
The latest advices from the scene OF the
big fire indicated there would be a total of
nearly 400 lives lost. This included the fa-
talities at Hincklev, Pokegama, Rutledge,
Sandstone and all the area of country COW
cred by the confederation. Searching for
the dead under anything like system had then
only begun. At noon fully 200 dead were
gathered in the cemetery at Hinckley await
ing burial. There were two great heaps
of naked and charred bodies in every con-
ceivable distorted attitude. There were six
teen known to be dead at Pokegama. There
were ffty-one at Sandstone village,
country. But 1t must be remembered
that the fire covered large area of country,
some Of it very hard to get over by searching
parties. There are many isolated families Iiv-
ing in the country and all suffered to some
extent. 1t will take at least a week
to ascertain how many are lost,
and many of them will never be identi-
fed. Many families are being cared for at
Pine City and Duluth and Superior. At the
former place there are about 500 homeless
people, and 1t IS estimated that at least 1000
people will have to be taken care OF until
they can get new start In life. The wounded
in hospitals at Pine City were all doing well.
The surgical staff was supplemented by
number of physicians from the "Twin
Cities"
1t seemed that forest and peat fires had
been raging within short distance of Hinck-
ley for some weeks, but no apprehension
bad been felt by the inhabitants. and no
preparations had been made for emer9en-
ctes. Tho fire approached, famed by a
strong wind, the smoke grew denser
as the day advanced, and 1t
soon became dark as night. About
o'clock the wind changed and the residents
of the doomed town saw the flames were
bearing down upon them. AS the alarm
rang through the streets the people rushed
from their homes, and when they caught
sight of the red, onruShing sea of fire. they
became pantc-stsicken. The fire shot across
tHo lOWu duu Iu6 people ueu III All QlrOC-
tions. They ran wherever they thought they
could find refuge. A large number ran to
pond some thrGO or four acres in extent and
three or four feet deep. Women and chill
dren ran side by side with cattle into the
pond and crouched close to the water,
for the smoke hung low and the flames
We're dangerously close. The largest crowd
of people rushed to Grindstone River
small shallow stream, which 1t was thought
would afford protection from the flames. But
the water was too low, and all miseraby
perished. There the relief parties found the
bodies lying in the water. and rudely
trampIed by the flying cattle.
Just as the flames were raging flercest,
train arrived over the Eastern Minnesota
and 500 people clambered aboard. 1t was
godsend to tho people, who offered up
prayers of thankfulneSs as the engineer sent
the train at rapid speed away from tho burn
ing town and back TO safety in Superior.
Another party had rushed for the limited
on the st. Paul and Duluth, but as the fire
cut off their way in that direction they ran to
q shallow pond near 10y. There, like rats in
q trap, they persisted one and all. One hun
dl ed and five bodies were removed from the
miserable pond by the Relief Committee,
where they had been literally roasted to
death. There was absolutely no escape.
East of the village thero was IA stagnant
pool of rain water. Over ono hundred peO-
pie sought refuge there, and of these only
mense plant oftne Brennan Lumber Company
with sawmills, planning mills, stables and 28,-
900 900 feet of pine lumber. was wiped out il
almost less time than it takes to write it.
With the stables were consumed ninety head
of splendid horses.
AS the flames SubSideu and the shadows
of night closed down over the ill-starrel
town, the people lett their places of refuge
and made their way over the smouldering
embers through the one street OF the village
The fire had spent its force, but the ruins
still glowed red through the dense
cloud of smoke, marking the spots where a
few hours ago were the homes of prosper
Gus and happy people. Guided by the weird
light, men moved about as if dazed loca-
ting the spots where their homes had
stood. The air Was filled with meanings of
the wounded, for whom no assistance could
be had, and with sob5ings Of those who had
lost friends or possessions, or both. When
the terrible night was ended and the light of
another day dawned upon the scene of desc
latiOn a few energetic spirits recovered
from the blow and began to organize for the
work Of recovering tho bodies. Two hun
dred and thirtv-,hree bodies were buried,
only twenty-three of which could be ldentl-
fed
The reporter picked his way through de-
serted avenues of Hinckley. MINI, encounter
ing the bursting remains of horses, cows,
cats, chickens, and dogs. He overlook
hans PanIson, an employee IN the brennan
mill. ''I am going out to the cemetery to
see if can find my wife and four children"
be said. 81 lost them ALL"
The rain was pouringin sheets. Atthe GEM
etery. a mile and a half from town alfdozen
men were digging trench. A heap of bodies
lay on knoll in the mfddleof the cemetery.
There were ninpty-six naked bodies, men,
women, and children. .scorched ,blackened, dis
torted brains protrudng, hands clutched in
their final agonies, hair singed from heads;
old, young. mioIle aged, male and female,
all in a promiscuous heap. In another
corner of the cemetery were forty--Te other
bodies covered with quilts.
A majority of those lost were Scand1navl-
ans. and many of these. distrusting the banks
since last years panic, carried their savings
iu their pockets, and where it was in paper
money It was. of course, destroyed.
Reports continue to come in from the
vicinity OF Skunk Creek of added discoveries
of l,rro5 x,;oti,os Fiftv-ei1ht dead were