The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1894-09-05
Three Minnesota Towns Lying
in Ashes and Over
THREE HUNDRED CORPSES
Lie in the Region In The NeighhOr-
hood Of Hinekley, MINI.
A Vast Area Laid Waste and Whole Fam
lilies Cremated- Daring Run Of Pas
senger Train Through Miles
of Roaring Flames.

/ - AAeAShAOJt 0ONOhVJ -AFO AAAACp - ~ "
Paul, on the st. Paul & Duluth road,
with population Of 1000 to 1,2OO, was
{ wiped out of existence Saturday night
I by raging forest FIRE which swept
down upon the doomed village. The
smaller town OF Mission Creek, sta
tion about five miles from Hinckley,
was also wiped out. The loss of life Is
! variously estimated from one to four
hundred and 1t Is almost certain the
loss will equal three hundred 1t will
be days before the full extent of the
disaster can be known. ALI is confu-
sion and excitement among the surviv-
ing parents, who are searching for
their children and children searching
for parents. The death list increases
every hour.
! The walls OF the railroad round
house and of the schoolhouse are the
only parts Of buildings In Hinckley
which remain. One of the most
thrilling events was the experience Of
the train which left Duluth at 2 p. m.
Saturday, for St. Paul. 1t was the linn
tied passenger train, the best train on
the road, and was crowded with pas
sengers The smoke from the forest
fires was so dense that lamps were
lighted in the cars. When the train
came within about a mile of Hinclley
the engineer found he could proceed
no further, as the people were already
fleeing for their lives from the town
DR.. w. W. Crary, of this city, who was
on board, tells of the backward run of
the train for seven miles until small
lake was reached. His story is as
follows:
The woods on either side were
lashed by fierce wind blowing at the
rate of eighty miles an hour. On
through this wierd scene the limited
Sped the situation growing more
alarming at every mile. AS the train
neared Hinckley it was discovered that
the fire had reached on the railroad,
but on it Sped the engineer hoping to
pass Hinckley in time to escape the
danger. 1t was not until the train had
come within mile Of Hinckley that
the engineer discovered that the train
was burning and that it would be i'm
possible to pass The bridge had al
ready been consumed, together with
the mills and homes of Hinckley.
Here the train was met by hundred
or more fugitives from the burning
town. Mothers carried in their arms
small children, others following close
behind, hanging to the mothers skirts.
Some carried household goods and
others we're crying and moaning on ac-
count Of losses already sustained
Many were so nearly exhausted that
they could scarcely climb on the train
Nearer and nearer the flames were
approaching, and finally the engineer
was compelled to reverse his lever and
run back, leaving behind scores of un-
fortunate ones who had not been able
TO reach the train, their only available
means of escape. Those on board could
see many of them sink to the ground
exhausted and overcome by the terrible
heat, never again to rise. Many came
running across the fields from small
settlements, hoping to escape on the
train, but only disappointment and
Heath awaited them. On rushed the
train through the fiery hot breath of
the pursuing flames, for stop would
have been fatal to all on board.
"As the weary passengers retraced
their steps Sunday morning, some
sfoot and others on hand cars, they
found along the side of the track and
In the fields the charred remains of
those poor unfortunate wretches. In
four miles some thirty-four bodies
were found, some burned beyond recog.
milton and others unscarred, having
died from suffocation.
1T was four or five-milerun back to
Skunk Lake, which Is little more than
3 mud hole, the mud and water cover
ing not more than an acre. The train
had gone but short distance before it
was surrounded by the devouring
aames, Hot blasts of flames struck the
coaches, setting them on fire in places
and breaking the windows on both
sides. The baggage car was soon a
mass Of flames, which streamed back
over the tender and the engine, setting
Ore to the engineers clothing and
scorching hisface and hands. On either
side OF the engine there was stream
Of fame, but never for an instant did
EngiAeer Root finch. To remain was
apparently certain death to him, but
could he hold out for four miles the
passengers might possibly escape. To
have deserted his post would have been
death to all on board.
"At Skunk lake the engineer had
scarcely strength to shut off the steam.
As he pulled the lever he sunk to the
Hoor exhausted, burned and bleeding, .
the broken glass in the cab having cut
him in number of places. Quickly
two men rushed to the cab and bore
the form of the brave engineer to a
spot below the embankment- Here he
lay all night, covered with mud and ,
dirty water.
"At Skunk lake sixty or more
women, children and men found refuge
in the shallow water and dirty mud,
the women wading out in the water
until 1t reached their waists. With
their hands they bathed their burned
faces with mud and water. Many of \
them we're seriously burned on the ]
train. Many lay in the mud, covering I
themselves with it.
"Somefew died Of suffocation within
. few yards Of the pond Many women