New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-03

in fields ana forests Tor miles north anu sout"
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 heartrending stories are told Of es-
capes and attempts at escape which ended In
death. St Paul and Duluth train No 4, south
bound, with eighty passengers, ran into Hnck-
ley at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. and pro-
ceeded thence to Mission Creek. two miles fur
ther south. only to find that village In ashes
Conductor Sullivan issued immediate orders to
his crew to back into Hnckley, but before the
train. running twenty miles an hour. could reach
Hinckley. the place was in flames. The train
stopped at the depot one fatal minute. during
which the woodwork Of the engine and the bag
gage car caught fire. The train quickly re-
sumed its backward journey toward Duluth.
and the very motion Of the cars famed the
flames to fury. and they soon enveloped the
sleepers passenger coaches and the smoker.
While the train was stopping at Hinckley nearly
200 panic-stricken people of the place rushed
upon the platforms and into the cars When
moan, shout and pray, which with the awful
roar Of the<fames. made the picture of Satan's
realm perfect
A mile out Of Hnckley people on the platforms
rendered stark unatics by the heat and their
terror began to jump from the cars and plunge
| into the stream. into sandheaps or into the
smoke-encompassed forest. little further on
those in the cars stiied with smoke, began to
smash the windows Of the coaches in frantic
| attempt to get breath Of fresh air. Driven
| back by the flames eating their way up the sides
Of the freshly vanished coaches they stood In
baNIed amazement for moment. when dozens
Of them In sheer desperation, tumbled tnem-
selves out through the open spaces to the ground
below. some being instantly killed by the fall
and others lingering in the horrible heat and
smoke until suffocated.
HEROIC RAILROAD MEN.
In spite Of the fact that the train was on fire
from engine to rear brake the train crew brave
ly stood at their posts and ran the tram PACK
! six miles to Skunk Lake where the passengers
rushed out into the water Some OF them were
! in such a state Of exhaustion that they were un-
! abe to walk. and half-dozen were entirely un-
/ conscious All Of the latter were rolled in the
mud and water and laid on their backs just far
enough out In the lake to keep the water from
running into their mouths. All around the lake
tho forests were roaring Ike the fire Of an
] Froa
the people in the water were still in such state
~ excitement that they stood and offered prayers
/ in q loud voice for deverance. The scene was
| ono or the most remarkable ever witnessed. En-
gineer linn Root. who had so bravely piloted the
train through that awful six miles Of furnace. was
found TO be seriously burned. Conductor Sulli-
van. cool and fully collected all through that
awful Journey had. after it all over, be-
came a raying maniac A little later he was put
aboard a special and taken TO Duluth hospital.
The heavily timbered country over which the
flames swept with such relentless fury has been
suffering from one of the most protracted
drouths in the history Of the country. With the
exception Of a slight shower here and there
.arlv last month there has not been drop OF
rain I'm that region for the last four months ana
only a heavy downpour can save many more
TOWNS and the valuable pine lands from destruc-
tion with probable additional loss Of life
STORY OF AN EYEWITNESS.
DIR w H. Crary. of this city. who was on
hoard tells Of the backward run OF the train tor
seven miles until the small lake was reached.
IN a Morning Call reporter,
is as follows:
..Tbo woods on either side were ashed by a
oerce wind blowing at the rate OF eighty miles
an hour on through this weird scene the Lin
tied sped the situation growing more alarming
at every mile. As the train neared Hinckley II
WAS discovered that the fire had reached the
railroad but on 1t sped. the engineer hoping to
pass Hinckley in time TO escape the danger II
was not until the train had come within mile
Of Uinckley that the engineer discovered his
train was burning. and that II would be impos-
sible 70 pass The bridge had already been con-
sumed together with the mills and homes OF
Uinckley. Here the train was met by hundred
or more fugtives from the burning town. Moth
ers carried in their arms small children. others
hanging 10 the mothers skirts. Some carried
few household goods, and others were crying
and moaning on account OF losses already sus-
tancd. Many were so nearly eNHdustcu iildt
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 disap-
pointment and death 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 afoot
and others on handcars. they found along the
side of the track and in the fields the charred
rcmaIns of those poor. unfortunate wretches In