The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-08-04


Tho Terrible Disaster at Phillips
Tho Relief Work.
STORY or THE DISASTER
ASHLAND, Wis, July 30.-Loss OF
property approximating $4,000, 900 and
heavy loss OF life. the extent not yet
known. though at least fifteen persons
met death at Phillips Friday, is the
record OF the forest fires which have
swept northern Wisconsin.
Estimste OF Property losses.
The losses now seem 10 be:
The city OF Phillips entirely wiped out
The city OF Mason practically destroyed with
White River Lumber company and 5OOoO,VO
feet OF lumber.
headquarters OF che Ashland Lumber com
pany near Shores Crossing entirely wiped out
Special train OF the Chicago. 81 Paul MIN
neapoiis & Omaha. consisting OF sixteen cars
and locomotive. all burned; broke through
burning bridge near Ashland Junction.
Camps OF Thompson Lumber company
burned az White River.
Two bridges ON Wisconsin Central railroad
ono near Chelsea. another near Phillips, both
Ca main line south OF Ashland
These are the estimated losses, spe-
officially, 80 far as known:
Lumber plants ......................t 81 100000
Phillips reAidents.... ..........,......., i2t0Op
Thompson Lumber company. Of Wash
Ashland Lumber company ............. 900
shores Crossing residents ........... 1000
Two bridges g.. 81 T.. N. & Q. rail-
Two bridges wisconsin Central 10000
Hombsteaders.. ..s.....,.....s...,..,t. ahOOOO
The Disaster at Phillips.
PmLLIPs. Wis. July 3l.-out OF
town OF 200 buildings but twenty-seven
are left standing. Driven by the i'm
creaeing wind the fire swept the south
west limits OF the city Friday after
noon. Across the miles OF swamp
where the water was from TO IL
inches deep IL could be heard roaring
for an hour The ircmen were forced
90 use dynamite. This stopped the
progress OF the fire. after the north
end OF the city had been destroyed, In
Guiding the box factory of the John X.
Davis Lumber company and the school
house.
Periahed In the Lake.
Driven frantic by the rushing gale
OF flames. the familics,of James Locke.
Frank Cliss and Dave Dryden gathered
hurricdiy In their arms all their pos
sessions chat they could and made for
"A floating boathouse that was tied 10
the town bridge near the box factory.
The ropes were cut and the occupants
thought the gale would drive them
across the lake where the flames
would not reach them, but the raft
was rickety affair and overloaded,
and, most terrible OF all, the fire
seemed to create current OF air that
pulled them directly towards great
pile OF burning lumber ON the lake
shore. The raft began 90 sink. and,
with death by fire facing them on one
side and drowning on the other, the
boats were resorted TO- but in the gale
they capsizcd almost instantly, and all
persisted with the exception OF Mrs
ClisS, who was found floating Satur-
day morning. ON the opposite side OF
the lake. clinging with desperation to
"A boat.
Another cyclone of fire struck the
WESTERN side, sweeping through the
main business and residence portion of
the city destroying the rest Of the
Davis companys plant. The path OF
the fire took IN the city hall, court
house, county jail and the Wisconsin
Central depot and swept everything 10
the lake. Gov Peck and his staff ar
rived from Madison Sunday morning
A dozen ears OF provisions have arrived
from various cities, and the organiza-
ton for relief has been completed.
Gov. Peck met with the committee at
the town hall and offered many sug-
gcstions.
Kindness of Neighborlng Towns.
The people OF Prentice have been ex-
tremely generous. Every house in the
town has been open TO the people OF
Phillips who wish Co avail themselves
Of this shelter. They are all crowded.
AS the Wisconsin Central has carried
the fire sufferers free from here 90
Prentice and return. The Central
has also carried free the families
OF all sufferers who wished Co leave
Phillips for any point on the line.
The relief continues 10 pour in here
FROM all points OF the state. Eighteen
full carloads have been received thus
far The donations Of provisions and
clothing which have been received
have como from.
wcynuwega. Unity Chippewa Falls, Eau
Claire. Portage Stevens Point, Monticello. Colo
na. Loyal. Marshneld Colby Millhdore. Au-
hurndnie Prentice. Rib Lake. Merrill Rhine
lander, Hewitt spencer. Oshkosh. Milwaukee.
Dale. Amherst Junction, sheridan, stockton.
Neeunh. Waupaoa, Wausau. WATERFOWL. Ash
land. Washhurn and Fincld. all Ia Wisconsin.
Chicago, III. aud ilessemer. Mich.
Arising from the Ashes.
The work OF rebuilding Phillips has
begun. The Shaw Tanncry company
has ordered Ina the lumber 10 rebuild
IFS plant and IL will begin TO arrive To
day Twenty shnnties 30 shelter the
unfortunate people were run mp Mon
day. aud the work OF cleaning away
the debris OF the fire has commenced
all ulscctions OF the city.
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