New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-30
Persisted IN THE BA YOU.
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE AT THE TURNING
OF PHILLIPS, WIS
PEOPLE FLEEING FROM THE FOREST FIRES
MEET DEATH BY DROWNING-PROPERrY
LOSS ESTIMATED AT $3.50 oOoO-GOv.
PECK AT THE sCENE-REIIEF
TRAINS PROMPTLY SENT.

TRAINS PROMPTLY SENT.
Phillips Wis. July 29-At daybreak this morn
ing a dense smoke covered Of forest 100
miles square. and the centre was this desoate,
fre-swept little c1y. More than $500 persons
have fled into the forests or to the villages near
by The town this morning was a heap Of ruins,
and the smoke dense that the headlight
of a locomotive coull not be seen nifty feet away.
Three relief trains reached Phillips soon after
o'clock this morning. one was in charge of Gov
ernor George w Peck and his STAFF. The second
came from Stevens Point in charge Of Frank
IamoreauX and Crosby Grant. and the third
from Marshheld in charge Of Major W. H. Up
ham. r. publican nominen for Governor.
As soon as he arrived Governor Peck called
his staff together and directed the work Of un-
loading the provisions. There were several car
loads Of food. and warehouse was opened In
one Of the few buildings that are left standing
in the town. Through the dense smoke Governor
Peck started out on a tour of inspection. lie
soon found two heavy walls Of masonry. which
marked the place where the TWO banks hAd
stood. ON inquiry 1t was learned that the vaults
of the banks contained $4,000. AMI Governor
Peck Immediately swore in a dozen men 10
guard tho money in the vaults They We're armed
with Winchester rifles. and ordered TO remain on
duty in two shifts day and night.
The loss by the great connagration In its on
tiretv is difficult to estimate. out Of 500 build
ings in the town only thirty remain. u.
W. Davis. Of the Davis Lumber Company es,i-
mates the total loss at 81 100000. with scarcely
half Of the amount covered by Insurance. The
Davis Lumber Company lost 100000 fu!ly IN
sured The next highest loss is that Of the Fay
cite Shaw Tannery Company, operating one "i
th.. lagos; tanneries in the United States. The
tannery was destroyed with stock. aggregating
loss Of nearly 500 900 The Blatz Brewing Com
had Il ffl ~
here which was destroyed loss of $1,000
There is no way Of estimating the number of
lives lost In the hre and even after ioriy-eight
hours have passed no one can be found VINO
ventures an opinion OF the loss Of lifc. When the
people fed before the wave Of fire they became
separatcd and can give no account of each other.
IL is known that sixteen persons perished on the
raft that burned In the bayou
A bridge or trestle crossed the bayou, and
when the supports Of this bridge were burned
away it fell Women and children were crossing
at the time and some mus, have perished
Tho charred body of Anton Flenizer can be
seen in the wreck Of brick chimney Inc man
was attempting to carry his trunk from pur"-
ing dwelling when the chimney ieI on him
crushing out his life
of children were seen - take refuFe in IN" nig
lumber yard Their cries We're heard by others
who fed toward the water. bat the chliHI"h
"1EF az s1x,eqn persons Who los, their 1--we, on ,hc
raf, that burned in The bayou ,ight are yet .n
the water. ,.. -.
found under a pile q lrrwo1ol A. noon io-dN-
Tho bodies - his wife and children were r.
covered afterward -
Dynamite was exploded all day ~ the bayou
and A number Of bodies were raised by thl-
means Jim" Locks body wa- brought 70 tnr
surface He was the butcher whJ MAS browne
with his child In his arms.
The true story Of this ill-fa'ef raft has neve'
heen told The only man who ieils 'ohpT'-
bensive narrative of the horror is Joseph hoiirn'
a lumberman He was standing near D'''-
house when a number % women ana cHlil'h
came toward him. There were three cr lp-i hlr
following They went TO the raN ana a'rnl'''
TO push Il from the shore. when IL caukn' ni'.
some Jumped into small boats and others i'-
mained on the raft All thcs" persnei is ne
boats were overloaded ana they sanh. IN" rh''
burned 10 the water edge
Governor Peck discovered that saloon ouFl1'
NJ the city limits Was opened and several men
had become intoxicated. The Governor or1ri""
the Sheriff 10 close the saloon. \ temporary
ian was made by appropriaung an empty box
The local relief committee has issu"d a STATE
rneut To the public. thanking the generous 'll-
zens Of the state for their liberal Contributions.