The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-09-05

PISECrY, MlNs, Sept 4-Every other
person that ono meets on the streets Of
Pine City to-day give visible evidence
Of bloodshot eyes aud burned noses
and cheeks from thoir conflict with
the fire. Those women who are num-
bered among tho refugees arc thinly
clad and many arc without covering for
their heads. Many Of them sat outside
the eating house last evening compar-
Ing notes with other unfortunates until
called to occupy the cots in tents in tho
park. There ara fifty tents and each
housed four or FIVE people last night.
Grindstone Lake, ten miles north Of
Hiuckiey, has been the camping
grounds for several summers Of parties
from Hinckley. This year a larger
number Of people were camped than
usual, and consequently when fro
was seen to be encroaching on NeaPs
place, three-quarters Of milo from one
Of the camps, several OF tho men started
for tho scene. John Patrick and Messrs.
Ellsworth and Collins were among the
number. -Four other men were fighting
tho fire when they got there and 1t was
supposed that thcy could get II under
control.
The relief party had hardly reached
the sceuc, however, when they discov.
cred flames shooting over the tops Of
timber back OF their own camp. Patrick
started back along tho shore, while the
others got into small skiff and padded
faster than they had ever before. hop
ing TO reach the camp before 1t was
overwhelmed. While thoy were still
some distance away they saw tho women
rushing into tho lake and tho camp out
1T going skyward In fame and smoke.
Patrick hardly comprehended these
things, however, as he had not gone iar
before ball Of fire darted across the
lake (over mile wide where he stood)
and knocked him down pc II sped on its
work OF destruction through tho forest.
His clothes1were ignited, and for q time
lie was completely dazed. When he had
recovered his senses tho FIRE was oil
about him, and only marrow pathway
through tho water nt the edge OF the
lake remained. Tho bank shelved oil
very steep all along and offered an ave-
nuc OF escapeA As he was splashlng
through the water a stray dog fell in be-
hind him and marched along in his
company. The two had an encounter
a little later with big black bear that
barred their way and would under or.
dinary circumstances have annihtlated
both man and cur. Bruin, who was
souatted in the water, did not even
deipn to notice them, but simply moved
aside about six inches 80 that they
could pass, and Patrick doubts II the
dog realized that tho bear was there.
They finally reached q spece where
the road opened out from the lake, and
here met twenty-five homosteaders ana
their families who had been fleeing
through the binding smoke ahead ot
tho flames, All the members OF tho
party throw themselves into the lake,
aud remained there until the flames
had passed over. None were aoriously
injured, but all were so exhausted as TO
preclude the possibility Of going further
that night. They laid on tho banks OF
the lake until morning, and then started
back over the road they had come, In
the direction OF Sandstone Junction.
Patrick has not seen or hoard OF them
since. Eleven OF the settlers, one wo-
man with baby Eve weeks old, goS into
a canoe and padded out into the lake,
ouly to be destroyed by water after es'
Capine from tho flames. The waves
nearly filled the boat several times, and
the baby was frequently held aloit 10
keep 1t from drowning in tho boat me
fruil craft drit,ed ashore in the carly
morning over milo from the camp.
Patrick, after passing an awful night
full Of anxious forebodings, was able to
reach his family, overjoyed at hnding
them unharmed.
ONE or TIE sADDEsT INCIDENTS.
Just insido tho doorway Of the hos
pital last evening sat q fearful and woe
bCgoue woman, while at her side, with
bandage around his forehead, STOOD q
bewhiskored man to whom tho woman MAJ
vas listening with rapt attention. Ihe
man was n. A. Greenfield and the
woman Mrs. Thomas Henderson. Tho
tale he hold was tho saddcst she had
ever hoard. We who stood by groancd
in sympathy with her, for she was hear
ing tho cad iato OF her boys, fourteen
and sixteen yoars old, who had .perished
In the flames at Greenleld's farm, nye
lnilou from lincklcy. Tho boys. with
their father, were cutting road
through from the Duluth railroad
toward Greenfiold's whom tho fire forced
tllem out. They reached his place ana
with his family took refuge In tho col
lar. Ono OF them, whom tho flames on;
velopod tho house, nOvor got out, aud
the other pcrished in o culvort where
no had takon shelter. Mr. Groonaold' "a
five children found fiery grave In tho
cellar and his vito, although still alive,
is in tho hospital, aud 10 80 badly
burned as 10 bo beyond hope. Miss
Hammond, Of Hinckloy. who occupies
\ bed ncar hcr, is In similar COLI
lition.
A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE
Oliver Dubois, a French Canadian
farmer, living on tho ontSkirts Of tho
li.,lc village Of Sandstone was among
tho two hundred and fifty rofugcos from
tint strickon RpoL IlO snvod his INC
hy jumping into tho bottom Of q dry
well, and was ono Of tho vory fow who
took such refngo and did not find II a
grave ready.dug. His experience was
similar In many ways TO that oi scores
and hundreds Of others, but 1t shows
tho fearful speed Of tho flames. pr.
DuhniR wna n litkIa diRtanca from hlH