The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-09-05
MORE THAN 800 LIVES lOSr.
THREE TOWNS BURNED
Awful Scenes Of Destruc ion Nearly 200
Bodies Recovered.

The town OF JIinckley, in Pine county, IS
miles northwest OF Minneapolis at the june
ton Of the ". Paul and pulutb anl Great
Northwestern Railways was wiped out by
flre Saturday, and II is reported that from
150 10 200 lives were lost. The place was en-
veloped In fire before the people could es-
cape. The workmen were powerles3 10
render any assistance, although they were
30 close that they could hear the people
screaming as they were being crema.cd.
The towns OF Mission Creek and Pokegama
met the same fate. Conservative reports
place the total number killed In the fires at
800 at least, with the number Of wounded at
az many more, n number OF whom will die
One hundred and fOrty-three charred bodies
have been recovered at Hincklny nnd 45 at
Sandstone. The vnst valley between the Ket-
tie river and Cross Lake IL laid waste nclud-
Ing several villages and settlements. Besides
the towns that we're reduced TO ashes, farms
were swept clean by the fumes. The forests are
still burning fercely, and rain IL required 10
drown the fires that are sweepingover n vast
region. Whole families have been cremated,
In some instances only one or two men es-
caped from neishborhood TO tell OF the
destruction. They saved their lives by run
ming TO small lakes or hiding In potatn fields
and reached Pine City more dead than alive.
Tho dead are being picked up by scores and
brought TO Pine City. Searching parties are
covering the burned district. but ilnd moth
Ing but the charrsd remains Of the inhabi-
tants. The people from Hinckley and Mis-
sion who escaped with their lives are desti-
tute having neither homes nor food. Relief
sent out from ~. Paul was timely. The sup
ply OF provisions was more welcome than
even the blankets sent out later because the
majority were still anxious 10 continue their
search iOrthe dead and sufferers.
SO far rs can be learned at this time from
the devastated district the following towns
have been destroyed and the following are
dead In numbers
Hinckley Mlnn., 1000 TO 200 inhabit-
ants; $50 to $40 dead 800 to 900 home
less
Pokegama, MINI, next station south
west ol Hickey, 500 iDhabitantsi dead,
80.
Mission Creek, next station south Of
Iiinckley on the ~. Paul and Duluth road,
10 dead.
Sandstone Junction, Mimi. next station
north Of Hincgley on the 81. Paul aud Duluth
road, 26 dead.
ley on the Eastern Minnesota road 90
dead.
Cromwell, Minn., Carlton county, dead un-
known.
Miller, Mimi, near Hinckley, of railroad
line, dead unknown.
SHcIl Lake, BarOnette, trahlte Lake tufn-
berland, Pineville, ,Comstock and fores. CIV,
lumber towns In Wisconsin between C1ip-
pewa Falls and Superior, partly destroy
ed.
The number OF dead In these Wisconsin
towns and In other pats Of the country be-
tween Chippewa Falls and Superior is esti-
mated at l0J persons.
Poke Cana lake six miles west OF Hinck
ley, on the ~. Cloud branch, was wiped as
clean as the other towns. II Is said about
20 lives were lost at that point.
Sullivan, the conductor OF the Duluth train
that saved 40 many, has lost his reason and
was taken back to Duluth. He rendered
noble service In disembarking the passengers
throwing one little girl through tue car WIN
dow. This was the last impression left ou
his disordered brain,
There is little probability OF Hingley ever
being rebuilt to Its former prosperous pro-
portions. The Brennan lumber company Is
not expected to rebuild. without an enter
prise OF this kind there Is no future for Hinck-
ley, except rs q junction point.
Three deer and two rabbits came out Of the
woods at Mission Creek and took refuge
among the people at the log house. Sunday
morning one oi the deer was killed for food
and the other two were allowed TO go.