The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-08-01

prevent the flames coming into the
town. Driven by the increasing wind.
the city about 2 o'clock yesterday after
noon. Across the miles IF the swamp,
where the water was from six incnes to
a foot in depth, 1t could be heard roar
ing for fully half an hOur-a sound that
rendered the people panic-stricken. The
firemen fought il until il drove them
back with blistered hands and faces, and
then they sought TO stop its progress
with dynamite explosions. This they did
accomplish after the north end Of the
city had been destroyed The entire First
and a part OF the Second ward, includ-
ing the box factory of J. r. Davis lumber
company and the school house.
Just then 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 company's plant. The path
Of the fire took I'm the city hall, court
house, county jail and the Wisconsin
Central depot and swept everything TO
the lake Thirteen prisoners We're in the
Jail and three Of them made their escape
from the sheriff when released from con-
finement.
Wreck OF the Floating boat.
It was during the first fire that the loss
of life occurred. Driven frantic by the
rushing gale of flame. the families Of
James Locke, Frank Cliss and Dave Bry-
den gathered hurriedly in their arms all
their possessione that they could and
made for a floating boat-house that was
tied TO the town bridge near the box
factory. The ropes were cut and the oc-
cupants thought the gale would drive
them across the lake, where the flames
would not reach them, but the raft was
rickeJy affair and overloaded, and.
most terrible of an, the fire seemed 10
directly toward great pile of burning
lumber on the lake shore.
The raft began to 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 capsized
almost instantly and ali perished with the
exception of Mrs. Cliss, who was found
floating this morning on the opposite side
Of the lake, clinging with desperation 10
a boat
When it became evident that the city
was threatened with destruction the John
r. Davis lumber company made up
train Of its cars and sought to take the
women and children TO a pace of safety
on the Little Elk branch. The train had
proceeded but little way, however
when the bridge across the stream was
discovered 10 be burned, and the train
with its cargo Of human 'reight was
forced to return to the city and run the
gauntlet of flame and smoke. In the
meantime permission had been received
to use the main tracks Of the Central
road. and the homeless people We're
carried south twelve miles to Prentice
The people of Prentice opened wide their
homes, but there was not room for all
the crowd of men, women and children.
Relief Coming IB.
At II o'clock at night the fire-fghters
who had remained on the scene betook
themselves to a clearing south of the
city, being place that had been burned
over a few days before, SO that there
was nothing more for the fire to feed on.
Their route was thick with smothering
smoke. The flames jumped directly
across their path from one side 10 the
other The FIRE in the forest broke out
with vigor and the tall pines, even the
throwing long tongues of fire high in the
air. The roaring and cracking Of the
fire among the trees was so terrible that
those who heard il will remember it as
long as they live. Such light of day as
broke through came through clouds Of
smoke that encircled the horizon and
seemed to be as deep as from earth To
sky. There was hardly enough prop
erty left To be called ruins. over mile
in length, from north to south, and half
mile wide from the lake on the east 10
the swamp on the west was nothing but
embers and ashes.
As soon as the dense smoke had
cleared tride back came the people,
some Of them worn out, who the day
and night before had slept by the road
side on the charred ground with the
forest cracking all around Now that
the fire had spent itself hunger was as
serting itself and there was not. as much
as piece Of bread 10 eat.
4 relief committee was organized and
relief headquarters established in the
Worcester town hall, and there assem-
bled fathers seeking Information as 70
the whereabouts Of their families, and
mothers and children crying with hun
ger. Quick 10 respond We're the neigh
boring towns. In almost no time pro-
visions, consisting Of bread, butter, cof-
fee and canned articles. had been re-
ceived from Fiheld, Prentice, Dorchester,
MedfOrd and BUtternut.
A message was sent 90 the governor,
asking him to send blankets and tents,
together with mess tents for 1000 peo-
pie In response TO this the governor
telegraphed tonight that there We're no
tents available at present, but that he
would be here IN the morning with
sheathing, hammers and nails, and TO
be ready 70 begin the construction Of
temporary quarters.
The fire played some queer freaks.
The house OF Clerk Of the Court William
Nelson was the only structure on the
main street not burned. 1t Is frame
dwelling and not even his fence was
while ruins surround it on all
sides. The furniture, which he moved
out in order to save 1t. was destroyed
The railroad bridge Just north Of here
was burned and passengers are being
in boats.
Many believe that more dead must be
in the ruins in the town where the fire
first made its sweep. The people here
had less chance FOR escape than the
others and il is feared some Of them
have perished No attempt has been
made to search for bodies yet. MAJ.
ITpham is on the way here from Marsh
field in charge Of a relief train. 1t will
arrive some time during the night. The
only lights here tonight are three or
four lants'ns brought in by the Central
There are not enough blankets TO go
around and the people are sleeping on
the ashes.
PHILLIPS. Wis. July 29.-The terrible
scene at Phillips beggars all description.
The blackened faces of those who fought
TO save their homes stare with blOodshOt
eyes at the heaps of ruins which mark
their once happy homes. Not since the
terrible forest fires that destroyed Pesh-
tigo has anything occurred which Will
with the scene of ruin here.
A committee Of citizens from Ashland
arrived with a special train Of provisions
last night at O'Clock. It was the first
material relief to arrive, and It came just
in time to keep the people from actual
for want of food. The provis-
ions were given out in small quantities
so as to make them last as long as pos
sible and keep something available until
other provisions arrived.