The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19
FATAL FOREST Fires.
HUNDREDS PERISH AMID THE
SETTLING FLAMES.

York.
Never in the history OF the Northwest, ex-
oept at the time OF the fires In the Michigan
pineries In 1871, has there been such terri
bic loss Of life and such suffering as has just
been caused by forest fires in Minnesota,
Wisconsin and Michigan.
The loss Of life has been awful. At late
hour It was estimated that between eight
hundred and fifteen hundred persons had
been burned to death or suffocated. and the
wide discrepancy in these figures was proof
Of the utter impossibility OF getting reliable
information, Property losses already reach
up into the millions.
One Of the most painful features OF the
whole affair Is the charge that these death
dealing fires were started by incendiarIes
among the woodmen, who were led to COM
NIT this terrible crime ny a desperate desire
to get work. as the conhagration will necessi-
tate the immediate cutting OF vast guam
tity OF scorched timber TO save It from total
loss.
The work OF recovering scorched and
blsckened bodies and identifying and bury
ing them went forward In those districts
tn other parts men were fighting grim death
all day long In towns threatened with like
destruction.
The aggregate loss will run into millions,
but It is absolutely impossible to give any
hustworty estimate, as 80 wide an extent OF
country was devastated. The largest single
loss was that OF the Brennan Lumber Com
pany. OF Hinckley. Mimi, which is placed at
eS00, 900 by the officials OF the comsany. The
aggregate loss Is variously estimated at from
three to five millions and this does not in
elm 1e the standing timber destroyed.
The following towns in the Northwest have
been either totally or partially destroyed by
the flames: Pokegama. Hinckley. Sand
stone. Mission Creek, Rutledge, Mansfield
aud Nlilaca. in Minnesota Bashaw, Barron
cite, Benoit. Cartwright, Fifeld, Granite
Lake, Grantsburs, Glidden, Marengo. Mus
eado, She'll Lake, South Range, Poplar,
Washburne. In Wisconsin Even and Trout
Greek, In Michigan.
The latest advlces from the scene OF the
big fire indicated there would be total OF
nearly 400 lives lost. This included the ia.
talities at Hinckley, Pokegama. Rutledge,
Sandstone and all the area OF country COW
cred by the conflagration. Searching for
the dead under anything like system had then
only begun. At noon fully 200 dead were
gathered IN the cemetery at Hinckley await
ing burial. There were two great heaps
of naked and charred bodies in every con-
eeivable distorted attitude. There were six
teen known to be dead at Pokegama. There
were Atty-one at Sandstone village,
and about thirty more from the outlying
country. But 1t must be remembered
that the fire covered large area of country,
some OF It very hard to get over by searching
parties. There are many isolated families liv-
extent. It will take at least a week
to ascertain how many are lost,
and many of them will never be identi-
fad. Many families are being cared for at
Pine City and Duluth and Superior. At the
former place there are about 500 homeless
people, and It Is estimated that at least 1000
people will have to be taken care OF until
in hospitals at Pine City were all doing well.
The surgical staff was supplemented by
number of physicians from the "Tw1n
Cities"
It seemed that forest and peat fires had
been raging within q short distance OF Hlnck-
ley for some weeks, but no apprehension
bad been felt by the Inhabitants, and no
preparations had been made for emergen-
eies. The fire approached, famed by
as the day advanced, and 1t
soon became dark as night. About
4o'cock the wind changed and ndtheresidents
Of the doomed town saw the flames were
bearing down upon them. As the alarm
rang through the streets the people rushed
from their homes, and when they caught
sight Of the red, onrushing sea Of fire, they
became panic-stsicken. The fire shot across
the town and the people ied In all direc'
could find refuge. A large number ran to q
pond some three or four acres in extent and
three or four feet deep. Women and chill
dren ran side by side with cattle into the
pond and crouched close to the water,
Tor the smoke hung low and the flames
were dangerously close. The largest crowd
OF people rushed to Grlndstone River, a
small shallow stream, which 1t was thought
would afford protection from the flames. But
perlshed. There the relief parties found the
bodies lying in the water, and rudely
trampled by the flying cattle.
Just as the flames were raging fercest, q
train arrived over the Eastern Minnesota
and 500 people clambered aboard. 1t was
godsend to the people, who offered up
prayers Of thankfulness as the engineer sent
the train at rapid speed away from the burn
ing town and back to safety IN Superior. =.
Another party had rushed for the limited
on the st. Paul and Duluth, but as the fire
cut of their way in that direction they ran to
shallow pond near by. There, like rats In
q trap, they persisted one and ALL One hum
d1ed and 1--WE bodies were removed from the
miserable pond by the Relief Committee,
where they had been literally roasted to
death. There was absolutely no escape.
East Of the village there was stagnant
pool of rain water. Over one hundred peo-
Die sought refuge there, and OF these only
one man Is known to have perished. The i'm
mense plant otthe Brennan Lumber Company
with sawmills, planning mills, stables and 49,
OO0, 900 feet OF pine lumber. was wiped out In
almost less time than 1t takes to write 1t.
With the stables were consumed ninety head
Of splendid horses.
As the flames subsidized and the shadows
Of night closed down over the ill-starre1
town, the people left their places Of refuge
and made their way over the smoulderlng
embers through the one street OF the village.
The fro had spent its force, but the ruins
still glowed red through the dense
cloud OF smoke, marking the spots where
few hours ago were the homes Of prosper
Gus and happy people. Guided By the weird
light, men moved about as II dazed, loca.
ting the spots where their homes had
stood. The mir was filled with meanings Of
the wounded, for whom no assistance could
be had, and with sobbings of thoss who had
lost friends or possessions, or both. When
the terrible night was ended and the light Of
another day dawned upon the scene OF desc.
lation q few energetic spirits recovered
from the blow and began to organize for the
work OF recovering the bodies. Two hun.
dred and thIrty-,hree bodies were buried,
only twenty-three of which could be ident'
Fed
The reporter picked his way through de
serted avenues of Hinckley. .MiDn., encounter
ing the bursting romans OF horses, COWS,
eats, chickens, and dogs. He overlook
Hans Paulson, an employees in the Brennan
mill. 'T am going out to the cemetery 10
see II can find nv wife and four children"