Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-09-06

Pine City, Mimi, Sept. obstinate
of the dead: Hinckley, 200. Sand
stone, As. Sandstone Junction, 70;
Pokegama, 70. Skunk Lake, 20; Mis-
cellareou 80, total $50.
This is a summary Of the deaths from
forest fires that are raging In North
eastern Minnesota and Northwestern
Wisconsin. 1t is thought, however,
that at least five hundred lives were
toSt, as ANY farmers throughout the
country undoubtedly persisted.
The walls Of the school house, tho
Iron fence about the town hall prop
erty. the bank vault and n absolutely
uninjured out house is all that is left
20 mark the site of HiLckley, where
yesterday stood q score Of store build
sngs, end a dozen times as many dwell
Eng houses. The story of castrophe
which wiped out the material posses
stons that lad made Hinckley a busy
prosperous little city Is a short n
The town was built of wood. The
school house erected last year at a cost
of $4,000 and one-half the Duluth
soulid house were the only brick struc-
sures in the city. BY one OF those
peculiar fresks for which there is no
accounting the Eastern Minnesota
round house and water tank on the
xouthw esterh edge of the town almost
tn the woods, escaped the flames, a
circumstance the more remarkable
from the foet that 1t stood directly In
the path of the flames, which seem to
have jumped II Clearly, as IL playing
Heap frog. All yesterday forenoon the
&c wn people were apprehensive. The
smoke rolling from the south told a
story, Enthusiastically plain to those ac-
Gustomed to n wooded country. The
fire kept advancing famed by the
wind which was blowing a gale. About
IL o'clock the fire company got out
their engine and laid an eighteen kun
dred foot line of hose, to the southern
outskirts of the town. Tt. hose was
all to short for the measure of protec-
ton desired N y telegram was sent
to Rush City Cor more. Five hundred
feet was sent, but it never reached
Liincfaey. The main part of the village
alss In the north fork made by the
crossing Of the Duluth and eastern
tracks. the latter to the east and the
FORMER on the west. On the
west side OF the Duluth tracks
were few small houses
belonging to the railway employees.
The firemen's attention was mainly di.
rccted to keeping the fire away from
them as the main business part of the
city was built In solidly Just across
the track. About 3 O'Clock In after
noon the fire Totally jumped into the
town. IT. approach was not gradual.
TIT die not eat its way along, devouring
everything in it's path, but came I'M
huge leaps, as Ii to overtake everyone
fleeing before 1t and then burned back
At Its leisure. 1t Is described by those
who witnessed its onward progress at
! 'dinckley n elsewhere as IL IL were
! forced along by cyclones or Its own
! generation. The intense heat would
Envelope avcritablc whirlwind of lame
ma actually twisted Off poplar trees
several irofes In thickness and carried
luge blazing fire brands high In air.
md carrying them forward for from
orty TO eighty rods there to fall and
,cgin the vork Of devastation anew.
The fire first struck Hinckley on tbe
sast side Of Duluth track and the bravo
are nghters for the first time gave up
ne unequal battle and already too
aue III any instances, turned their
ttenuon to their personal safety. The
eastern Minnesota train from the south
sau Just come In and the people of the
ssanic stricken city 1ocked to 1t for
afety. A lumber OF box cars were
oupied on and filed and covered with
men, women and children. Some were
! a~arercaded, sen were coatiess. Some
lew ciutchd n pitiful bundle of tho
fsSnore precious of their portable NOS.
n LESSONS. Families were separated
children. joined the throng and lert
helr parents. In all there was n
lotiey CT, wd Of about four hundred
ma nfty or more people. The train
uiieu out Just ahead of the fire ana
ucceeded In ultimately reaching Du-
utn. Ihis circumstance, while for.
mate III a degree that cannot he es.
y ulated ha II d the confusion sre.t.
3 Tor 1t Is not known who esconcd
III this city, and many people arc ra.
orted dead who may be in safety
LAD not this nImber of people Iaryoin
'ome, and children, left the doomoJ
Sy niu the loss OF life
4 ouiu nave IL creased In a geometrical
tfeitio, for their presence would have
m lded unnecessarily to the -subseouent
INFUSION. About the same bour The
,commodatioD train or the Hincklov
pii lu 81 cloud branch left for the ,ottcr
ace' with about twenty-five passen.
s It's path lay directly across the
=, = VI .he IRE and their situation
}'eediiy became desperate. The Ties
pierre burning the rails were wartime
y the trestles were sagging under
r train. The smoke bad increased 80
tf' az, tne ergiLeer was helpless. He
dia u no. see the train behind him.
;, nninE trees La! across the track and
s pelng tossed aside by the engine.
dds My The track gave wav and tha
un topplcd CT to one side No ono
AZ injured and they Pressed on to
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