Evening journal., 1894-09-04
The WISCONSIN FIRES.
The Northern Part Of the Great Lumber
State Sea of Flames.


State Sea of Flames.
IRON MOUNTAIN, Wis. Sept. THE
whole northeastern country is mass of
ruins, and the loss and damage will
amount to thousands Of dollars. Tho peo-
pie of Norway had to fight the fro for 10
hours TO save their town from being de-
stroyed. The damage In this direction is
chiefly moro to crops Of homesteaders,
many Of whom lose everything. The in
tense heat may be judged from the fact
that vegetables Nere cooked in the ground.
Captain John Perkins lost / 900 bush
els of turnips in this manner. On the
Ontagon division of tho Chicago, Milwau-
kce and St. Paul railroad the fire belt ex
tends from Claiming to Rockland on both
sides Of the road. and tho damage is chief
~ to standing pine. 1t Is not possible to
estimate the damage in dollars until a
thorough investigation is made Tt Is es-
timated, however that 200, 600, 600 feet
OF timber has been scorched, but If lum-
bered at once the loss will be but 10 per
cent Tho railroad tracks are badly warp
cd in many places rendering the operation
OF tho road unsafe on that division. Late
Saturday night q train was derailed by
warped rails, and the engineer, named
Almquist a resident of Ontagon, was in
stantly killed. An unknown brakeman
was so bdslly injured that he can't live.
Conductor kilken, who came down from
the burned belt, says the flames have Mt
tackled the roadbed, and the ties are burn
ing Many homesteaders have lost their
homes, barns and crops. Unless rain
comes within the next 10 hours, of which
there is slight indication, all trains on
that division will be abandoned.
..FN tl,a
Chicago and Northwestern, there are fires
of the same nature. Many trains are be-
ing abandoned The passenger trains due
hero Saturday did not arrive until Mon
day morning.
CHIPPEWA FALLS, wis, Sept 4. -
Northwestern Wisconsin is one sea 81
flames and reports are coming in to this
city constantly Of fatalities caused by the
great confagration The towns Of Rib
Lake, Marengo and Bradshaw have been
completely wiped out, and at the latter
place three people lost their lives Many
others nre missing, and il is impossible to
estimate the extent Of sufforings by the
people.
"A message was received here from Ca
dott asking for aid. The town was threat
ened by a forest fire. and the Inhabitants
were almost panic stricken over their i'm.
minent danger. force Of men from
Chippewa Was sent up, and for hours thG
inhabitants Of the village struggled K
| preserve their homes from destruction
Several buildings on the outskirts caugh
fire and were shortly reduced to ashes, bu
fortunately the fire was prevented from
| spreading to the others.
The citizens wero greatly excited at tn
| prospect Of losing their homes, and prep
arations were made for hurried flight II
case the town fell prey to the fire. Wag
ons loaded with household goods staid II
the streets, and the scene was one of in
descrihablo confusion.
The fro finally abated in the violnit
Of Cadott and for the present the villag
Is safe. Almost two miles away, In dens
forest which terminates at the limits 9
the town, the woods are in a vast blaze
and the wind is carrying the flames wit
great rapidity toward the town.
EAU CLAIRE, Wis, Sept 4.-Word fror
Cadott says the firos have been checked
but there is still danger The fires are I
the north Of the city, and the wind he
generally been from the southwest, II
almost impossible to obtain commune,
tion direct with tho smaller towns.