The herald., 1894-09-03

got beyond brldgeman. Nothing furtnor
has yet been received from Milaca, and
how much may have been the suffering
cannot at this time be known. Bridge
man was apparently safe after hard
fight. The flames however, we're very
threatening around that town. and as it
il very dry around there, the worst lie
feared.
HEARTRENDING SIGHTS.
The party that came through the fres
around Hinokley suffered severely from
burning. Their injuries, however, will
not prove fatal. They tell many sad
stories OF what they saw. One woman
had evidently tried to save her five
children and was overtsken by the
fierce flames aud the whole family per
isbed close 10 the railroad track. An
other Gaze was where q mother, seeing
her house in flames, ran to save her
child, her husband followed her and
the walls of the house caved in before
they could get out.
The passenger train from Duluth, on
which these men were, is in ashes and
the rest of the passengers have taken
refuge in marsh near skunk lake,
where they are surrounded by fire.
AN HEROIC ENGINEER.
The engineer was badly burned by the
flames. but stood to his post and got ell
Of the passengers out of the fire eafely.
This engineer, James Root. is one Of the
best-known and pluckiest of them in
the employ of the St. Paul and Duluth.
He tried to take his train through the
fres to Hinckley, bat when the cars
caught from the flying embers he re-
versed his engine and backed at full
speed to Skunk Lake. 1t was so dark
daring the day yesterday that it was AL
most impossible for any one to see 100
feet away. and during the night the
headlight ON the engine was useless.
Engineer Roots injuries are quite seri-
GUS, but it il hoped be will recover, al
though one report gives no hope.
Thslittle town OF Mission Greek. some
little distance north of Hinckley, 10 also
reported in aehes. Special trains were
sent out, both from Duluth, equipped
with medical forces, and all that is pos
sible will be done.
EsTlMATE OF THE, DEAD.
A private dispatch received this even
ing from the burned district states pos
itively that already $50 dead bodies have
bsen recovered. 60 that tho estimate
made above may be considered as de-
cIdedly conservative.
The Losses in the neighhorhood of st.
Oeud, which is on the western edge OF
the fires, are estimated at $500, 900, and
from that point east and north, nearly
everything ia burning. Fires are rag
ing in Becker and Atkinson counties
where many farm houses and much
grain has been Loaf, az well as timber.
"A special to the Pioneer Press from
Piue City, Mimi, says the estimate OF
the dead at Hinckley is 200; at Sand
stone, As; Sandstone junction, %;
Pokseama. 25; Skunk lake, 20; miscsl.
lsneous. 80. Total, 356.
SOME OF THE VICTIMS.
The list Of the dead includes the fol-
lowing:
Sandy Henderson, 10 years old; John
Henderson, IL years; --- Hansen,
Mary Hansen, five Hansen children,
Thomas Jones, - Chambers, Alex
Hanson and wife, Emily Hanson,
Charlie Hanson, 10 years old; Charles
Anderson. 20 years; two Anderson chill
dren, Hans Madison, 20 yesrs old Mrs
William Ginder, Dennis Riley, yard
Waterman; Jim Bean, foreman OF the
Brennan Lumber company; John Best,
wife and four children; john Anderson
and wife, William Nesbitt. Henry Han
son, I. Turgon, - Lamb and son :;
Mrs. Martin and four children, drowned !;
Mrs. Blanchard and two children, DR..
@. II. Kelsey of New Brighton, E. Blan-
chard, Louis Nelson, an employee OF the
Eastern Minnesota railway; - Rob-
erteon, child; - Hoffman and wife,
Emma Dolan, Belle O'Brien and Annie
Wallace, demi- mondes; Mrs. Costigan
and three children, William Pinner,
Patrick Murphy. Orville Coke. Thomas
Dunn, wife and four children.
STORY OF THE CATASTROPHE.
The walls of the school house, the
iron fence about the town hall property,
the bank vault and one absolutely unin-
iured outheuae 10 all that is left to mark
the site of Hinekley, where yesterday
stood score of buildings and q dozen
times as many dwelling houses.
The story of the catastrophe is q short
one. The town Was built of wood. The
school house, erected last year at a cost
OF $1,000, and one-half of the Eastern
Minnesota railway roundhouse, were
the only brick structures in the city.
By one OF those peculiar freaks for
which there il no accounting the round
house and water tank on the southwest
ern edge OF the tewn, almost in the
woods, escaped the flames, circum-
stance the more remarkable from the
fact that it stood directly in the path OF
the flames which seemed to have Jump
ed it IS clearly as if playing at leap
frog.
All yesterday forenoon the toHnspeo-
pie were apprehensive. The fire kept
advancing, famed by the wind, which
was blowing gale. About IL o'clock
the fire company got out their engine
and laid an 800 foot line OF hose to the
southern outskirts of the town. The
hose was too ahort for the measure of
protection desired and a telegram was
sent to Rush City for more. One hun
dred feet was sent, but it never reached
Hinckiey.
THE FIRES AWFUL LEAPS.
About p. m. the fire literally jumped
into town. 1t did not eat its way along,
devouring everything in its path, but
came in huge leaps as if to take every
thing before it. 1t appeared as if it was
forced along by oyclones of its own gene.
ration. The intense heat would develop
. perfect whiTlwind OF fame that car
ried huge blazing firsbrands high in the
air. and carrying them forward from 40
TO 80 rods, let them fall and begin the
work OF devastation anew.
The fire first struck Hinckley on the