davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06

oped the Sleepers, passenger coaches
and the smoker. While the train was
stopping at Hinckley nearly 200 panic
striker people of the place rushed upon
the platforms and into the cars. When
they discovered the train on fire they
began TO moan, shout and pray. which.
with the awful roar of the flames.
made horrible picture A mile out of
Hinckley people on the platforms, rem
dered frantic lunaticS by the heat and
their terror, began to jump from the
cars and plunge into streams. into
sand-heapS or into the Smoke-encom-
passed forest 4 little farther on those
n the cars. stified with smoke. began
TO smash the windows of the coaches
IN frantic effort TO get a breath of
fresh air. Driven back by the flames
eating their way up the sides of the
freshly vanished coaches, they stood
IN batf1ed amazement for 4 moment,
when dozens of them in sheer deSper-
ton tumbled themselves out through
the open spaces to the ground below.
some being instantly killed by the fall,
and others lingering in the horrible
heat and smoke until suffocated In
spite of the fact that the train was on
fire from engine to rear end the crew
bravtly stood at their posts and ran
the train back six miles to Skunk lake,
where the passengers rushed out into
the water. Some of them were in such
state of exhaustion that they were
unable to walk, and half dozen were
entirely unconscious. All of these lat
ter were rolled in the mud and water
and laid on their backs just far enough
out into the lake to keep the water
from running into their mouths. En-
gineer James Root who has so bravely
piloted the train through that awful
six miles of fire. was found to be fatal
i ly burned. Conductor Sullivan, cool
through the awful journey, had, after
it was all over, become a maniac.
One of the saddest features of the
calamity is the impossibility of identi-
ficatiOn in. such large proportion Of
the cases. Of ninety-siX bodies exam
med by many of the surviving resi-
| dents of Hinckley, but four could
/ be identified, Sharles Anderson, AXel
i Hanson, Dennis Ryan and Mrs. Will
! liam Grinder. One searching party
went up the Duluth track to the north
and picked up thirty-one bodies be
tween the river and Skunk lake. The
! bodies were wrapped in blankets and
such clothes as could be obtained and
laid by the side of the track where the
depot had stood. Citizen volunteers
! harnessed up the available vehicles
saved in the gravel-pit and went out
to the swamp across the GrindstOne.
They brought in ninety-six bodies,
which were carried out to the desolate
| burying ground a mile east of town.
There was neither time nor opportu-
nifty to observe the sacred fOrmalities
usually surrounding death.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06

The governor last night received the
following dispatch from August Wolf,
president of the council of Cumber-
land, Wis:
The public press has informed you
OF great destruction by tire in this vi
entity. Baronette was wiped out of ex-
iStence September LIST and fifty-nine
families are homeless; forty families
are destitute. They are all here and
are greatly in need of clothing, bed
ding, provisions and cash to relieve
their immediate wants. Granite Lake
and ComStock are also destroyed, and
there is much suffering and many are
sleeping out of doors. VIII you coop
crate with us in a moderate appeal to
the public for aid? Shipments should
be made to relief committee, fire suf-
ferers, Cumberland, Wis"
On receiving this telegram the gov
ernor last night wired Col. Boyle, Sec
rotary of the relief fund in Milwaukee,
to prepare for the purchase today Of
bedding, provisions and other supplies,
to be shipped tonight to Cumberland,
and then answered Mr.. Wolf, as fol
lows:
Telegram arrived late. Will issue
appeal tonight l leave for Milwaukee
tomorrow morning, and will leave
, there tomorrow night with supplies for
j Cumberland. See that 10 one suffers
/ until relief can arrive"
I The governor at once issued the fol
lowing appeal to the people of Wiscon-
sin:
'EXecutive chamber, Madison, Wis,
Sept. 3. To the People of Wisconsin,
Once more the forest fires have wiped
out the homes of many of our fellow
! citizens in the northern part of the
state, and an appeal has been made TO
/ me for immediate help. In the vicinity
Of Cumberland several towns are de-
! StrOyed and citizens are liable to Suf-
fer for the necessities of life. | call
again upon my fellow citizens of Wis
cousin for money, clothing, bedding,
provisions and such articles as desti-
tute people can use. What is done
must be done at once. Everything
should be sent to Milwaukee, ad
dressed to Col. w. j. Boyle, secretary
relief committee. Money may be sent
by telegraph or IN any manner that it
can reach us speedily. Let every city
in the state that has not exhausted its
resources send something at once.
There are many places not yet heard
from, where relief will be needed, and
there is NJ danger that too much will
be sent l rely confidently on the peo-
pie who have plenty, and to spare, to
help those Of our citizens who are in
Distress Whatever is done must be
done promptly.
/ Geo. w. Peck, Governor"
AS stated in his dispatch to Mr..
! Wolf, the governor will leave this
j morning for Milwaukee, secure a car
load of supplies for the destitute peo-
pie, and leave with them this evening
for Cumberland.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06

republicans Of the fifth Wisconsin
district nominated s. S. Barney, an at
torney of West Bend. for congress.
Mary Hopkins. once a society leader
in Lawrence. Kas., is in Jail al Guthrie,
o. T., on a charge Of stealing horses.
1t is charged that 20 per cent Of all
public Improvements in Lansing. Mich.
is used as a corruption fund by al
dermen.
Mexican troops were ambushed by
Yaqui Indians near Los Cuisines, and
twelve soldiers and one woman We're
killed.
The West Chicago Street Railway
company will expend S1.0o0,000 in
substituting electricity on horse car
lines
W. l.. Carpenter. a collector in the
EnglewOod office of the Lake Shore
and Michigan Southern railroad. has
been missing since Wednesday.
In the game between Minneapolis
and Indianapolis at Minneapolis. a to-
tai of 50 runs and 80 base hits were
made.
In the Ocean handicap at Sleeps
head Bay, Domino, with twelve pounds
against him, defeated Ducats in a Lot
race.
Senator Voorhees, is said TO be break
ing down and his physician has or
dered him TO refrain from campaign
work.
Wilson's attack upon the senate and
Cleveland's letter to Mr.. Catchings
have caused a row in the democratic
committee.
General Schofield has issued orders
to the regular army increasing regi-
mental bands to twenty pieces here
after.
Democrats of the seventh Iowa dis
| trict nominated J. r. Bancroft, of Des
Moines, the popuIist candidate, for
congress.
Republicans of the eleventh Illinois
district nominated Henry Mayo. of OF
tawa, for congress over General Hen
derson.
Congressman George B. Shaw was
buried at Eau Claire with Pythian
honors. Business of all kinds was
suspended in the city.
Three men were killed and a fourth
injured by the explosion of thrash
ing machine boiler at Elbow Lake
MINI.
During a drunken braWl among Chill
cat Indians at Juneau, six were muir
dered and a large number seriously
wounded.
British and German gunbOats de
stroyed the stronghold of the Samoan
rebels at Latuanuu and drove then
out.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06

The Salmon Falls q. HI manu-
featuring company was obliged to shut
down its mills in that town on account
of low water. This throws GOO people
out of employment. The mills will
start again as soon as there is suffi-
Gent supply Of water.
Lake Michigan has been covered by
a thick cloud of smoke for the last
three days, caused by forest fires in
Wisconsin ard northern Michigan, that
limited the range of vision to a quar-
ter of a mile in any direction. All
boats in arriving at Chicago are sew
eral hours late.
The Cincinnati Tribune announces
that the Cinrinna IT, New Orleans and
Texas Pacific road has finally passed
into the hands of the Cincinnati. Ham
iltOu aud Dayton mon, which means
that It VII not become d part of the
Southern railway company now being
Organized ny the DreXel-MOrgan syn
/ dictate.
Mark Lebowitz, -, of New Haven,
asked Samuel Birnbaum for the hand
of Miss Birnbaum. Mr.. Birnbaum re-
jected the young mans advances and
Lebowitz snapped a cartridge or two
at his head. but they failed to explode.
Birnbaum then threw him from the
house and chased him several blocks,
! finally handing him over to the police.
The Merchants exchange of San
Francisco has a telegram from Port
/ Townsend, stating that the steamer
! Chilcat has arrived there and reported
the steamer Queen ashore, head on,
at the Point of Camarant islands, near
| Spencer's cannery, Alaska. The Queen
/ has a big passenger list of Alaska ex.
cursionists, but it is not reported that
! they are in any danger.
Col Crofton, cOmmandant of the 18th
regiment at Fort Sheridan, ILL.,, was
assaulted by Lieut. Welch. Welcl
called on Col. CroftOn and as the two
were conversing outside the tent
WEIGH suddenly struck Col. CroftoI
three blows in the face, with hi:
clenched fists. Officers nearby placed
WEIGH under arrest. 1t is thought tina
WEIGH is insane.
The cable steamer Faraday Of tht
Mackay-Bennett Commercial cabl,
company sailed from Newport, r. [.
for New York. The purpose of thi:
strange visitor to these waters is fo
the purpose of landing the company
cable, now at Coney Island, directl.
on the New York harbor front. Th,
feat is expected to be a difficult on,
to accomplish because of the heav,
currents in the narrOws.
Fire at South Bend, Ind, destroyed
property to the amount of nearly $50,
900. The principal losers were: Soutl
Bend toy company, building, $4,000
Jacob Strayer, building, $4,000; Mile
& Lontz, building and stock, $4,000
Haberle, Strayer & Co., stock, $4,000
South Bend Stacker company, stock
$1,000; Indiana box company, stock
$4,000; Koontz manufacturing com
pany, stock, $4,000.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06
ABROAD.

An earthquake caused a panic in
several Greek cities.
The Dutch expedition against the
island of Lombok, East Indies, has
been defeated by the natives.
The national league for the abolition
of the house of lords made a demon,
stration in Hyde Park.
Anarchist meeting places in Bremen,
Mainz, Hamburg and other cities were
discovered by the police
1t was announced that Mascagni
was soon to make his home in New
York.
Japan will negotiate important trea-
ties with various powers, having al
ready begun with Great Britain.
Ii Yuma has been made commander
in-chief of the Chinese forces Many
Japanese are leaving Shanghai for
home.
The Britannia's engagements on the
western coast of England have been
cancelled. The GOulds may insist on
the race for the Cape May cup being
sailed.
A cable dispatch from London an
nounces that the prince of Wales has
resolved to lay up the Britannia in
consequence of the recent fatality to
two Of the crew.
A private dispatch has been received
at the City of Mexico announcing that
Belfin Sanchez the railroad magnate
of Mexico, had won his law suit
against Banker Murietta of London.
The suit was for $1,5OO,OOO and the
entire amount is recovered by Mr..
Sanchez.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06
CATERS COURTESAN.
ON HER ACCOUNT HE COMMITS
A DOUBLE MURDER

DEBORAH, Ia, Sept 4.-JOhn Ii. Cater
was lodged in the Winnispek county
Jail yesterday suspected Of the double
murder Of his wife, Mary Cater, and
George Wemett, at Burrak. Cater, for
some time past, has been keeping com
pany with a woman Of loose character
This was known to Mrs. Cater who
naturally resented it. Wemett was
on quite friendly terms with her and
was paying some attention to her old
est daughter. Caters intimacy with
the woman was the talk of the town,
and the theory advance is that Mrs.
Cater asked Wemett to watch him and
that Wemett had caught Cater and the
woman together, which so enraged him
that he murdered Wemett. It is
thought that Mrs. Cater must have met
her husband after he had murdered
Wemett and he, knowing that she
would appear against him if he was
arrested, killed her also. Cater may be
lynched.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06
VERIFIED REPORTS.

Duluth, Mimi, Sept. 4.-Yesterday a
relief train returned bearing 217 sur
vivors from Sandstone. One hundred
and fifty people were left and a sec
Ond train was sent out for them.
Sixty bodies were found in little towns
scattered about everywhere. No at
tempt was made to bury them and they
the rOtting in the hot sun. One build
ing is all that remains at Partridge.
Only one life was lost. The dead at
Sandstone as nearly as could be got
ten from the survivors are as follows:
P. England, wife and seven children;
John Sen, wife and children and
brother-in-law; e. Edstorm's family Of
six; H. Hoffman and wife; Alfred D.
Broad, wife and three children; Gus
tave Anderson, wife and two children
Many others remain unidentified.
Estimates from conservativemen
who have gone over the ground place
the loss of life everywhere at from 500
to 1000. About 1900 homeless people
have been brought to Duluth. Rail
road wires are not yet repaired and de
tails come in slowly.
milwaukee, Sept. 4.-Specials to the
Sentinel from Cadott and Fifeld deny
the reports that those places were Wis
tied by forest fires.
Russell City, Pa, Sept. 4.-WOrd was
received here last night that the forest
fires had reached the Watson farm in
Forest county and several oil wells
were burning. The loss will be heavy
as there are large wells on the farm
and it is hardly thought that the fire
will spread to adjoining oil property.
There are no indications of rain.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Sept. 4.-Forest
fires are reported to be burning fiercely
in the Pine creek lumber region and
valuable property is in danger there.
BaltOWn, in Forest county, was saved
from the flames by hard work.
Bradford, Pa, Sept, 4.-FOrest fires
are raging all along the line Of the
Buffalo, Rochester and PittSburg rail
road The damage will be heavy IN
less rain falls. Should the fires sprea
to the oil fields serious consequence
would result AS yet no loss of life
has been reported and the extent of
the damage cannot be estimated. Last
night the woods near Lewis Run were
ablaze and the people were fighting the
fire to save their property.
Kane, Pa, Sept 4.-FOrest fires are
within mile of the town on all sides.
Men are watching the fires and pre-
pairing to prevent it from reaching the
oil wells and nitro glycerine magazines
located close by.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06
A PROFESSOR DROWNED.
He Was Instructor in the Gymnasium
of the Chicago University.

Akron, O., Sept. ID. E. Conant, OF
Chicago, instructor in the gymnasium
of Chicago university, was drowned
at Silver lake. He was bathing in
company with Miss Wall, Of this city,
and when about thirty feet from shore
he turned On his back, placed his names
On his breast and remarked, Il am
tired" ''Can I help your inquired a
lady in a boat a few feet away. NO"
said he, Il guess I don't need help"
An instant later he sank. An hour
later his body was recovered. Blood
flowed from the mouth and nose, in
dicating a hemorrhage, which probab-
ly caused his death.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06
CHARGED WITH LEWDNESS.
An Iowa Minister Undresses Before
His Congregation.

Sioux City, Ia, Sept. "A deputy
sheriff walked into the Methodist
church, where the Sunday school con-
yentiOn was in progress Friday, and
asked for Rev. S. G.. Jones, of SaliX.
The gentleman was pointed out and
was at once placed under arrest and
taken to the court house. Later he was
taken to the southern part of the coun-
ty and gave bonds before a justice of
the peace for his appearance for exam
inatiOn. The charge against him is
lewduess.
Rev. Mr.. Jones has recently had con-
siderable success in his passionate and
on Sunday last went over from Salix
to the Missouri river with his cOngre-
cation to baptize a number of people
who desired to join the church. 1t hap
pened that they wanted to be immersed
and so Mr.. Jones took along nis robes
for that purpose. Arrived at the rivers
bank, it was found that there were no
facilities for changing toilets. Mr..
Jones went out into the timber, at
distance from his flock, of which about
200 members were present, dotted his
ordinary raiment put on the robes for
the baptiSmal service and returned.
He performed the ceremony OF Daptlsm
and went back into the timber TO
change his clothes again. Ihere ne
found that his shirt had been stolen
and was not to be found. He made
best of the situation, put on the rest Of
his clothes and returned to his people
and with them to town. The COM
plant charges that he did not go into
the woods, but changed his clothes in
plain view Of the congregation.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06
HIS TEETH TO BE BURIED WITH
HIM.

Probably the oldest man in Madison
county lives in the Big Hill nelghbor-
hood. He does not know his exact
age, but from the recoIlections of old
residents in that neighborhood he is
not far from 120 years old. He is a
white man.. but one-quarter Cherokee
Indian, and of the Indian blood he
is as proud as if he were the owner
Of broad bluegrass acres. His name
is Jehu Vaughn, father of William
Vaughn, the Madison county skeleton,
who was with Barnum for years. Mr..
Vaughn hasn't a tooth in his head,
but never suffered one pang Of tooth
ache He saved all his teeth and
guards them with as jealous care as
does the miser his gold, and wants
them buried with him.-Richmond
(Ky.) Paragraph.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06

st. Paul, Mimi, Sept. 4.-Later de-
tails simply confirm the reports re
ceived Monday as to the magni-
tude Of the HinckIey disaster The
most conservative estimates place the
number of dead in the six or eight
towns in Pine county at 362 and from
that figure they go up to 1000. Prob
ably the property loss at Hinckley will
exceed 100000, although no careful
estimates have yet been made. The
rains yesterday cleared the air some
what from smoke, but they were not
heavy enough to entirely quanch the
fires. Of the fires in Wisconsin less
was known here at midnight, but there
have been no losses Of life reported and
iS ~ tho yI-O,,ct
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06

The great empty marble palace at
Newport, which cost over a million,
and looks like a gigantic mausoleum,
IS no more bleak and gloomy than
appears this broken and disgraced
branch of the Vanderbilt family today.
1t has been known to many for some
time that the reason that this palace
has not been occupied by Mrs. Van
derbilt was the infatuation OF her hus-
band for foreign life and pleasures
that are incompatible with domesticity
Now it appears arrangements are being
made for a judicial separation. Last
year it was the Astor family and now
it is the Vanderbilts Soon people will
look in vain for an American family
Of wealth without its skeleton, no
longer in the closet but dancing in pub
lie view on the house tops.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06


The villages of Hinckley, Mission
Greek and Pokegama are in ashes and
Milica partially so. But two build
ings are standing in Hinckley, a water
tank and a roundhouse.
About 3 O'Clock Sunday afternoon the
fire literally jumped into Hinckley. 1t
is described by those who witnessed
it's onward progress as if it were
forced along by cyclones of its own
generation.
The Eastern Minnesota train from
the south had just come III and the
people Of the panic striker city focked
to it for safety A number of box cars
were coupled on and filled and covered
with men, women and children. Some
were bare-headed, some were coat
less, some few clutched pitiful bun
dies of the more precious of their port
able possessions. Families were sep
arated. Children joined the throng
and left parents. In all there was a
motely crowd of about 400 or more
people. The train pulled out just ahead
of the fire and succeeded in ultimately
reaching Duluth. This circumstance,
while fortunate in a degree that can
not be estimated, has made the confu-
sion greater, for it is not known who
escaped in this way, and many are re-
ported dead who may be in safety.
Had not the number of persons, largely
women and children, left the doomed
city when they did, the loss Of lie
would have been greatly increased,
for their presence would have added
UNNECESSARILY to the subsequent con-
fusion.
Dozens of persons tried to save them
selves here by running into the river
not far off. Some were successful,
but many were suffocated by smoke
More than a hundred hid in a gravel
pit and thus escaped injury.
Hinkley is a total loss. The Bren-
nan Lumber company, the largest in
stitution in the city, loses everything.
Its loss will reach 100000. This COM
pany is now a member of the Weyer-
hauser syndicate upon which the loss
will fall. The other losses of the city
will foot up 100000.
The loss at Mission Creek will foot
up 100000. Pokegama, a small sta
ton on the Great Northern, is also
totally destroyed, with, a loss of $50,
900.
The st. Paul and Duluth train No 1, !
southbound with eighty passengers, /
ran into Hinckley at o'clock Sunday
afternoon and proceeded thence to
Mission creek, two miles further south, !
only to find that village in ashes. Con
ductor Sullivan issued immediate or
ders to his crew to back III 70 Hinckley, |
but before the train, running at TWEEN
ty miles an hour could reach HinckIey |
the place was in flames. The train |
stopped at the depot one fatal minute |
during which the wood work of the |
engine and the baggage car caught fire. |
The train quickly resumed its back |
ward journey toward Duluth and the |
very motion of the cars famed the |
flames to a fury and they soon envel- /
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06
NO FUSION.
POPULISTS VOTE
TO Go IT ALONE.

Milwaukee,. Sept. 4.-The peoples
party central committee has taken &C
ton which destroys the hopes of the
other parties bringing about a fusion.
The committee decided that no new
convert to the populist principles
office and that on no account should
the party fuse with any other party.
The resolution adopted by the commit
tee requires that every nominee should
be a man who is known to have been
in the party for at least two years.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06
IT " AS
AW FL |
APPALLING CATASTROPHE Be
FALLS THE -NORTHW EST.
\ yERITABLE CYCLONE OF FIRE
SWEEPS OVER THE PINE
COUNTRY.
TERRIBLE TALES FROM THE
BURNED DISTRICTS.

The Village of Hinckley almost Wholly
0bliterated-Pitiful Experience Of
Its Residents in the Devouring
Flames Of Bodies Now
in Progrt sS-The Later the News the
More Terrible Seems the Awful Dc
currence-Relief Measures Being
Taken-Thrilling Escapes.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06
THE FIRST REPORT.

Hinckley, Mimi, Sept. 4.-Eastern
Minnesota suffered Sunday from hor-
ror never equaled in this country, eX-
cept at Johnstown, Pa, May 81, 1889.
Nearly 400 persons are known to be
dead, over 100000 worth of proper
ty is destroyed and hundreds Of fam
lies are homeless in Pine and adjoin-
ing counties.
Following is the estimate of the dead
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06
RALLY FOR RELIEF
ANOTHER APPEAL FOR FIRE
SUFFERERS.
THE GOVERNOR CALLS EARNEST
LY FOR HELP.

Half a Hundred Families in Dire Dis
tresS at Cumberland-Want Also
Exists at Granite Lake and Com
stock-Food, Clothing and Bedding
Needed