davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05

making a trial. / was so well acquainted
with the location of the streams that
thought If We got in a tight place we
could run into one OF them and save our
selves. We had lost all OF our baggage,
as had the rest OF the passengers. and we
had nothing else besides the clothes We
wore and each a light Overcoat. With the
rest MIR. Anderson had lost $4,000 OF
bonds. which could not be replaced. We
got along pretty well for the first h4f
hour. but We then ran into smoke 80
dense that we could not see three feet
in front of us. We were in imminent
danger Of being suffocated. We could
not see the track and the ties were burn
ing beneath out feet. Each OF US took
an overcoat and wrapped It about his
head, leaving only a small opening from
which to breathe. To add 10 the horror
of the situation every little way we would
come across a dead body. We were only
saved by occasionally arriving at a rail-
way cut. where there was generally but
little smoke. Two miles above Hinckley
the dead bodies began to grow thicker.
Most Of them had died from suffocation.
In several cases they had saved their
heads by running them into sandheaps.
only TO have their bodies so badly burned
that they could not survive. In one place
we found four dead in one heap-a mother
and three children. She had laid them
on the ground and then laid down on
them in an attempt to cover them. Every
shred of clothing was burned from every
one OF them. on the way down TO Hinck-
ley we counted twenty-nine bodies, and
at this point we learned that the total
death-roll would reach over 200. as scores
of people ran directly into the woods,
where they had no chance whatever to
escape"
Mr. Lobdell and his companions found
a wagon bridge and went in a roundabout
way to a point south Of Mission creek
where they found a hand-car and went
to Pine City. The telegraph operator
there. Otis Green, remained at his post
until AL but three buildings in Hinck,ey
had been burned. When the depot took
fire he ran to TIE safe and took there
from $1,000 in greenbac<s and fed to the
river. He remained In the river several
hours, when he joined Lobdell and his
companions In their trip TO Pine City
Dozens of people tried to save themselves
by running into the river Some We're
successful. but many were suffocated by
the smoke. Nine bodies were taken out
at the same time this morning. and prob
ably twenty or thirty more will be found
Everybody is In 4 state OF bewilderment
and as all records are burned IL is hard
to get any definite information as to the
people or property. Huxley is a total
loss
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
babe ONE ANOTHER FAREWELL.
FrightfuI Experience of n Train
Crew Nenr Poke gam.


Crew Nenr Poke gam.
MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, Sept. ga
special to the Journal from st. Cloud,
Mimi, says: The first eyewitness Of
the great forest fire to reach st. Cloud
from the scene Of the fire were the crew OF
train No 4G, which was ditched one and
a half miles on the other side of Poke
gam. The crew consisted of Conductor
+. Il. Parr, Conductor VIII Vogel, Fire
man Joe Sacher and Brakeman John
Delaney and Michael Whalen, John Van
dersluys, the Great Northern express
messenger. John Vandersluys tells the
story OF their awful experiences:
I'VE left Hinckley at the usual time
Saturday afternoon. 1t was smoky and
the air was hot and oppressive. A terri
BILE wind was blowing as hot as a
furnace. We had not gone far when the
smoke began TO be so thick that it was
perfectly dark. Our train consisted of an
engine baggage car and coach. AS we
plunged through the darkness, smoke
and flames and rushed over the small
bridges and wooden culverts we could
feel them give under the weight of the
train. The ties, bridges, fences and the
trees above our heads were burning.
When within a mile and a half Of Poke
gam our train went into the ditch, but
we all escaped and laid down on our
faces to keep from smotheTing. But 1t
continued TO grow worse. Finally we
managed TO reach small creek and we
threw the water over ourselves and put
out the fire, which caught under the
baggage car. over our heads the flames
were leaping clear across the tracks. II
was terrible-awful. No one can describe
our awful experience. At one time we
thought we could not stand it longer and
fha tive
came with the fury Of cyclone and
must have been travelling sixty miles an
hour At o'clock two Of us walked 70
Pokegam, thinking we could get relief
there. When we got there we found
about half the people in the river. Their
feet We're burned and blistered and their
faces scorched. Some of them were so
blinded that they could not see. We
took them back to the train with us.
There were about twenty-four Of them.
They did not know where their neigh
bOrs were. We tore up our shirts and
used the cloth to cover up the burned
and blistered feet of the sufferers.
AT o'clock Sunday morning we left
the party and the train in charge OF
two brakemen. 1 started for Hinckley.
on the way every tie in the track was
burned out; the ground was baked, and
we found many bodies of those who had
perished. When we reached Hinckley
we found that the relief train from st.
Paul had reached there and everything
that man could do was being done for the
injured and suffocating. Everything but
the Great Northern round-house, the
freight shed and water tank was gone.
We found all of Pine City a hospital.
Every house was thrown open for the
shelter of the sufferers The stories told
Of the terrible loss of life in and about
Hinckley are not exaggerated in the
least. There are at least 800 people dead
there, and 1t is hard telling where that
fire. sweeping along at sixty miles an
hour, has or viii be stopped"
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
PRAYING FOR RAIN.
Unless IL Comes CadOtt VIII De Com
pIeteIy Wiped Out.

MILWAUKEE,, Sept. "A special from
Chippewa Falls. Wis, says: Northwestern
Wisconsin is one sea Of flames, and re-
ports are coming into this city constantly
Of fatalities caused by the great con-
dagratlon. The towns of Ribake, Mar
engO and Bradshaw have been completely
wiped out, and at the latter place three
people lost their lives. Many others are
missing and il is impossible to estimate
the extent OF sufferings by the people.
Yesterday a message was received here
from Cadott asking for aid. The town
was threatened by forest fire and the in
haibtants were almost panic-stricken over
their imminent dangers. A force Of men
from Chippewa was sent up, and until
l o'clock last night the inhabitants Of the
village struggled TO preserve their homes
from destruction. Several buildings on
the outskirts caught fire and were shortly
reduced 10 ashes, but fortunately the fire
was prevented from spreading TO the
at the prospect OF losing their homes,
flight In case the town fell a prey to the
fire. Wagons loaded with household
goods stayed In the streets and the scene
was one of Undesirable confusion. AT
10 o'clock last night the wind had abated
In the immediate vicinity of Cadott. and
for the present the village Is safe. About
two miles away, in a dense forest which
terminates at the limits Of the town, the
woods are in a vast blaze and the wind
is carrying the flames with great rapidity
toward the town. This is Caddo's great
est danger, and II no rain falls before this
evening 1t will certainly be wiped out"
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
Makes NavieatIon Dangerous.

CHICAGO, Sept. 3.-Smol1e from forest
fires is now making navigation dangerous
ON all the great lakes except Lake on
tario. From Duluth to Buffalo reports
are received Of smoke so thick that one
could not see on the lake more than a
few hundred feet. Along the south shore
of Lake Superior captains could not dis
Germ objects 100 yards away. At Sault
Ste. Marie all boats were being seriously
delayed, captains preferrng TO go slower
rather than take the chances OF fetching
up on the rocks and reefs.
Reports of stranding came in to the
underwriters with too great rapidity 10
be enjoyable. The fires have destroyed
to some extent Geographic communication
with the dangers ashore near the straits,
and ii is feared that more wrecks have
occurred than have been reported. The
losses TO lake vessels on account Of the
smoke already exceed $40, 900.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05

who walked in from Beloit this morning.
saws everything is gone there but the
mill and lumber. Fires have ragged
around on all sides. but there is no more
danger OF the inhabitants being burned
At Ashland Junction passengers got in
the midst OF the flames. II caused great
CONSERVATION among the women and
children, and 1t was almost impossible
to quiet them. News from Gable and
Mason. along the Omaha line, cannoa be
had, but ii is thought they are IN
harmed. The bridge at Bibon has been
repaired, but the Omaha will not en-
deavor TO start traffic again until all
bridges are thoroughly repaired and
tested. II will do no transferring. The
Central is again running on schedule
time
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
UP IN THE MILLIONS.
Estimates OF the Loss in Property in
the Burnt District.


CHICAGO, Sept S.-Reports to the
Tribune from portions of Minnesota,
Michigan and Wisconsin, in which the
forest fires are now raging, show that
the condition Of affairs there is more
than terrible. The loss Of property, at a
low estimate, has already reached $12.-
100000, not including the standing timber
that has been destroyed. But even worse
is the loss of life which IL is feared will
reach as high as 1000. Reports Of nearly
four hundred persons having persisted
have already been received, while the
ports as they continue TO come in are in
creasing the list. The best information
is that about twenty towns have already
been destroyed, driving thousands of
families from their homes in the face of
the flames.
The Herald summarizes as follows:
Six towns wiped out and more than five
hundred dead, is the record made by the
forest fires in Minnesota In the last
twenty-four hours. In Hinckley. Sand
stone, Pokegama. Sandstone Junction,
Skunk Lake, and Mission Creek, there
are 1855 known dead. In addition several
are missing, while from one hundred and
fifty to two hundred people are scattered
on farms throughout the district burned
over.
The destruction was complete in most
of the towns named, but some Of the for
est lana GSf-dDCu. ne loSSs however VIII
be in the millions, aid the loss of life
will not be definitely known for several
days, if ever.
The Record summarizes as follows:
Eastern Minnesota has suffered in the
last twenty-four hours from a horror
never equaled in this country, except at
Johnstown, Pa, May 81, 1889. Nearly
four hundred persons are known TO be
dead, over $2,0000 900 worth Of property
is destroyed and hundreds of families are
homeless in Pine City and adjoining
counties. Reports received late tonight
indicate that the death list will exceed
the number above given, and may not
fall short of 1000. There is much con-
fusion in the reports. and 1t is impossible
to get anything like a correst estimate
tonight.
The Times estimates that at least half
a thousand persons are dead, as follows:
Hinckley ESQ., Sandstone 40; Sandstone
Junction, 20; PokegaIna, 80; Skunk Lake,
20; Pinetown, II; Mission Greek, 8; Part
ridge, g.; Kettle River Junction, s.; Carl
tor, 3; Rutledge, miscellaneous, 50.
The Inter Ocean says 500 are dead and
the total may reach 1000.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
ADVOCATES OF SINGLE TAX.
They Meet in New York hut Lender
George Il Absent.

NEW YORK. Sept. 3.-Single-taxers
from all over the state Of New York met
at Cooper Union today 10 confer with
reference to what political action should
be taken by them during the coming
campaign. There were delegates from
New York, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Albany,
Troy and other large cities. Conspicuous
among those present were Congressman
kmes G.. Mcguire Of California. the Rev.
Edward McGlynn, James A. Hearn, the
actor, Benjamin DOblier and Charles F.
Adams. the political reformer OF Brook
Ign. The single-tax movements best
known advocate. Henry George. was alb
sent II was said that Mr.. George is
opposed TO any kind Of political action
by single-taxers this year and conse-
Guently did not Approve Of the confer
ence.
=. s Purdy of New York was made
temporary chairman. Mr.. Purdy said
the conference was not TO commit it.
self in advance to any party. but 10 con-
slider whether or not political action dur
ing the coming campaign was advisable.
About half a dozen women were present
and one OF their number, Mrs. Rogers
of Brooklyn, was appointed on the COM
mittee on permanent organization.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
The Woods ON Fire.

RUSSELL CITY. Pa. Sept S.-The
woods are on fire on both sides Of this
place and the fire extends over an area
of twenty miles. A large gang Of men
are fighting the flames and digging
trenches to prevent the fire from spread
ing to the oil ana gas fed in this vi
entity The Elk oil company has laid
water lines in all directions from their
pump station and has its large pump
ready for any emergency. There are a
number of saw-mihs and lumber camps
in the woods south of here and nothing
has been learned from them as TO their
condition. 1t is feared the mills have
been destroyed and that some loss of life
has occurred -----
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
OIL WELLS BURNING.
Forest Fires Doing Great Damage I'm
Pennsylvania.

BRADFORD. Pa, Sept S.-Forest
fires are raging all along the line Of the
Buffalo, Rochester & Plttsburg railroad.
Reports from all points on the narrow
gauge roads state that the woods are on
fire for miles and the damage will be
heavy unless rain should fall. The woods
along the pike to Corydon are on fire for
miles and oil property in the vicinity Of
the West Branch Is threatened Should
the fire spread TO the oil field serious con-
sequences would result. The woods along
the Bradford, Bordell & Kinzua rail-
road between here and Smethport are re-
ported on fire and valuable property is
in danger of being destroyed. On the big
level between Mt. Jewett and this city
and the head Of the West Branch the
woods are ablaze and several oil well
rigs are reported burning. At Song Bird
and the Quintuple the woods are a roar
ing mass of flames and valuable oil prop
erty is being devoured by the flames. As
vet no loss of life is reported and the
extent Of damage cannot be estimated.
o A report reached here this evening from
Lewis Run stating that the woods are
ablaze and people fighting the fire to save
their property.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
ROTTING IN THE SUN.
Neglect 10 Bury Many of Charred and
ShapeIess Bodies.

DULUTH. Mimi, Sept 3.-Early to-
day a relief train returned TO Duluth
bearing 227 survivors OF the burning Of
Sandstone The train came up on the ST.
Paul & Duluth, the trip having been
made to Sandstone by the relief party on
foot. The survivors were secured, and
babes and small children carried back
over the siX-mile trail through the woods
One hundred and fifty people were LEFT
and a second train was sent out for
them. The party had to cross from
Miller station, on the st. Paul & Duluth,
10 Sandstone, six miles distant. Sixty
bodies were found in the little towns
scattered about everywhere. No attempt
has been made to bury them and they
are rotting in the hot sun. One build
ing is all that remains at Partridge, on
the Eastern Minnesota. Everything was
burned, but so far as can be learned only
one life was lost.
The list of dead as near az could be
gotten from The survivors who reached
the train is as follows:
=. ENGLAND, wife and seven children.
- JOHNSON, wife, children and
brother-in-law
f. EDSTROM'S family of six Ed
strom himself is badly, ii not fatally
burned.
II. HOFFMAN and wife.
ALFRED BROAD, wife and family Of
three children.
AUGUST ANDERSON and son died n
the pump house and were found in the
box.
EMIL PETERSON, single, found In the
streets I'm the central part Of town.
c. +. ANDERSON, wife and two chill
dren.
Mrs. AUGUST ANDERSON.
PETER KAHN, wife and three chill
dren.
GUsTAVE ANDERSON, wife and two
children.
They found a mother in the yard with
her children clasped in her arms. Many
others were found in Sandstone and re-
mianed unidentified. Estimates from con-
servative men who have gone over the
ground place the loss Of life at any
where from 500 TO 1000. About 1900
homeless people have been brought to
Duluth. The railroad wires are not yet
repaired and details come in slowly.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
BROOK PARK DESTROYED
And n Number of Citizens on the
Missing List.

Missing List.
MINNEAPOLIS. Sept. "a special
from Mora, Mimi. says: Brook Park,
Pokegam station. a new town on the St.
Cloud & Hlnckley branch of the North
ern road. was totally destroyed. The
flames burned 100000 feet Of lumber, saw
mill. hotel stores, paper office and
school houses. and twenty-five families
in the immediate vicinity are homeless.
SIX thousand tons Of hay, twenty head
of horses and thirty head of cattle are
gone. The total loss OF property is placed
at about $4,000; no insurance. Among the
dead are:
JOHN RAYMOND. wife and three
children.
CHARLES ANDERSON. wife and
FRED MOLANDBR. wife and two
children.
Miss LoRA OLSEN.
OSCAR LARSEN and sister.
David Goodseel. Charles Whitney and
]. Brennan are missing.
The injured are:
Or. Kelsey, hands and eyes burned.
Joseph Bengoni, hands and feet burned.
Wright Kelsey. burned about the eyes.
Many children We're blinded by the fire
and smoke.
The following surviving sufferers were
brought to Mora last night; w. II.
Thompson, Joseph Bengoni. Wright KEEL
sey and family, Mrs. Creamerd and four
children, Hans Nelson. section foreman,
and family and Frank Littengarber.
The remainder. about fifty people. Will
be brought today. The Rev. Dir. Thomp-
son opened his church 10 the sufferers,
and the citizens are relieving their imme-
date wants. The dead found yesterday
were buried AL railroad bridges be-
tween Mora and Hlnckley were burned,
but win be repaired today. The sufferers
need food. raiment and shelter for win
ter. Contributions from the outside are
needed for their relief, and should
be sent to the Rev. Mr. Thomp-
son. Kelsey and Markham, the town
site owners, say the town Will be re-
hull
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
uiub Winds 10 he Feared.

CHICAGO. Sept. 3.-Wisconsin Central
railway officials were unable today to get
satisfactory reports from the burnt dis
trict. The train service was interrupted
and the telegraph wires were down or
working poorly. Agents at various points
reported a heavy loss of life and prop
erty, but were unable 10 give figures or
details. The reports showed that the
fires were smouldering. and grave fears
were expressed that fearful damage would
ensue II the region should be visited by
a high wind. The rain. the reports said,
was not heavy enough to extinguish the
flames, which might break out at any
time
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
The wires Down Everywhere.

EAU CLAIRE Wis, Sept 3.-Wires to
points on the northern division of the
Omaha road have been down since last
night and information of the situation up
north is lacking. The last train from the
north on the Omaha reached here at 8
o'clock Saturday afternoon and no trains
have gone out since, except a wrecldng
train sent from Eau Claire early this
morning. Railroad men say the whole
region from Cartwright TO Bashaw and
Haugen has been on fire since Saturday
afternoon. Bridges are burned and wires
are down and no one knows when trains
will run. Many people here are alarmed
for the safety Of their friends and rela-
tives who are blockaded at northern
points.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
THROUGH THE FLAMES.
A Passenger Train Is Compelled to
Make Rapid Time.

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. "a Journal
special from Turtle Lake, Wis, says: A
Journal reporter reached here late last
night. The Soo's evening train from
Minneapolis is being detained by forest
fire at JOEL a small station about seven
miles west. For two miles the train ran
through a dense cloud of smoke, with
fire on both sides of the track, sometimes
so close as to scorch the faces of the
passengers and train crews. The en-
gineer was obliged to feel his way and
keep a close watch on culverts and tres
ties.
Turtle Lake was threatened all day
yesterday and today. During the after
noon a bad fire approached the south
side of the town, famed by the brisk
breeze which was blowing all day. The
entire male population turned out and
succeeded in saving the town. At night
the wind went down, and though the
fires lit up the skies in all directions, the
town was safe.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
Are All Heavy Losers.

MILWAUKEE,, Sept. "a special
from Ashland, Wis, says: Smoke and
dirt begrimed settlers have been stray
ging into town all morning with tales
of losses of cattle and everything on
their farms. They are taken in hand
and everything possible is being done
for their relief. Five incendiaries in
Ashland have been arrested, three being
caught In the act. When the first one
was caught rumors of lynching were
prevalent. A large number OF deputies
were placed on guard in different parts
OF the city with instructions to guard
the docks in particular. A straggler,
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
Want to Prevent Future cnInmities.

ST. PAUL, Sept. "a relief train was
sent to Hlnckley at $40 with force Of
men and supply Of tents. those being most
needed just now. Additional supplies
were picked up at every station along
the road. Philip Martin Of the land de-
partment Of the road, went In search Of
Thomas Fitzgerald land examiner at Doh
Grove, who. with a dozen wOrkmen, was
in the midst Of the fire, and has not
been heard from. The chamber Of COM
merce raised $4,000 for relief at its meet
ing to-day and adopted resolutions favor
Ing the securing of Information from
United States consular agents as TO for
estry management in foreign countries,
with the object of preventing future
forest fires.
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
A MOTHERS GREAT LOVE.
She Protects Her Fever-stricken Son
When Others Flee.

SPOONER. Wis. Sept. 3.-The destruc-
ton of Barrolette was complete. One lone
building is left of a city of 200 inhabi-
tants. One man was burned. The total
loss is a quarter of a million. Shell Lake
has fifty-two dwellings burned, with a
total loss of $4,000. Three hundred and
sixty people are homeless and many are
without a dollar Of insurance. Deeds of
herolsm are plentiful. One widow
dragged her typhoid-sick son from the
house into a potato patch and there pro-
tected him from the flames while the rest
of the inhabitants fed in terror. The
fires are now under control in this
vicinity
The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05
SOUNDED LIKE THUNDER.
Great Sheet OF Flames Descended
with "a Terrible Roar.

SANDSTONE Mimi. Sept. 3.-All that
remains Of what once was the prosperous
village of Sandstone is the small shack
used by the Sandstone company for an
Office, and this would have met the fate
OF the other buildings but for the fact
that it was located near the quarry
and was missed by the flames Crowded
into this building and the ferry house
were found over 200 people who had lost
their homes and everything they possess
ed except the clothing which they wore.
When the st. Paul q Duluth relief train,
which left Duluth at O'Clock, arrived at
Miller's Junction word was received that
the town Of Sandstone was entirely burn
ed and the people there We're In need
OF immediate aid. A party OF the relief