Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-08-02
MANY LIVES LOST.
Flames sweeping Over the NORTHERN
Part of the State, Causing
Heavy Losses.

and thriving little city of Phillips. on the
limo of the Wisconsin Central, was yes
terday afternoon visited by forest nre
which leaves in it's wake but rev
ho1ses of this once prosperous commune
~. The destruction is total so far as the
hus;ness interests of the city are con
cerned The entire plant, together WIN
100000 feet of lumber of the Johh N
Davis Lumber company, was destfoseu'
The tannery plant, one OF the HlrSest III
the world, was also burned. business
houses. churches, court house and schoois'
and about 700 dwellings went up III
smoke. 1t is estimated that from hlleeh
to twenty-five lives have been lost, lle
victims being either burned or drowned
in the lake in their attempt TO escape.
So far three bodies have been found ana
the ruins are being searched TOR others.
Over 1900 persons are without shelter.
food or clothing. A relief committee,
headed by B. w. Davis, has been organ
lied and supplies should be sent at once.
Residents are located at Prentice Inc
condition is terrible and many are with
ont maintenance. The loss is 81 ,IOO.Ooo,
conservatively estimated, with 1uii M
surance on the two principal plants ana
other business places. The Davis plant
will be rebuilt at once. Tents are needed
to afford shelter and prepared food should
be sent.
Phillips. Wis, July 2S.-Thrce thou
sand people have been made homeless
there by the forest fires. Not building
is left standing in the town, and prop
erty valued at between S1,oOO,O0O and
co n |
day Yesterday the flames surrounded the
village Hundreds of men battled with
the fire, but without success. The pine
forests were as dry as parchment ana the
flames leaped from tree to tree With such
randity that the air seemed on fire. The
baking soil sent up gas that lSnlteu
and the atmosphere itself seemed TO
blaze. When the fire reached the city 1T
swept from house to house and III an
hour had wrapped the entire village III
fame. The people fled to the railway
where trains were started and they were
hastily conveyed to neighboring towns.
Nothing but few personal effects were
saved There are rumors OF loss or lite,
but in the confusion they cannot be con-
tirmed Families are separated, some
members having been taken to one place
and others to another town, and 1t IS mn
possible to learn whether or not all have
escaped. The heaviest losses by the fire
are those of the John r. Davis Lumber
company ,SoOO,oOO, ana TaIelte ShaW,
tanner 100000.
Stevens Point, Wis. July 2S.--Ihe con-
tinuous dry weather has resulted III many
forest fires north and west of here. Fires
are now in the marshes within two or
three miles west of this city, but by good
work on the part OF the settlers very ut
tie damage has as yet been done. The
hay crop is nearly all cut and stacked
upon the marshes and unless rain comes
soon in sufficient quantities to eXtln-
guish the fire thousands of tons will
be destroyed In some instances farm
ers have been obliged to use every
exertion to save their fences, barns and
homes from destruction and the danger
will not be passed until they are favored
by the elements. The big marsh below
Plover, which comprises several thou
sand acres, is also threatened, and those
ing to save it. This vicinity was visited
by destructive forest fires last year and
this fact has made the destructive ele-
ment less rapid this year than it would
otherwise have been. A public meeting
of citizens has been called for this after
noon to take action toward relieving the
unfortunate citizens of Phillips and a
liberal response will no doubt be made
Heavy fires are spreading in the vicin-
ity of this place, but as yet little damage
has been done except to growing timber.
Some hay that has already been cut
has been destroyed and the growing crops
will suffer the most from fire unless rain
comes within a day or two
The same state Of affairs exists at Mil
ladore, Sherry and other points west of
here, but as all suffered greatly less than
one year ago from forest fires the prog
ress is pow comparatively slow. Cen
tralia forest fires have been raging in
hn two -fn,,
hours and hundreds of men are now out
endeavoring to save the cranberry crop.
The hay marshes are also threatened,
while many farmers will suffer. Rain is
badly needed and this is the only thing
that will save losses that can scarcely
be imagined at this time.
New Richmond, Wis, July 2S.-Anoth
er refreshing shower passed over this sec
ton early this morning. 1t came too
late to be of any benefit to crops, except
the corn and to pastures Fires have
been raging along the Chicago, st. Paul,
Minneapolis & Omaha and Wisconsin
Central lines for several days past, and
this mornings rain came just in time to
avert a catastrophe. Hundreds of acres
have been burned over and in some in
stances farmhouses and barns have
been destroyed. The loss by fire is enor-
nous. The mercury registered 1O4 yes
terday:
IhlllpS, WIS, july 0U.-lt IS known
tlat thirteen persons persisted in Fridays
fire, and the death list may be greater
The bodies of those who were drowned
in the river while escaping from the fire
are being recovered. They are twelve in
number-James Lock, his wife and five
children, David Bryden's wife and two
children, Fred Chiss and wife. Mrs.
Chiss was rescued from the water by
Fred Kenyon. She is badly burned and
may not recover. The flesh about the
knees is cut to the bone where she chung
to the boats side. 1t is supposed that
the bodies of several children are buried
under the ruins Of the wagon and foot
bridge, which, it is claimed, gave way
while they We're trying to escape from the
f1dmcs to the peninsula which runs out
into the lake.
Nearly the entire population of the
town has found shelter in the towns of
Prentice on the south and Ffield OH the
north, and camps on the river bank and
+ t,N, D