The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-09-07

p,ne City, Mimi, Sept. "-Estllna,e
,be dead: Hinckley, 200 Sand
Due. 46. Sandstone Juilcloh' -''
DEproua, %. Skunk Lake, -; Mis-
llaeous 80, total 800
brhis is q summary Of the deaths from
rpst fires that are raging III North
torn M,Dpesota and Northwestern
WISCONSIN,. 1t is thought, however,
Lot At least five hundred lives were
III as many farmers throughout the
Mut,y undoubtedly perished.
The walls Of the school house, the
kon fence about the town hall prop
rty the bank vault and one absolutely
bniuiured out house IS all that is left
Il mark the Site of Hihckley, where
yesterday stood a score OF store build
hgs. and dozen times as many dwell
lng houses The story of castrophe
which wiped out the material posses
hons that lad made Hinckley Il busy
prosperous little city IS short one.
The town was built of wood. The
school house erected last year at cost
II $4,000 and one-half the Duluth
'ound house were the only brick struc-
aps in the city. BY one Of those
,eculiar fleGks for which there Is no
the Eastern Minnesota
ound house and water tank on the
outhN esterl. edge of the town almost
b the woods, escaped the flames, n
the more remarkable
rom the fact that 1t stood directly In
he path Of The flames, which seem TO
ave jumped it cleanly, as if playing
'ap frog All yesterday forenoon the
WI people we're apprehensivc. The
noke rolling from the south told a
ory, Enthusiastically plain to Those ac-
Stemed to wooded country. The
re Kept advancing famed by the
nd which was blowing a gTle. About
O'clock the fire company got out
clr engine and laid an eighteen hun
ed loot line of hose. to the southern
lekirfs OF the town. The hose was
70 short for the measure of protec-
IN desired nnd Il telegram was sent
hash City for more. Five hundred
81 was sent, but it never reached
aiekiey The main part Of the village
~ the north fork made by the
ossing OF the Duluth and eastern
leks, the latter to the east and the
fihtr Oh the west. On the
~ side or the Duluth tracks
feW small houses
ioilslhe to the railway employees.
y nremen's attention was mainly di-
.ted 70 keeping the fire away from
~ as the main business part OF the
was built in solidly just across
'lach. About ) o'clock in after
III III 'he ire Totally jumped into the
W IL approach was not gradual.
aau not eat It's way along, deyouring
-. .ilns III It's path, but came in
81 >. ieaps, as II to overtake everyone
aug peIofe It and then burned back
- ieasure. 1t is described by those
y witnessed its onward progress at
nNAiey and elsewhere as If ii were
w along by cyclones of Its own
y. .e,aloh. The intense heat would
'1'opc : averitable whirlwind OF lame
= actually twisted Off poplar trees
eia. iEeres in thickness and carried
: oiazlng fire brands high in air.
:, carrying item forward for from
- =; ~ elghty rods there to fall and
- He work Of devastation anew.
!, : n.e hrst struck IIinckley on the
: aua OF Duluth track and the brave
sn'efs ,s'efs Tor the first time gave up
. UNEQUAL battle and already too
80. - any instances, turned their
,.uon TO their personal safety. The
'ssrh minnesota train from the south
~ ous. come III and the people OF the
a.. stricken city 1ocked to it for
~. ~; a humber Of box cars were
: p'eu On ard filed and covered with
~, :, women and children. Some were
; e, aueu. sc me were coatless, some
- au.cnd Z pitiful bundle OF the
sionp Il precious Of their portable pcs
1nus, IS, Families were separated.
~ Joined the throng and left
farents. In oil there was
s cr' Wd Of about four hundred
loa n,y Or more people. The train
49, a ,o',' just ahead Of the fire and
y urn -, IN ultimately reaching Dn-
~ MS circumstance, while for
ata a ~ degree that cannot be es.
u -. naa II ade the confusion great
~, ~ u Is not known who escaped