Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-08-01
MANY LIVES LOST.
FLAMES Sweeping Over the Northern
Part OF the State, Causing
Heavy Losses


end thriving little city of Phillips, on the
line of the Wisconsin Central, was yes
terday afternoon visited by a forest FIRE
which leaves in it's wake but few
houses Of this once prosperous commune
ty The destruction is total SO far as the
business interests of the city are con-
cerned. The entire plant, together with
z, 000,00 feet of lumber of the John K.
Davis Lumber company, was destroyed.
The tapnery plant, one Of the largest in
the world, was also burned. Business
houses. churches, court house and schools,
and about 100 dwellings, went up in
smoke. 1t is estimated that from fifteen
TO twenty-five lives have been lost, the
victims being either burned or drowned
III the lake in their attempt to escape.
So far three bodies have been found, and
the ruins are being searched for others.
Over 1900 persons are without shelter,
food or clothing. 4 relief committee,
headed by 3. W. Davis has been organ
Szed and supplies should be sent at once.
Residents are located at Prentice. The
condition is terrible and many are with
out maintenance. The loss is 81, 800. 900,
conservatively estimated, WIN a full in
surance on the two principal plants and
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.-Three thou
sand people have been made homeless
there by the forest fires. Not a building
is left standing in the town, and prop
erty valued at between $1,50O,000 and
100000 has been swept away. All
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 and the
flames leaped from tree to tree with such
Tanidity that the air seemed on fire. The
baking soil sent up Il gas that ignlted
and the atmosphere itself lSeemed to
blaze When the fire reached the city it
swept from house to house and in an
hour had wrapped the entire village III
flame. The people fled to the railway
where trains were started and they We're
hastily conveyed to neighbOring towns.
Nothing but few personal effects were
saved. There are rumors of loss OF life,
but In the confusion they cannot be con
firmed. Families are separated, some
members having been taken to one place
and others to another town, and it IS inn
possible to learn whether or not all have
escaped. The heaviest losses by the fire
are those of. the John r. Davis Lumber
company 100000, and Fayette Shaw,
tanner, 100000
Stevens Point, Wis, July 2S.-The con-
tinuous dry weather has resulted in 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 lit
tie damage has as yet been done. The
IA iS a
upon the marshes and unless rain comes
soon in sufficient quantities to eXtin-
guiSh the fire thousands of tons will
he destroyed In some instances farm
cFs 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
pl0ver, which comprises several thou
sand acres, is also threatened, and those
who have cut hay thereon are endeavor-
ing to save it. This vicinity was visited
dy destructive forest fires last year and
this fact has made the destructive eIe-
ment less rapid this year than it would
otherwise have been. 4 public meeting
Of citizens has been called for this after
noon to take action toward relieving the
subordinate citizens OF Phillips and
Lberal response Will no doubt be made
Heavy fires are spreading in the vicin-
ltg of this place, but as yet little damage
BIAS 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 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
Ee5sS is now comparatively slow. Cen
ggaIia forest fires have been raging in
4lo
hours and hundreds of men are now out
eendeavoring to save the cranberry crop.
The hay marshes are also threatened,
3NhIse 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 III time to
avert a catastrophe. Hundreds of acres
have been burned over and in some in
stances farmhouses and barns have
seen destroyed. The loss by fire is enor-
nous. The mercury registered 104 yes
rerday.
/. BEil1pS, WIS, july 5O.-f IS known
that thirteen persons persisted in Fridays
fire. and the death list may be greater
The bodies of those who were drowned
In TIE river while escaping from the fire
are being recovered. They are twelve in
sumb er-James Lock, his wife and five
children, David Brydens 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
ska, bodies of several children are buried
under the ruins of the wagon and foot
bridge which, it is claimed, gave way
while they were trying to escape from the
flames TO the peninsula which runs out
Eaado the lake.
Nearly the entire population of the
town has found shelter in the towns of
Prentice on the south and Fifeld on the
north. and camps on the river bank and
ia. the cemetery. Between 200 and 800
smen and q few women and children re-
main in the burnt district. Three relief
trains, bringing enough provisions to feed
she town for month"; arrived this morn
amg The train from Milwaukee carried
Il ~ ~ T