Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1894-09-06

HUNDREDS LOSE THEIR LIVES
IN FOREST FIRES.
List OF the Dead May Reach as High as
Five Hundred-Property Loss at Safe
Estimate VIII Exceed S1c,0OO,OO0 =
Heartrending Scenes Witnessed.

Wisconsin IN which the forest nres
are now raging show that the con-
dition of affairs there is more than
terrible. The loss of property, at a
low estimate, has already reached
S12, 900, 600, not including the standing
timber that has been destroyed. But
even worse is the loss of life which, it
is feared, will reach as high as 1000.
Nearly 400 cases of persons having
persisted have already been received,
while the reports as they continue to
come in are increasing 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 worst suffering is report ed
from HincKiey, Mimi, and vicinity.
The estimate of the loss of life there
and in the surrounding towns is being
increased by every report. 1t is said
that strewn along on one street OF
Hinckley the bodies of twenty-nine
victims were found, while in another
spot the charred sand unrecogniza BILE
remains of 1913 citizens were counted.
that town alone is now placed at
800 persons Scores of others were
discovered severely injured, while the
list of missing was in the hundreds
1t is believed that at least 100 victims
are on the farms and clearings
throughout the burnt district The
loss of life in and about Hinckley,
Sandstone, Pokegama, Skunk Lake
and Mission Creek will not be known
for weeks if ever. The survivors
have been taken to Pine City, where
physicians cared for the injured,
while relief trains from Duluth, Min
neapolis and st. Paul carried in tents
clothing, food and everything neces-
sary to cover the wants of the suffer
ing survivors, Very few persons are
left in Hinckley.
Not the ghost Of thing left in the
town." was the report maze by rail-
road official who left there yesterday,
and it is believed q quarter of the pop
ulation of the town has been lost in
the general destruc ton. Good news
came last night that the town of
Washburn, Wis, across the bay from
Ashland. had been saved. But other
reports are that the flames elsewhere
are increasing their fury, and are now
advancing into the vast forests east of
Ashland and toward the cities in the
iron belt leading to Marquette.
Many other towns were reported in
danger late last night. Cadott, near
Chippewa Falls, Wis, was reported in
danger. The town is surrounded by
flames and the people of Chippewa
Falls had gone to the rescue with
steamers
The extent of the suffering can
hardly be scribed, but already the
hand of charity is at work, and the
cities of the three states are sending
aid to the sufferers. But railroads
have been injured by the fires, and in
many cases traffic has been entirely
suspended, thus preventing the start
Ing out of relief expeditions.
The fire struck Hinckley on the east
side of the Duluth track. The eastern
Minnesota train from the south had
just come in and the people of the
panic-stricken city focked to it fol
safety. A number of box cars were
coupled on and filled and covered
with men, women and children. In
all there was a motley crowd of about
four hundred and fifty or more PEG
pie. The train pulled out just ahead
of the fire and succeeded in ultimately
reaching Duluth. This circumstance
while fortunate in a degree that cal
not estimated, has made the confusion
greater, for it is not known wht
escaped in this way, and many people
are reported dead who may be il
safety. Had not this number of PEG
pie, largely women and children, lief
the doomed city when they did tn,
loss of life would have vastly in
creased.
Probably 200 of them left town OF
foot or in vehicles, plunging into thu
woods to the north. across the Grind
stone river, which skirts the town OF
the north. They were literally fleein.
before the pursuing demon of fire
Over the hill that rises beyond thu
Grindstone is a swamp, and to thi
most of the people with teams headed
but it proved no protection. The fir
gave them no opportunity to g.
farther. Some abandoned their team
and ran into the lower portions of thu
morass, but the fire sought them out
Not one was left to tell the tale, an,
there in a space of little more than fou
or five acres, were counted over ID
corpses. There were many families o
five, six and seven, and there they lay
the men generally little in advance
the mother surrounded by her littl
ones. cut off by the most horrible O
deaths.
Nearly all the bodies were nude, tn
fire having burned every vestige @
their clothing, and blackened an
charred many of the corpses beyon
recognition, and whole families wer
wiped out as they were and some c
the bodies completely incinerateC
identification is absolutely out of tn
question. Those who fed to the mort
ON foot followed the Duluth tract
and so rapid was the progress
of the flames that many of thel
were actually burned as they fec
falling on the right of way for di
lance of three miles or more Nearl
thirty bodies were recovered alon
here. Some of the foremost of the e