The herald., 1894-07-29

the swamp to the west OF the city to pre-
vent the flames coming into the town.
Driven by the increasing wind, the
fire reached the southern limits of the
city about 2 O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
Across the miles OF swamp, where the
water was from six inches to foot in
depth, it could be heard roaring for fully
an hour-a sound that rendered the
people panic-stricken. The fremen
fought it until it drove them back with
blistered hands and faces. and then they
sought to stop its progress with dyna-
mite explosions. This they did accom-
plish after the northern part of the city
had bsen destroyed, the entire First and
part OF the Second ward. including the
box factory of the John r. Davis Lum-
Der company and the school house.
ANOTHER FIERY CYCLONE.
Just then another cyclone Of fire
struck the western side, sweeping
through the main business and resi-
dence portion of the city, destroying the
rest OF the Davis company plant. The
path OF the fire took in the city hall,
court house, jail and the Wisconsin Gem
tral depot, and swept everything to the
h0hCs 4hlLto0u UlloOA0Lo WOiO iAA tAO
jail, and three of them made their escape
from the sheriff.
DEATH IN THE LAKE.
1t was during the first fire that the
loss of life occurred. Driven frantic by
the rushing gale OF flames, the families
of James Lock. Frank Gliss and Dave
Dryden gathered hurriedly in their arms
all the possessions they could, and made
for floating boat house that was tied to
the town bridge near the box factory.
After they had gone short distance the
craft began to sink, and with death by
fire staring them in the face on one side
and drowning on the other. the boats
were reaorted to, but in the gale they
capsized almost instantly, all perishing
with the exception OF Mrs. GliBs, who
was found floating this morning on the
opposite side of the lake clinging with
desperation to a boat.
GAUNTLET OF FLAME.
When it became evident that the
city was threatened with destruction
the John r. Davis Lumber company
made up train Of its cars and sought tt
take the women and children to a placs
OF safety on the Little Elk branch. The
train had proceeded but a short way
however, when the bridge across the
street was discovered to be burned, ant
the train with its cargo OF human
freight was forced to return TO the city
and run the gauntlet OF flame and smoke
In the meantime permission had beer
received to uee the main tracks OF thu
Central road, and the homeless people
were carried south IL miles to Prentice
Tha people of Prentice opened Wild
their homes, hut there was not room TO
all the crowd OF men, women aud chill
dren.
NIGHT OF TERROR.
About IL O'Clock at night the fir
fighters who had remained on the scene
betook themselves to clearing south o
the city, a place that had been burnes
over few days before, 30 that there wa
nothing more for the fire to feed on
Their route was thick with smotherin,
smoke. The flames jumped directly
across their path. From one side to the
other the FIRE in the forest broke on
with vigor, and the tall pines, even tn,
greenest ones, were great torchSs, throw
ing long tongues of fire into the air
The roaring and cracking of the fir,
among the trees was go terrible tina
those who heard it will remember it al
long as they live.
ABSOLUTE DESTRUCTION.
Such light of day as broke through
clouds OF smoke that tho horizon en-.
circled, and seemed to be as deep a
from earth to sky, looked on q scene O
absolute destruction. There was hardl,
enough left to be called ruins. A citl
over mile in length from north to souti
and half mile wide, from the lake OF
the east to the swamp on the west, wa
but embers and ashes.
HUNGER ASSERTS ITSELF.
As soon as the smoke had cleared
trihe, back came the people, some O
them worn out. who the day and nigh
before had slept ON the roadside on tn,
ground with the forest cracking ell
around. Now that the fire had open
itself hunger was asserting itself, and
there was not as much as piece O
bread to eat. A relief committee wa
organized and relief quarters estab-
lished in the Worcester town hall, anG
there assemble fathers, seeking in form
alton as to the whereabouts of theil
families, and mothers with children cry
ing with hunger.
QUICK RESPONSE.
Quick to respond were the neighbor
ing towns. In almost no time provi
sione, consisting OF bread, butter, coffee
and canned articles, had been received
from Fifield, Prentice. Dorchester, Med.
ford and Butternut.
A telegram was sent to the governo,
asking him to send blankets and tents
together with mess tents for 1,OO(
people. In response to this the gov
ernor telegraphed tonight that there
we're no tents available at present, but
that he would be here in the morning
with sheeting, hammers and naile, and
to be ready to begin the construction of
temporary quarters.
RELIEF STARTED.
Relief for the Phillips suffererc has
been started from Milwaukee, Chippews
Falls, Eau Claire, West Superior, OH
kosh, Stevens point and Marshfield, in
all, lO or IL cars. Six carloads of pro-
ylsione, shesting for tents, and clothing
left Milwaukee tonight in charge of Gov
ernor Peck. The latter will look over
the ravages caused by the forest fires in
the northern portion OF the state, and
ascertain the most pressing needs OF the
people.
The Wisconsin Central company has
establish cd telegraph Office in q box
car and will receive all contributions of
food and clothing and deliver them free