New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-04
WISCONSIN TOWNS DESTROYED
FLAMES CARRIED BY A GALE SWEEP
THROUGH THE PINE FORESTS.
AFTER MANY VILLAGES HAVE FALLEN bEroi'r
THEM THE FIRES ARE CHECKED

THEM THE FIRES ARE CHECKED
BY WELCOME RAINS.
Ashland WIS. Sept. 3-Smcke and dirt-oe-
primed settlers of the forest have been struggling
into Ashland all forenoon with tales OF losses OF
ho,,es and evervtbinc on their farms. They are
taken into homes and everything possible IS
bono done for Their comfort and relief TO ado
- tho Intensity of the situation at Wasnpurh'
,ncendiarism was discovered there. several nres
having been started in different portions OF lhe
c,,v Five men have been arrested, three Vi
whom were caught in the act When the hrS'
uen wore arrested rumors OF lynching were
nravalent A large number OF deputies were
sworn IN and rlaced on guard at different parts
Of the city.
A stragger who walked IN from Benoit ths
morning SAYS that everything Is gone there ou'
tho mill ard lumber At Ashland Junction
rasseneer train got in the midst OF the hames
and caused great CONSERVATION among the pas
sengers Women ana children screamed, ana II
was almost impossible 10 quiet them Gable ana
Mason. along the Omaha line. cannot be reached
but 1, is thought they are unframed Inc priuse
NJ Ribor has been repaired but the Omaha ROAD
will not endeavor 10 start traffic again until all
the bridges are thoroughly repaired ana tested
As a result Of the forest fires Of Saturday ana
Yesterday 81. 900 900 must be added to the amour.
OF loss sustained this season IL Is douo'iui
whether this sum will cover the entire loss wheh
rho damage 10 standing pine and logs Is esti-
mated.
WEIRD. DARK DAY.
Northern Wisconsin, has never before seen such
A dav as that which closed last night. with smoke
obscrrlng almost everything from view. ashes ny
ing through the air. driven at terrific rate by
the gale which was blowing. and the sun casting
n weird bloody reflection over everything Inc
,oor. n,as ono long TO be remembered By the in
bab,,,nts Before the day closed the stories OF
as,s,ers and destruction from forest fires which
had been expected with dread forebodings came
pouring into Ashland from all sides, ana 10
heighten the intensity OF the scene Ashland hao
n $50 900 lumber-yard blaze of its own. although
no, as a result OF forest fires Five million fee'
| u lumber piled In ID. A. Kennedys yard were
burned and II took heroic efforts on the part VI
| the nremcn 10 keep the flames from spieauhs vi
either side up and down the Bay shore.
The towns that have suffered from the io's''
aros have been Washburn. Benoi,. Glidden
| saxon. Marengo and Hlghbridge. Nothing DEFINITE
can b, obtained from other towns that are either
| repor,ed burned or have suffered severe losses
| Vatcrsmet and Wakefield two OF these
| been suspended about the town. and everybody
uas ayh,iny fire Nothing definite can be- learned
"a TO how the town has Jared. as all wires are
| down along the Northern Pacific Trains have
| again been abandoned on the Chicago. 81. Paul
! MINNEAPOLIS and Omaha road. and the oiliclal'
say that at least seven bridges have been burned
along the main line and its branches, ana prop
ably more The bridges between Ashland aho
Washhurn on the Short Line. were among 'h'
| first To so.
FLAMES BORE DOWN LIKE RACEHoRsE
The fires az they advanced along this line bore
down upon the city Of Washburn Ike racehorse
Great volumes OF smoke hid the city from view
1t is situated directly across Chequamegon Bay
from Ashland Not ten minutes later Ashland
was being summoned by telephone ana Telegraph
to send fremen and hose 10 save the city ERE FL,
Chief Scott dispatched boat with material ne
fire at the start puffed up into an immense paZe
In an instant and the flames leaped across ,o
Blgeow & co.'s wharf No. |. licking that up "
short order 1t passed on to the remaining 1nre e
wharves and soon the whole stock OF lo.ooooo'
feet of choice lumber was In flames IL was oni!
by the most courageous work that the iireinrr
saved BlgclOw & Co.'S mammoth sawmiI Irof
burning Tramways and lumber-plles were Iori
down and the danes checked in their course This
headed them off from getting al the ouiidings Oh
Washburn but the frem'n had to fight the fres
all night and in nearly every home some one re-
manned awake during the hours of the night tc
extingulsh any sparks that should be borne toe
near BY the strong gale that was blowing The
losses at Washburn will be l5.OOO,OOO feet OF lum
Der belonging To Bigeow Il Co.. 90)o.Ooo latf
and 1000 900 shingles belonging TO the same com
pany and 5000 600 feet OF lumber belonging to =
G. Cook x Co Blgelow e. Co. also lost some logs
Benolt ls all In ashes with the exception Of the
sawmlll belonging 10 +. Hubbard. OF Ashland and
5000 900 feet Of lumber belonging to \. Weed. OF
Ashland This was saved by the greatest exer'
tons OF the citizens.
Several buildings at Ashland Junction were
burned and only the depot is left standing
Loss Of life Will undoubtedly result from the
terrible ravagcs occasoned among the home
stcaders scattered out through the forests
Bridge repalrers Of the Wisconsin Central brought
In several refugees tonight. One homestcader Il
reported lost. His family is among the refugees
1t IL impossible to state Just now how many
lives have been lost. The Joss on property vii
be over 81 900 000 IL the damage to standing pine
Is taken into consideration. Ashland has beer
forced to have all Its communication with the
outside world over one wire. all other lines hav.
! - - ~.