The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1894-08-04
MANY LIVES LOST.
Flames Sweeping over the Northern
Part of the State. Causing
Heavy Losses.

Phillips, Wis, July 2S.-The beautiful
snd thriving little city cf Phillips. OH the
line Of the Wisconsin Central. was yes
terday afternoon visited by forest fire
which leaves in it's wake but a few
bouses Of this once prosperous communi-
IT, The destruction is total 20 far as the
business Interests of the city are con
cerned The entire plant, together with
220uo,0oO feet of lumber Of the John X.
Davis Lumber company, was destroyed
The tannery 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 IT II estimated that from fifteen
70 twenty-five lives have been lost. the
victims being either burned or drowned
in the lake in their attempt to escape
So far three bodies have been found and
The ruins arc being searched for others
over 1900 persons are without shelter
food or clothing. A relief committee
beaded by T. W Davis. has been organ
zed and supplies should he sent at once
Residents are located ~ Prentice The
condition is terrible and many are with
r.lt maintenance. The loss il s., SOC. 900
rgr,eryatiYely estimated vlTh a full in
snrancp on the two principal plants and
other business places The Davis plant
vill he rebuilt al once. Tents are needed
- afford shelter and prepared food should
be sent.
Phillips Wis, July 2S-Three thou
sand people have been made homeless
rhero hv tho forest fires Not building
Is left standing in the town. and prop
ertv valued at between 81. 300. 900 and
SZn00oOp has been swept away. All
Gay yesterday the flames surrounded the
v.llaEo Hundreds Of men battIed with
'ha fire. hut without success. The pine
forests were as dry parchment and the
flames leapod from tree to tree with such
rauiiltr that the air seemed on fire The
HakuZ soil sent up gas that igulted
and m" atmosphere itself Iseemed to
tlazn When the fire reached the city il
swept from house to house and in an
hour had wrapped the entire village in
flame The people fled to the railway
where trains were started and they were
hastily conveyed to neighhoring towns.
Nothing bnt - few personal effects We're
=ayrl There are rumors of loss of life.
tlt HI the confusion they caun0t be con
FrrHrd Families are separated. some
ramhars having been taken to one place
and others to another town, and it is i'm
possible to learn whether or not all have
escaped. The heaviest losses by the fire
ere those Of the John r. Davis Lumber
company Sao0.OOU and Fayette Shaw,
tanner, S20O.00O.
Stevens Point. Wis, July 2S.- The con
rnuouS dry weather has resulted in many
forest fires north and west of here Fires
arc now in the marshes within two or
three miles west Of this city hut hy good
work. IN the part of the settlers very lit
u. damage has rs yet been done The
hay crop is nearly all cut and stacked
ap0a the marshes and unless rain comes
saan in sufficient quantities to extn-
Inl>h the fire thousands of tons will
~ destroyed. Ia some Instances farm
efz bavn been obliged to use every
aKartinn to save their fences barns and
homes from destruction and the danger
will not he passed until they are favored
br the elements. The big marsh below
ri7ycr, which comprises several thou
sand acres, Is also threatened. and those
.yhp have cut hay thereon are pudeavOr-
iu, ro save it, This vicinity was visited
Ny destructive forest fires last year and
this fact has made the destructive ele-
mrHt less rapid this year than il would
Otherwise have been. \ public meeting
0f 'Irzrns has been called for this after
noon - take action toward relieving the
unfortunate citizens of Phillips and a
liberal response VIII no doubt he made
Heavy fires are spreading in the viCin-
try ii tins place but aS Vet little damage
has been done except to growing timber
some hay that has already been cut
haS been destroyed and the growing crops
Hill suffer the most from fir" unless rain
comes within a day or two.
Tho sama state IF affairs exists Mt Mil
adore, Sherry and other points west Of
here, hut all suffered greatly less than
wear ago from forest fires the prog
is now comparatively slow. Cen
trgll forest fires have been raging in
rims vicinity during the past twenty four
hours and hundreds Of men are now out
oninHvorjng to save the cranberry crop.
Ehn hay marshes are also threatened,
7a.." many farmers will suffer. Rain is