The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1898-10-05
FIERCE FOREST FIRES
They Cause Millions of Dollars
Damage in Wisconsin.
Many Other States Also Visited
Timely DOwnpOur of Rain Saves
One TOwn-In Colorado and
the DakOtas.

st. Paul, Mimi, Oct. 1.-The forest
fires which have been burning in va
rious places throughout western W:s-
consin for the past few days were
famed into furious storms of flame by
Thursdays winds and did great damage
through Chippewa, Barron, Dunn, St.
Croix and Polk counties. very gen.
eral destruction of telegraph wires
make the reports very incomplete, but
it seems that the villages of Clayton,
Almena and Poskin have been wholly
or partially destroyed, that Cumberland
has suffered heavy losses and that Glen
wood, Barron, Prentice, Phillips and
Turtle Lake have been threatened and
only saved by great efforts. Reports
of loss of life are coming in. but have
been verified only in two in
losses at not less than 100000 to S.
100000.
The forest fires in the vicinity of Rice
Lake, Wis, are nearly abated. but great
damage has been wrought for miles
west of the city. 1t is estimated the
losses to Barron, Polk. Washburn and
Sawyer counties have been at least ST.
100000. 1t is estimated that fully 1O,-
900 tons of hay, besides grain, other
products of farm and machinery have
been destroyed.
Outlook Is Gloomy.
Chippewa Falls, Wis. Oct. Forest
fires that started two days ago have
&c
abatement in Chippewa and Clark coun-
ties. Fires are rampant in the heavy
forest north of Stanley. city of 1880.
20 miles east. The loss to the North
western Lumber company at that place
was 100000 feet of skidded logs. The
company's fire service was called to bat
tie with the flames. The village of Ca
Gott, IA miles east, is invested on all
sides. Great black clouds of smoke
darken the horizon. The devastated dis
triet extends through counties running
from Abbottsford along the Wisconsin
Central for distances of 200 miles. and
north for Is or 100 miles. Many homes
are desolated for more than 100 farms
in this county have lost buildings and
grain.
Town of AInlena Wiped Out.
Rice Lake, Wis, Oct. 1.-Great dam
age has been done in this county by
forest fires. 1t is impossible yet to es-
innate the loss, but it will run into
thousands of dollars. The town
of Almena, this county, was entirely
wiped out, the long 500 railway tres
tie near Almena was burned. stopping
all trains on that line. No loss of life
has so far been reported. The greatest
damage has been done in the town.
ships of Cumberland, Turtle, Lake
Clinton, Stanfold. Barron. Oak Grove
end Clear Lake.
Only Smoldering Heap of Ruins.
ST. Paul. Mimi, Oct. IA Cumber-
land (Wis.) dispatch to the Dispatch
says: Cumberland presents sad
sight. The mill portion of the country
is smoldering heap of ruins. Loss,
$1S5 900. A timely downpour of. rain
lasting about 20 minutes enabled the
firemen to check the progress of the
flames on the west side of the city,
but no human power could save the
city east of the Omaha railroad. in
Guiding the lumber yard and mills of
the Beaver Dam Lumber company and
TIL residences including the fine house
of Mayor Waterman. The loss is
roughly estimated at $1S5,000. About
40 farmers southeast of the city lost
all their homes and crops.
Aid Is Needed.
Madison, Wis, Oct. Gov. Scofield
received telegram from j. H. Bunker,
president of the village of Turtle Lake,
Wis, saying that rs families are left
destitute there as result of the for
est fires. and asking aid.
situation I'm Colorado.
Denver. Col. Oct. 1.-Reports from
the western portion of the state con-
tinue to tell of the ravages of the for
est fires which bid fair to devastate the
greater part of the forests of the state.
From Glenwood Springs, Kokomo,
Montrose and many other points come
reports of the terrible destruction of
| the fires.
There appears to be no hope OF
| cessation of the confiagration except
by very heavy rain or the demolition
of the timber by the destroying ele-
| ment.
]. S. Swan, game commissioner,
states there is no doubt but that the
fires are caused by carelessness Of
campers and people generally during a
season of exceptional dryness.
In south Dakota.
| Aberdeen. S. D., Oct. 1.-The prairie
fires are still doing immense damage in
this section. having extended over many
miles of valuable farming lands.
jamestown. N. D., Oct. IA destruc-
tive prairie fire has been raging in the
western part of this county for four
days. A number of buildings and a
large quantity of hay have been de-
stroyed, together with stock.
Deadwood, S. D., Oct. 1.-The timber
fires which have been raging with great
fierceness all over Lawrence county