The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-05-09
THE GREAT PRAIRIE FIRE.
Northwestern Lumber Camps Wiped
Out by a Wave Of Flames.
BRAVE RESCUE BY CONDUCTOR.
Forest Fires In Minnesota and Manitoba
Have Caused q Great Property Loss
Towns and Lumber Camps Have Been
Dsstroyed-Heroic Conductor Saves q
Party From Almost Certain Death.

Party From Almost Certain Death.
M1NNEApoLIs, Bfinn. Especially. - The
!orests in almost the entire northern por-
zion OF Minnesota and the lower portion OF
Manitoba were IN flames, which In Min
nesota extended for many miles through
st. Louis and Itasca Counties, in the heavy
pine timber belt OF the State. Several
small settlements have been wiped out,
and in the path OF the flames were the
homes OF hundreds of settlers.
The bush and prairie fires in Southwest
srn Manitoba caused destruction of prop
srty including 100, 900 railroad ties, 10, 900
cords OF wood, two large numbering outfits
valued. at $32, 900, forty wagons aud fifty or
sixty horses. Three hundred employees In
camps scattered 10 save their lives.
A special train sent out from Winnipeg,
Man., returned after resouing thirty men
under desperate circumstances. The loss
to Winnipeg OF wood and lumber is very
serious, as q sufficient amount was burned
to supply the city for years. The total loss
Is estimated at over 81 900, 900.
N. Green, one OF the men who escaped,
gives this account Of the disaster: "The
are started somewhere down on the Amerl-
can border. The flames came up toward
ing everything In their path. Tall trees,
saplings and shrubbery, green and wet with
their spring sap, were licked up and en-.
yeloped as speedily as the dry, dead under.
prush. .
1.-THE smoke turned daylight into blank
darkness and the heat drove every living
hing before 1t many minutes In advance
OF the flames. It was only by lying close
to- the ground and getting IN undercur-
to breathe after We reached the open spot
where the train from iWlnnepeg was watt
Ing for u.s."
There were about three hundred men
working In the three camps with two hum
dred horses. Practically nothing was
saved from the camps and the men were
iorcsd to leave In such q hurry that even
the books Of the lumber companies were
lost. ~ ~
For the first time In many years the tim
Der country In the northern portion OF the
State and in the lower portion Of Manitoba
is ns dry as finder, caused by the lack OF
spring rains and the absence ofheavy snow
last winter. The fire invaded the proposed
National park OF Minnesota, In the Leech
Lake region. 1E
The Iittletovn OF Nary has been wiped
out as completely as II 1t hsd never ex-
lsted. The country, between Hihhing and
Swan River, one hundred miles northwest
Of Duluth, was one vast furnace, and halt
hundred or more logging camps we're
4 conductor, named FslsSn;: 81 a Great
Northern train running between Eckles
and Solway, this State, has proved himself
hero. Word came to Nelson that twenty
women aud children were hemmed in by
the fire between Solway and Eckies, and
that unless help reached them In short
time they must all perish. =
Although he knew that II was almost
certain death to venture With his train into
the sea Of fame, Nelson started to the
rescue. Cutting OF everything but the
ouboose, he ordered thetenRipeer to go
ahead, and away dashed the tfaih into the
blazing pine forest. The women dnd chill
dren were finally reached, crouching In a
big. slnkhole alongside the tracksS with
the giant pines on either side Of them blez-
ing fercelY. e,
The heat was Intense. Quickly the retr.
gees were packed into the caboose, which
was then drenched with water from the
sinkhole, and the trip to Eckles was begun.
Desperate chances were taken by the train
crew, and more than once the train was
saved from destruction only by the mercy
of Providence. ...
'Lumbermen predicted fire that would
be known In history as Minnesota's great
est forest fire. Unless aheavy rain speedily
visited the region the fires would inflict
losses running into millions OF dollars.
Minneapolis log owners were greatly
alarmed. ...ra' ..,