Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-19
SWEPT BY THE FLAMES
Fierce Forest Fires in Michigan
and Wisconsin.
DESTROY MUCH PROPERTY
Settlements and Farm Houses Wiped
Out.
LOSSES WILL REACH MILLIONS
Communication With Points Shut OF
by Burning of Telegraph and
Telephone Poles.
DESTROY MUCH PROPERTY
Settlements and Farm Houses Wiped
nrf
LOSSES WILL REACH MILLIONS

MILWAUKEE, Wis. May 19.-An Even
ing Wisconsin special from Escanaba
Mich, says:
The forest fires in northern Michigan
have almost swept blank an area Of lOt
square miles. Whether or not any human
lives were lost 1t is impossible to say. mol
is it possible to tell at present how much
damage to property has been done.
When communication by railway, tele-
graph and telephone Is established-which
will probably be within thirty-six hours
forest fire story can be obtained. 1t Is
believed that developments will be star
Ting. An Evening Wisconsin correspond
ent spent all night and several hours this
morning in an effort to gain a general re-
view Of the fire situation for his paper. AMI
finds that the loss will be several millions
of dollars. He has been unable to find any
loss of life, but 5000 people are homeless
III Is estimated.
The damage DONE epitonpzed as well as
possible under the circumstances. follows
Ralph-Town of 100 people. almost wiped
out.
Alfred-Population, 200: every house and
huge piles of logs burned.
Alvoie-Population, 400: boarding house,
railway station, big stores Of logs and ties
destroyed.
Quinnesec-Population, 100, destroyed; all
residents homeless.
Cornell-Ail but one store burned; 800 peo-
pie homeless.
Northland-Mill and six houses burned:
many of the 600 population homeless and
without food.
Antoine-Mining town; houses and one
lumber mill burned, boarding houses de-
stroyed and all but few Of 700 people
homeless.
Felch Mountain, branch Northwestern
railway-All bridges burned and scores of
homesteaders in that section, covering ten
square miles, homeless. 1t Is feared there
was loss of life here.
Northland branch, Escanaba and Lake
Superior railway-Fiye million feet OF cut
logs burned. bridges down and line tied up
completely.
Menominee. Delta, Dickinson. schoolcraft
and Marquette counties bear the brunt of
the loss. The Isaac Stephenson Lumber
Company, the Pittsburg and Lake Superior
Iron Company. the Escanaba Woodenware
Company and other concerns suffer the
greatest loss. Some of the towns partly
or wholly destroyed belong entirely to the
corporations
Three train loads of homeless people have
already arrived in Escanaba. Thousands OF
others are believed to be homeless and suf-
fering from want of food, clothing and
other necessities. That there will be much
suffering there is no question Arrange
ments for aid and offers to give assistance
are reaching this city from lower Michigan
and Wisconsin.
Reports today indicate that the fire Ia
being swept northward. and that 1t Is dy-
ing out in many places. The wind has
changed so that such towns as Escanaba
Marquette and the larger places in the
district are out of danger. but there is still
an immense amount of hardwood timber ir
the path of the flames.
Foster Mich, has had q narrow escape
but only one house was burned. At Wood
lawn, Mich, several cars of ties burned
Other repOrtS Ray that SurinR Valley
Mich, near Stambaugh, is surrounded by
flames and people are fighting hard to save
the town. 1t Is also said that the big
hardwood factory at Homansville, Mich,
has been destroyed, Perronville, in Menomi-
nee county, was surrounded by flames last
night, but was saved. At Loomis, Wis, a
school house was wiped out and the teacher
and pupils had a narrow escape.
The only rumor of large loss of life
comes indirectly from Saunders, in Iron
county. which is said to have been burned
1t is absolutely impossible at present to
get information.