The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-19
FORESTS ON FIRE.
Flames Sweeping Over Northern
Peninsula of Michigan.
Covers a Stretch of Territory
200 Miles Square.
FARMERS BURNED OUT
Small Towns Also Have Been
Destroyed.
Losses Will Amount to ThOus-
andS Of Dollars.
FARMERS BURNED OUT

Marquette. Mich, May IA stretch
of territory over $50 miles in length.
reaching from Newberry on the east
10 Bessmay, Mich, on the west and
north and south between the shore line
of Lake Superior and the southern
boundary of the upper peninsular IS
dotted with forest fires.
Settlements and farm houses have
been wiped out. timber lands destroyed
and hundreds of persons rendered
homeless 1t is impossible to estimate
the financial loss, but figured on the
basis OF local conditions it is probable
that hundreds of thousands of dollars
worth of property have been destroyed
The loss in the immediate vicinity
if Marquette is over $4,000, involving
only the destruction of personal prop
erfy and not including devastatons Oh
timber lands or damage to railroad
property.
The town of Quinnesee and several
hamlets IN Menominee Iron range are
reported wiped out Northwest OF
Marnuette the town of Birch, where
the Northern Lumber company mas
fully 100000 worth of property was
threat tened with destruction and men
were sent from here by special lralH
TO fight the flames
Because of the destruction OF leLe-
graph poles, wires are down in all di-
rections and communication by that
means is impossible Unless ram IallS
soon much more havoc Will be wrought
as the woods are very dry.
A score of farmers in Chocolay
township have been burned out, losing
everything and to the north OF the
CITY numerous cottages have been de-
stroved by the fire. Many miles OF
timber lands have been swept away
Sweeping Everything Clean.
Milwaukee, May. 19.-An Evening
Wisconsin special from Wausaukee
Wausaukee. Marinette county. is
hemmed in by forest fires which are
slowly creeping up to the city on me
north and south. Millions Of feet Of
lumber are burned. The loss IS esl1-
At Cedarvflle, a town four miles
south of this city, forest fires have de
str0yed many cars of lumber and big
kilns filed with cedar. ierce wind
is blowing sparks and burning empeIs
for miles All trains are being held
here as the rails are twisted from the
intense heat.
The Bird & Wells Lumber company
has suffered an enormous loss Several
OF their camps are totally destroyed.
The losses Of Bird, II. H. Chist Nose
swallow and many other logging COM
panies are steadily growing
Three miles south of this place an
other fire is raging. The flames are
sweeping through Slashing and Forest.
The flames in some places are 300 feet
high. The dry conditions are RESPONSE
BILE for the great loss and the fire
sweeps everything clean
A Chica go, Milwaukee & St Paul
passenger train is reported hemmed in
at Cedarville as the rails are twisted
on both sides. 1t is not known how
many passengers are on the train which
IS now waiting for relief on the way OF
new rails.
Good Report From Marfnette.
BTarinette Wis, May 19.-Reports this
morning indicate that the wind has
changed to north and the forest fires
are dying out
six Thousand Are Homeless.
Milwaukee. May 19-Tn Evening Wis
cousin special from Escanaba. Mich,
says:
have almost swept blank an era OF
100 miles. Six thousand people are
homeless it is estimated.
Up to the present the situation may
be epitouized as follows:
Ralph-Town Of 100 people, almost
wiped out.
Alfred-Population 200. every house
and huge piles of logs burned.
Alvre-Population 400 boarding house
and huge piles Of logs burned.
Cuinnisec-POpu 100 destroyed
all residents homeless.
Corneli2All but one store burned, 800
people homeless.
Northlapd-Mill and six houses burn
ed. many Of the 800 population homeless
and without food
Misunderstanding town. houses and
one lumber mill burned. boarding
houses destroyed and all but a few of
700 people homeless.
Felth-Branch Northwestern railway
all bridges burned and scores Of home
Eteaders in that section. covering ten
square miles are homeless. 1t is feared
there was loss of life here
NOrthland Branch, Escanaba & Lake
Superior railway-FIve million feet OF
cut logs burned. bridges down and line
tied up completely, perhaps for weeks
Three train loads of homeless .peoDle
have already arrived IN F,seanafa
Thousands OF others are believed to he
homeless and suffering from want al
food, clothing and other necessities. Ar
rangements for aid and offers to give
assistance are reaching this city from
lower Michigan and Wisconsin which
must bear a large share of fire losses
directly or Indirectly. the result of for
est fires
Duluth Trains Cancelled.
Detroit. Mich May 19-Forest fires
IN the upper peninsula compelled the
Duluth. South Shore & Atlantic rail
road to cancel its Duluth trains last
night The loss by fire is broadly est.
mated at $1,000 oO0-