Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-05-19
SEVERAL VILLAGES DESTROYED
Forest Fires Raging In -Four Counties
In Northern Peninsula of
Michigan.

DETROIT. May 1s.-Fragmehtary reports
have reached the Detroit News and Free
Press from Escanaba and Gladstone. Mich,
stating that disastrous forest FIRE is
raging in the upper peninsula in the neigh
borhood OF the two cities mentioned. 1t
is reported that three towns have been
destroyed that thirty square miles Of ter
ritory have been devastated and that sew
eral persons have been burned to death.
The reports of loss OF life by the for
est fires are very vague and may prove
ungrounded. During the evening persistent
efforts were made by the Detroit newsps-
pers to get into teegraphic communica-
ton with Escanaba, via st. Ignace but
without success, the telegraph lines hav-
ing evidently been badly crippled by the
fires. Several brief dispatches were re-
ceived. however, from Menominec and Mar
quette, via Milwaukee and Chicago.
According to these dispatches the fires
have been burning northward along the
Chicago & Northwestern railroad, which
runs due north from Menominee The VIII
laEe of Talbot, twenty -eight miles north
of Nenominee, it is thought, will be to-
tally destroyed. Daggett and Powers are
in the direct path Of the flames and can
hardly escape destruction. The latter vii
lage is located at the junction where the
Chicago & Northwestern branches eastward
and westward. the eastward branch run
ming to Escanaba
From Marquette comes the report that
a dozen farmers have been burned out in
what is known as the Chocolay district.
| south Of Marquette. Great quantities of
/ timber have been destroyed and many nsh-
/ Ing parties, with which the woods are filled
1 at this season. narrowly escaped disaster
The village Of Saunders Is reported wiped
| out of existence. Quinnessec, a village of
| 1000 population, about sixty miles from
/ Menominee is burning. Reports from Me-
nominee estimate that half dozen villages
and hundreds of farm buildings will be en-
| tirey destroyed The Menominee fire de-
partment is holding itself In readiness for
an expected appeal from the village of
! DRggett. 4 heavy pail OF smoke hangs
! over the city of Menominee and the light
| OF the forest fires can be clearly seen TO
the northward. The wind is blowing gale
! from the south
Fire In Four Counties.
| MILWAUKEE, Wis. May 1S.-A Sentinel
! special from Marinette, wis. at II p. m.
says: The best information obtainable at
this hour is that the forest fire which is
sweeping the country north Of here has
reached Iron county, north of Dickinson
! ing from fire. The area is 200 square
miles
The territory swept by the hre varies
from pine timber lands TO barrens Part
is iron mining country and the districts
! include immense tracts of hard wood which
/ have never been touched by the woodman's 3
axe. In the barrens settlers have taken
up their residence and It is for these that
/ the greatest anxiety is felt.
Information received at Marinette Is that
the lumber town Of Shaffer in ickinsou
county, was wiped out. No word has been
receives, as to the loss of lfh there, IL any
! The village of Saunders, IN Iron county
a lumber town. directly north of Florence,
Wis, has also been swept away by the
flames.
Talbot wiped out.
MENoMINEE. Mich. May 1S-Forest
fires are raging tonight in a large area
in Menominee county, having already done
much damage. Talbot, with 800 population
twenty-five miles north Of Menominee was
wiped out by fire this evening Several
other villages and many farm buildings,
including large lumber stocks, are in dan
ger. The Menominee fire department has
been called on for help.
The wind rose rapidly during the even
Aiis anu lCdBBtAAt IOWtTN ana
other towns. 1t is reported that Saunders,
300 inhabitants has been burned. Quinne-
sec, 1000 population, is reported on fire.
The station agent at Daggett reported at
10 o'clock that the fire was half mile from
town and blowing directly toward the
village.
Forest Fires Near Marquette.
! MARQUETTE, Mich, May 1S-FoTest
and bush fires are raging tonight in places
IN upper Michigan, causing heavy damage
TO farm property and timber holdings.
There is little fire east of Marquette. but
In wide expanse OF territory west and
south extensive havoc has been wrought.
The woods are dry. In Marquette county
the loss to settlers alone is nearly $4,000.
AuburndRIe BADLY scOrched
! MARSHFIELD, Wis, May 1s.-The busI-
ness portion OF Auburndale, nine miles east
of Marshfeld, was destroyed by fire this
| a he