Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-09-07
Town of Chisholm, in Mesaba Rang,
is Entirely Wiped Out.
OTHL& PLACES SUFFER GREATLY
Thousands Of Acres of Timber and
Farm Lands Laid Waste.
PROPERTY LOSS WILL BE MILLIONS
wind Fortunately Dies Down and
Present Prospect is that NO
More Damage win BE
Done.

ST. PAUL MINI, Sept. 6-Governor
johnson today issued the following proc
lamstion;
A great disaster has come to northeastern
Minnesota. Chisholm, one of the splendid
cities Of the Mesaba range, has been totally
destroyed by a destructive forest fire,
which swept over a large portion OF st.
Louis county. Every home and business
house Of that community is burned and
5000 people are suddenly rendered home
less, the property loss amounting to mil
liors of dollars. Early reports indicate
also the total destruction OF the mining
locations of Shenandoah, Hartly and Pills
burg. The total number OF people rendered
homeless will reach 1900, and vast tracts
OF agricultural land have also been deVas-
tated.
history Of Minnesota, and in view OF the
appalling calamity ! appeal to the generos-
ity of the people of Minnesota Tor liberal
aid and, owing to the great necessity, ask
that this assistance be as prompt as possi-
bic.
Haven, A. c. Weiss, Milton Bunnel - l..
Ordan A. j. Washburn and II. NJ PTeyton
OF Duluth and Martin Hughes OF Hlpplng
a general committee to receive ard dlspurse
contributions for the relief OF the sur
i also appoint the mayors of the several
cities and villages OF the state as -, s,orL
of organization In their respective muncl-
palities, and TO proceed immediately ina
the suffering os the afflicted be minimized.
JOHN A. JOHNSON, Governor
story of Disaster.
DULUTH, MINI. Sept. 6.-After destroy
ing the town OF Chisholm, on the Mesaba
range. ard burning over thousands of
acres in ST. Louis, Carleton and Itasca
counties in Minnesota, and the northern
norton OF Douglass county, Wisconsin, the
many forest fires which have been raging
IN these districts were checked today. and
II the wird does not spring up again 1t Is
not likely that further damage will be
great
The strong wind which had driven the
flames before It in many timpered anu
AGRICULTURAL districts subsided this morn
ing and the thousands of homeless peo-
ple were given a chance to take stock OF
their belongings and prepare to replace
the many burned farms and settlements
and the once flourishing town OF CHS
holm on the Mesaba range, siXty-five
miles north Of Duluth.
The subsiding of the wind enabled the
Inhabitants of Bull and Nashwauk to
save those towns. Several buildings at
the edge OF NashwauR were burned but
by valiant al-night work the 1000 miners
and citizens prevented the flames from
sweeping over the village, The town was
entirely surrounded by a wall or fire
and its escape from obliteration was re-
markable There is little timber ada
cent to Buhl and, although forest fires
completely surrounded the village. the
500 inhabitants had only to extinguish
lhe incipient blazes started by falling
brands TO protect the village. Nashwauk
is twenty-five miles southwest of Chis-
holm and Buhl is seven miles to the
east.
Chisholm presents a scene OF ruin and
desolation. Blackened and smoking piles
of charred wood. little heaps of gray
ashes stirred by the fitful breeze,
scorched gaunt skeletons of brick and
mortar, all canopied with dense pail
OF smoke comprise what was one of the
most flourishing towns on the great
Mesaba iron range. The only remaining
buildings are the new $125,O00 high
school. the grade school, the Catholic
church, the Italian church and a dozen
buildings in the southernmost parts of
the town, which were saved by few
heroic fire fighters who stuck TO their
posts in the face of the eyclonic on
slaught of the flames and smoke.
The damage to property is estimated at
si.o00,O 600 and the personal property at
s75O.O00 including the stocks Of the mer-
chants.
Haven for Refugees.
DULUTH, MINI, Sept. 6.-Insurance car
ried by Chisholm merchants amounts to
fJVViVuu. t1lbplnk' i've lllllth west OF Cnis-
holm. afforded accommodation TO about l, ,OOC
refugees from Chisholm last night, and ii
is expected that about 1900 will be given
places to sleep tonight. The Duluth. Mes
aba & Northern railroad started a car OF
tents from Duluth for Hibbing this after
noon on receipt of message from Mayor
Weirick. thousand tents can be used
ana by tomorrow night a white city will
have sprung ou on the environs Of Hibbing
Only 1000 persons were given beds in
private homes and hotels last night as most
OF Chisholms population was too much ex-
cited 10 seek place to rest There are
many destitute persons Many men who
were rated as well TO do are without funds
TO bny a meal today. In most instances
these misfortunes are only temporary as
many viii soon receive their in,Ufance
money. However. some merchants lost
everything they had except the clothes OF
their backs and there will be much suffer.
ing and financial embarrassment