The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-09-10
RUINED BY FIRE.
Flames Devastate Northern Mime
sofa Range Country
CHISHOLM LAID WASTE
Town of Four thousand Totally Wiped
Out, fntaiIing Loss of a Million
Dollars

Forest fires in the range country
of northern Minnesota, have inflicted
immense losses during the past week.
The village of Chisholm. popula-
ton 1000, was totally destroyed or
Saturday entailing loss of a million
dollars. The forests are very dry
and numerous fires were burning
Famed by high wind, the flames
attacked Chisholm and in a short tim'
the town was in ashes. So rapidly
did the fire travel, that the inhabi-
tants fled, saving nothing, but the
clothes on their backs. Fortunately
no lives were lost.
Other towns were threatened, but
at last accounts, the fires were un-
der control.
Hibbing, ten miles distant, was fill
ed with refugees from Chisholm. The
inhabitants OF the smaller town threw
open their homes and cared for the
sufferers.
AS soon as the news reached Du.
luth, measures were Immediately tax
en- for the relief of the people who
had been burned out, and in less
than an hour Sunday evening the
sum of $S,475 had been raised.
The total losses are figured up tt
near over three million dollars, in
cluding the loss to farmers, miners
and in the forests. The town o.
Chisholm suffered only part Of the
loss. A wide stretch of forest was
devastated. s',as ~ =e.es- .s9ss - N'ss7
Governor Johnson, Immediately up
Ion hearing of the appalling disaster
issued proclamation as follows:
A great disaster has come to
northeastern Minnesota CHS
holm, 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 rem
dered homeless. The property loss
amounts to millions of dollars.
Early reports indicate also the
total destruction of the mining
locations of Shenango and Pills
bury. The total number of peo-
| pie rendered homeless will reach
$4,000 and vast tracts of agricul-
tu1af lands have also been devas
tated.
The disaster is without par
allel in the history of Minnesota
and in view of this / appeal to the
generosity of the people of Min
nesota for liberal aid and owing
to- the great necessity ask that
assistance be as prompt as .possi-
BILE.
To this end I hereby appoint !,
Hon. r. D. Haven, A. C. Weiss,
Mile Bunnell, A. L. Ordean, j. L.
Washbu-n, general committee to
receive and disburse contribu-
tions for the relief of the suf- !,
ferers.
I also appoint the mayors of
the Several cities and villages of
the state as special commissioners
to take charge of the work of or
ganization in their respective mu-
inequalities, and to proceed inn
mediately, that the suffering of
the afflicted, be minimfzed.
(SigneG JOHN A. JOHNSON.
Governor.
| Mayor F. e. Minette, of Sauh
Centre, asks The Herald to appeal
for aid for the sufferers from the
fire, and ANNOUNCES that contribu.
tions will be received at all of the
three banks of the city. Minneapo
lis, st. Paul, and other cities have
taken the matter up and money and
supplies are being rushed to the front
Just as soon as the insurance money
lis received, Chisholm will be rebuilt.