The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-09-11
TOWN WIPED Out !! !
BY FOREST fires.
Chisholm. Mimi, in Ruins and
Thousands of Acres of Land
Burned Over.
MANY THOUSANDS HOMELESS
Wind Subsidies and Fires ia Northern
Minnesota and Wisconsin Are
Checked.

Checked.
Duluth, Mimi, Sept. 8.-After de-
stroying the town of Chisholm, on the
Mesaba range, and burning over thou
sands of acres in St. Louis, Carlton
and Itasca counties in Minnesota and
the northern portion Of Douglas coun-
ty, Wisconsin, the many forest fires
which have been raging in these dis
trcts were checked yesterday, and If
the wind 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 timbered
and agricultural districts subsidized
yesterday morning and the thousands
of homeless people were given a
chance to take look at their belong
ings and prepare to replace the many
burned farms and settlements and the
once flourishing town of Chisholm.
Bull and Nashwauk Saved.
The subsiding of the wind enabled
the inhabitants of Bull and Nashwauk
to save those towns. Several build
ings at the edge of Nashwauk were
burned, but by valiant all-night work
the 1000 miners and citizens prevent
ed the flames from sweeping over the
village. The town was entirely sur
rounded by wall of fire and its es-
o,,o GROW, oh1;torot;on v,oc rouno RIO
BILE. There is little timber adjacent to
Bull, and although forest fires COM
pletely surrounded the village, the 600
inhabitants had only to extinguish the
incipient blazes started by falling
brands to protect the village. Nash
wauk is twenty-five miles southwest
of Chisholm and Bull is seven miles
distant to the east.
Scene of Desolation.
Chisholm presents scene of ruin
and desolation. Blackened and smok-
ing piles of charred wood, little heaps
of gray ashes, stirred by the fitful
breeze, scorched, gaunt skeletons of
brick and mortar, all canopied with a
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 dwellings
in the southernmost part of the town,
which were saved by few heroic fire
fighters, who stuck to their posts in
the face of the cyclonic onslaught of
flames and smoke.
= Loss About 100000.
The damage to property is estimated
at $1,0OO,O0O and the personal property
at .$750,000, including the stocks of the
merchants. A Hibbing insurance man
who had many policies on the property
in the destroyed town estimated the
insurance carried by Chisholm mer-
chants at 100000. Several insurance
men went to the Mesaba range yes
terday, and the insurance will be ad-
justed as rapidly as possible to pro-
vide immediate funds for those who
wish to rebuild.
Hibbing, five miles west of CHS.
holm, afforded accommodations. to
about 1000 refugees from Chisholm
Saturday night, and it was expected
that 5000 would be given places to
sleep last night.
Tents for Sufferers.
The Duluth, Missable & Northern
started car of tents from Duluth for
Hibbing yesterday afternoon on re-
ceipt OF message from Mayor Wei
rick. w. A. McGonagle, vice presi.
dent and general manager of the road,
said he would rush tents and supplies
If necessary to Hibbing as fast as
needed. A thousand tents can be
used, and by night white city will
have sprung up on the environs of
Hibbing. Foodstufts will not be need.
ed, as the merchants have large sup.
plies and an order from Duluth has
been placed for what is desired.
There are many destitute persons,
especially among the mining class
Many men who were rated as well-to
do are without funds to buy meal
to-day.
Inc IeAel coulHAClee dppOHleQ Dy
Gov. johnson is taking active steps for
the relief Of the suffering range peo
pie. Chisholm is under military rule
Company M Of the Third regiment
from Hibbing,. is guarding the ruins
from looters.
Conservative estimates of the loss
caused by the forest fires in Northern
Minnesota and In the northwestern
portion of Wisconsin place the total al
| $3.75O,OOO OF this amount $1,75O, 900
is Chisholm's loss. The remainder il
on standing timber in the range dis
tricts.
Steamer Goes to Places.
,Marn,,atta Mich Cont fso,rl,,