Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-09-06
Michigan Towns Wiped Out by
FIameSi Terrified inhabitants
Barely Escape With Their
Lives.
PROPERTY LOSS PLACED
AT SEVERAL MILLIONS
Wall of Fire EncircIeS Doomed
Settlements Where Citizens
Fought to the Last to Save
Their Belongings.


IBy Morning journal special Leased Wlrel
Duluth, Mimi. Sept 5.-Forest fires
which have been burning for three
days closed in on several towns and
small settlements near Duluth this aft
ernoon, wlping them out rendering
several thousand persons homeless. de-
stroying property valued at several
million dollars and sweeping over
lands in many counties i'm northern
Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Chisholm. Mimi, town Of 5000
people on the Masba Iron range.
ninety miles north of Duluth was COM
pletely wiped out.
Hibbing, five miles from Chisholm
was surrounded by forest fires to-
night and the city was in danger un-
til the wind shifted. The entire north
ern portion Of Douglas county is on
fire and several small settlements have
been destroyed. Henshaw. village
twenty-five miles west of Duluth, was
surrounded by fires early tonight and
there is no hope for the town. Hun
dreds of farmers have been driven
from their homes by the flames and,
as passage along the roadway is
difficult owing to the dense smoke
and the heat of TIE burning forests
Il is helieyed thatasome lives may
/ have been lost although none have
been reported A fire at Bayfield,
Wis, starting in n lumber yard, dam
aged two docks and the lumber com
pany's property to the extent of $780,
! 600.
The most destructive of the many
forest fires was that which embraced
Chrisholm in its fiery grip and COM
pletely destroyed il. For three days
the dry woods have been on fire west
and north of the town and small bush
| fires We're reported to the eastward.
Gradually these closed in upon the
doomed town but no danger was felt
by the citizens as the town is pro-
tected on the east by Long Year lake,
a small body of water and there are
many mining locations to the west, in
which district the citizens believed the
advancing flames could be stopped.
At noon today the three walls of
fire Joined, making a semi-circle of
threatening flames which swept to-
ward the little mining town with a
rush and a roar. The hot breath of
the confagration was felt as the adj
vancng flames rolled over the hills
licking up every tree, stump and ev-
ery vestige Of plant growth and send
ing up a hurricane of red hot brands
that fell upon the doomed town.
Al the first advent of these flaming
couriers. the citizens Of Chisholm went
forth to fight the fire. The fire de-
partment was not able to cover large
territory and although intermittent
blazes started by the falling hre
brands were quickly extinguished. the
wall of fire rolled onward toward the
town and the citizens soon realized
that its destruction was inevitable
So quickly did the fire communi-
cate to the outlying buildings that the
citizens did not have time to save any
of their household goods or personal
effects. The people had ample time
to escape with their lives and soon
the roads leading from the toWnS
were thronged with the heeihs peopI'
in wagons. on horses, ana on loot'
There are two roads from Hibbing 70
Chisholm and the most direct was III
tho nath of the fire. necessitatlhs
travel by way OF the longer road
Conceyances were at a premium q
foreigner with small wagon and on.
horse offered to take woman an.
three children to Hibbing Tor szD'
man overheard the conversation anu
! drawing a revolver he pointed az
| the foreigners head and climbing into
tho RIG compelled him to drive the
norty over the fire zone. May Fisher'
when the citizens began to leave the
| burning town, refused to go with ne
comnanions. They were forced TO nee
| for their lives and she was leit pc
! Mind che has not been seen since.
Oscar La France. editor Oh en'
Chisholm Tribune, was in MS olnee
and above him the roof was IN hameS
before he was apprlsed Of his dan
oer He was compelled to break
window to escape. business men ran
home IN get their families and many
separations occurred as they IN turn
ned toward the business district. CON
sternation reigned but as the road
leading out of the city was without
the fire zone and the pail Of smoke
did not hang rs heavily as over the
burning towns, recognition was easier
and families soon were reunited.
The Great Northern. the only ROAD
running into Chisholm, took fifteen
hov carda crowded with homeless peO-
pie to Hibbing this evening. where the
citizens are throwing open their