The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-09-09
An Army Of a Thousand Men
Fought Back Flames From
Hibbing
GRAND MARA|S PEOPLE
SURROUNDED BY FLAMES
Government Vessel Sent to Garry
Them to Places Of safety-smoke
Hangs Like q Pail Over the Couu.
try and Is Sitting.

Lake Superior and Duluth are the
latest places to be attacked by the
fires. Reports were received today
that Serious fire has broken out on
Isle Royale, which is heavily timber
ed, and that the summer campers
there are fighting the flames. Brush
fires have also broken out in the i'm
mediate vicinity of Duluth and at Les
er Park, a suburb of the city, the fire
department is fighting serious blazes
Conditions on the range show no
change this afternoon. There is still
danger and will be until rain comes,
but the situation is not critical at any
OF the towns.
It was night of terror on the
range and one of deep anxiety in Du-
luth, but this morning the conditions
appear to have changed for the bet
ter. All yesterday afternoon and last
night the fires threatened half doz-
en- OF the larger towns on the range.
Hibbipg fought the fires almost per-
sistently from 8 o'clock in the after
noon until late last night. At o'clock
Duluth was asked for assistance and
a fire engine was made ready for
shipment by special train. A tele-
phone message later held 1t in Duluth
ready for shipment at any time and
stated that the crisis appeared to be
passed. More than 1000 residents of
Hibbing fought back the flames all
night long, stamping out the brush
fires and wetting down the fields
about the town to keep the fire from
spreading. Similar experiences are
reported from dozen other range
towns, but 80 far as is known there
have been no others destroyed. At
Aurora, Nashwauk,. Ruhl, Wrenshall
and several smaller towns and vii
lages, the same story was repeated.
This morning what reports have been
received from the busy fighters are
more optimistic. The wind is dying
down and the fires appear to be grad
ually burning themselves out. Great
vigilance is still necessary however.
Smoke from the forest fires, which
surround the town, make Hibbing so
dark that the electric lights have been
turned on there in the day to enable
the citizens to see their way about.
The smoke is sitting and is causing
great deal of discomfort. The heat
|
Unless the wind changes, Coleraine
and Bovey will be safe from fire for
the present at least.
The most dramatic incident of the
entire fire promises to develope
around Grand Marais. The steamer
Gopher and the United States gun
boat carrying fifty members of the
naval militia, left last night for Grand
Marais to rescue the settlers along
the north shore. The little village is
entirely shut off from communication
by means of telephone or telegraph
and it will be twenty-four hours at
least before anything Is heard from
them.
There was an incendiary fire in
Grand Marais week ago which has
added to the terror of the people.
The woods are dry as tinder as there
has net been drop of rain in the
north shore country for fourteen
weeks. The fire Is rushing down up
on the town in great bounds. Mr..
Smith and his friends marshalled the
terror stricken citizens of Grand
Marafs for meeting last night and
got forty men to widen the. clearing
around the town. The smoke, accord
ing to Mr.. Smith, who came to Du-
luth on the. American this morning,
is growing SO dense so as to make
breathing difficult. The citizens fear
suffocation before a boat can reach
them.
When he left, the fate of the town
was in doubt The citizens were loath
to leave their homes and belongings
without making a fight for them so
many of them remained behind.
Women weeping begged those who
went to send q boat back for them
quickly. They wanted the steamer
Gopher to come up and lie in the har-
boz SO that II necessary there might
be place to nee to. The Gopher
could perform wonderful work in
picking UP settlers along the shore
they argued. ;.
It is reported that homssteaders
along the north shore have left their
cabins and ara sleeping In tents and
In the open close to the lake shore.
Mr.. Smith says that an east wind viii
bring on tho destruction Of Grand
Msreis IN an hour and no power on