The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-09-17
c. H. Gonnermann Has Narrow Es-
cape in Great Forest Fires in
Northern Wisconsin
SPENDS NIGHT WITH INDIANS
Drives Eight Miles Through the Burn
ing Forests in Order to Find Shell
ter for the Night and Takes
Train Home in Morning

Charles H. Gonnermann, president of
the Kenosha Cemetery Association, who
has Just returned home after a trip
through the extensive timber lands in
the northern part of the state, had a
remarkable escape from being caught
in the great forest fires on last Thurs
Gay afternoon and he only escaped by
driving like mad for distance of near
ly eight miles and spending the night
in shack with a band of Indians.
Mr.. Gonnermann had gone to Florence
county week ago for the purpose Of
making deal for the purchase of a
large tract of timber land. He had
made his headquarters at Armstrong
Creek, small station on the 500 road
in Forest county and early Thursday
morning he started out with a guide to
explore some of the timber lands on
the extreme northern boundary Of the
state. Inc forest fires were raging at
that time and the smoke from them
was something fearful. During the
morning drive Mr.. Gonnermann and his
guide found that the fires were raging
on one side OF the road, but they man
aged to get along without much incon-
yenience and thought that there would
be little trouble on the return trip.
However their path was finally stopped
by the flames which were raging on
both sides of the road and they started
on the return trip to find the road
strewn with burning trees many Of
which had caught fire and fallen since
they had passed the place along the
road in the morning. Finally the guide
announced that it would be impossible
for them to get back to Armstrong
Creek. It was decided to take the
back track and make run for the hut
of the Indians in the woods.
In the meantime new fire had start
ed and the flames were now coming
closer together and there was no sign
of any clearing which would furnish a
shelter for the night. Gonnermann had
borrowed a valuable book of plats and
had left it in the wagon. This was
partially over turned and the book fell
to the ground and before Mr.. Conner
mann could get it the paper covering
of it was in flames. At the risk of be-
ing burned himself Gonnermann leaped
into the embers of the fire and rescued
the book and it was not badly dam
aged.
Then began the fearful race against
the fire for the hut of the Indians. The
guide had declared that it was eight
miles and depending more on his in
stinct than any land marks that could
be seen, he started the horses across
the open country and dashed them to
a foam. At times the wagon was pass
ing through great walls of fire and for
miles on either side could be seen the
cracking burning trees. Fortunately
the way to the Indian shack had been
left open by the flames and Conner
mann and his companion reached it
just after night fall. The Indians
seemed to feel little fear from the fire
ard offered Mr.. Gonnermann and his
guide such hospitality as they had. In
the morning the Kenosha man made his
way to small station and telegraph
ing ahead at Armstrong Creek for the
hotel men to have his baggage and his
bill at the station, he left for civiliza-
ton as soon as possible.
His story of the great fire is an in
teresting one and it is certain that he
would not be willing to repeat the ex-
perience for all the timber land in
northern Wisconsin. He states that al
ready hundreds of thousands acres have
been burned over and that rain is about
the only thing that can put an end to
the fires. A great amount of valuable
timber has been destroyed but the fires
have been largely fed of the stumps and
dead trees left along the clearings
where the railroad goes through the