The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-09-07
Desolation and Ruin Mark the
Z Path Of the Flames
Yesterday
Loss WILL REACH At Least.
1w0 MILLION DOLLAR mark
Thousands Are Homeless and Destitu.
ton Prevails Throughout the Min.
ing Regions-Work Of Relief Has
Already Begun in Some Towns.

IuuSo anu burning over LuOuSdu6S Oh
acres in st. Louis, Carlton and Itas-
ca counties in Minnesota and the nor
thern portion. Of Douglas county, Wis
consin, the many forest fires which
have been raging in these districts
were checked today and II 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 1t in many timber
ed and agricultural districts, subsid-
ed this morning and the thousands of
homeless people were given a chance
to take stock of their belongings and
prepare to replace the many burned
farms and settlements and the once
flourishing town of Chisholm, on the
Mesaba range, sixty-flve miles north
of Duluth.
The subsiding of the wind enables
the Inhabitants of Bulil and ,Nashwuk
to save those towns. Several build
ings at the edge. of Nashwuk were
burned, but by valiant, all night
work, the 1000 miners and citizens
prevented the flames from sweeping
over the village. The town was en-
tirely surrounded by wall OF fire
and its escape from obliteration was
remarkable There Is little timber
adjacent to Buhl and although forest
fires completely NSNrrounded the vii
lage, the 600 inhabitants had only to
extinguish the incipient blazes start
ed by falling brands to protect the
village. Nashwuk Is twenty-five miles
southwest OF Chisholm .and Buhl is
seven miles 70 the east. .tss-.s..esi5 49,
:. Chisholm presents scene OF FUN
and desolation.- Blackened- and spoksi
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 q
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 $125.000 high school, the
grade school, the Catholic church, the
Italian church and dozen dwellings
IN the southern most 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.
The damage to property is estimat-
ed at 81 ,00O, 900 and the personal prop
erty at three quarters Of million
dollars, including the stocks of the
merchants. A HibMng insurance
man, who had many policies on prop
erty in the destroyed town. estimat-
ed the insurance carried by CHS
holm merchants at 100000 Several
Insurance men went to the Mesaba
range today and the insurance will
be adjusted as rapidly .as possible to
provide immediate funds for those
who wish to rebuild.
Hibbing, five miles west, of CHS
holm, afforded accommodations to
about 1000 refugees from Chisholm
last night and it is expected that
5000 will be given places to sleep to-
night The Duluth, Mesaba and Nor
thern started car Of tents from Du-
lhth for Hibbing this afternoon on re-
ceipt of a message from Mayor Weir
ick. w. A. McGonagle. vice president
and general manager of the road said
he would rush tents and supplies If
necessary to Hibbing as fast as need
ed. A thousand tents can be used and
by tomorrow night white city will
have sprung up on the environs of
Hibbing. Foodstuffs will not be need
ed as the merchants have large sup
DlleS anu Ill OTucT llOm Dulutn HAS
been placed for what is desired.
]. w. Kreiter, superintendent of the
D. M. & N. and George A. French, su-
perintendent of the Mesaba and Du-
iuth telephone companies, went to
Hibbing today Mr.. Kreiter said the
Mesaba would carry all refugees to
Duluth who desired to go. Not more
than half a hundred availed them
selves of the opportunity, preferring
to remain in Hibbing until the ruins
of Chisholm doot sufficiently to adj
nit Of their removal. The only loss
sustained by the Mesaba road was a
section house at Corte on the Coler-
aine branch, 60 miles northwest Of
Duluth.
were dumped along the road between
Hibbing and Chisholm today and q
large force is at work planting the
poles and stringing wires. Telephone
communication with the few remain
ing buildings in. Chisholm will be es-,
taiblished in few hours.
The Hibbing relief committee has