The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-09
FIRES ARE RAGING IN
 DISTRICTS WHERE THE
 0ROuTH I' SEVERE
Town of Hibbing Is Now n Imminent Danger and the PeotIe With Those of Many othe1 Towns Have Been Fighting
 All Day.

Duluth, Minn., September S.-Fighting desperately against the forest fires that threatened momentarily to add six more range towns to the blackened ruins of Chisholm and Snowball. practically the entire male population of the Mesaba re- zion composed the sef-constituted fire brigade that struggled fercely all day to- day and late into the night to save their homes and property. After raging fierce ly all afternoon the flames died down in the evening and gave the army of fight CTS a chance to rest after their strenuous work
 Hibbing, Nashwauk, Buhl Bovey, Colo rain and Mountain Iron, which were con- sidered doomed during the greater part of the afternoon, are safe again until the wind revives. There is little promise of rain, and a strong wind from any direc- tion will fan the flames into a renewed menace.
 Forest fires which have been raging for several days, tonight threaten Hibbing, the largest and most prosperous town on the Mesaba range. It has between 10000 and 12,000 people. The flames have been getting closer constantly. Every place of business is closed and the men are all out fighting the flames.
 A telegram from Hibbing says: "The fire is very near the Great North ern spur of this side of Brook yn, a suburb of Hibbing, and the wind is blowing in our direction.
 The city has all available hose out, and every man we can find is fighting the n. ft--- and installed two pumps The sky is clearing of smoke somewhat now, but we are threatened on the north"
 Response to Appeal. In response to an appeal the Duluth fire department has gone to the scene.
 The Mesabp. railroad has trains in read mess at Hibbing to take the people away. Smoke from the forest fires, which sur round the town, makes Hibbing so dark that the electric lights have been turned on there during the day. The smoke is stifing and the heat very oppressive. Unless the wind changes, Coleraine and Bovey will be safe.
 According to late advices from these towns, the situation looked serious this afternoon, but the wind Is now blowing the fire in an opposite direction The schools and business houses are closed and every one Is prepared to flee. Grand Maraise, Minn., a village of about 600 in- habitants on the north shore, is on the verge of the fire. The women are weep ing with fright and there is no avenue of escape open.
 Many settlers may be forced to take refuge in the waters of Lake Superior. A frantic appeal for help was sent to Duluth today by the steamer America, which brought down many of the settlers. The United States steamship Gopher, with two companies of the navy reserve, left for the north shore this afternoon with pro- visions and will pick up all settlers found along the shore of the lake.
 Settlers Leave Homes.
 Al J. Smith, county attorney of Henne- pin county, who has been camping be- yond Grand Maraise, was burned out at his camp and, with his party, escaped to Grand Maraise in launch. Settlers are walking into Grand Maraise black with smoke.
 When Mir Smith left the fate of Grand Maraise was in doubt. The citizens were loath to leave their homes without mak- ing fight for them, so many of them remained behind.
 MT. Smith says that an east wind would bring on the destruction of Grand Maraise in an hour and no power can save the town. If a fire comes before boat gets there the fate of the population will be in doubt There has been no rain for four weeks.
 Only a change of wind will save the village of Buhl, with 15O0 people, from being wiped off the map. The fires are steadily advancing on the village
 The citizens of Bovey are packing their household goods and preparing for flight. Coleraine Is still safe, but the streets are deserted. the residents helping the Bovey citizens to fight the fires and pack their belongingsc. Schools have been dismissed and everybody Is ready for flight. Ta- conite is also in great danger. Bovey has about 2000 people and Taconite about 300.
 The Gopher left Duluth tonight to res cue the residents of Grand Maraise.