Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-09-17
FIRE fIfNDi) AGAIN
T[RROR|zfS RANGE
Hibbing in Imminent Peril as Re-
suit OF Incendiary Work OF
M0ntenegrins.
PEOPLE PRAYING FOR RAIN
On All Sides Rage the Flames
While Citizens Battle Unceas-
ingly to Save Homes.
SEVERAL TOWNS IN DANCE
Foxboro Surrounded and Nashwauk
Observation-Disclosures Area OF
Timber Destroyed.
SEVERAL TOWNS IN DANCE

Hibbing, Mimi, Sept. IL. = Toyed
with by the wind and fire, the range
despairing and rapidly losing hope is
praying for rain, while the raging fires
creep about it on all sides. But there
is no answer. Through the smoky
air the sun, the size of silver dollar
showed all day a dull, angry red, a
blood red. sinister and relentless, do
| ing away with the hope that clouds
are gathering, for the range people
know that but for the smoke the day
would be bright and clear.
On all sides rage the flames, driven
from one angle to another by the
wind, but never dying out. Never are
the long lines of battling men allowed
to relax, for every hour brings new
danger where it is least expected.
Montenegrns at 1t Again.
Hibbing itself. threatened on two
sides by fire, has fallen a victim to the
Montenegrins.
A running fight between six Monte
negrins and a band of soldiers in
which fifty or more shots were ex-
changed. took place early yesterday
morning. The Montenegrins, driven
from hiding by hunger, stole into
town looking for food. They were dis.
covered by sentry, who turned in
the alarm and corporal's guard hur-
ried to the scene.
There was no parleying. The sol
diers opened fire as soon as they got
within range, the Montenegrins re-
turning the shots. No one was in
jured on either side, the foreigners es-
Gaping in the darkness. They are he
lieved to be a stray band separated
from the rest Wednesday and unable
to rejoin their comrades.
200 Rendered Homeless.
| The French location, situated about
half mile west of Hibbing and con
sisting Of dozen houses occupied by
! Austrian miners. was fired shortly be-
fore 9 o'clock by band of Monte
negrins, who fled into the woods west
of the settlement. The settlement
was totally destroyed, with the excep-
ton of two houses. About 200 people
were rendered homeless.
| Miners returning from work saw
the Montenegrins running through the
woods and a few minutes later thew
saw the flames bearing down on the
little settlement. 1t was impossible
to save anything. although the Hib-
bling fire department went to the
scene. Pipe lines were tapped ana
streams OF water thrown on the burn.
ing buildings. but to no purpose. The
homeless families were brought to
Hibbing, where they are being cared
for.
TWO Fires Near Hibbng.
Two other fires have broken out
within one mile of Hibbing. One start.
ed in the west, back of the French
settlement, and the other to the
south. Both are advancing rapidly
4 through the forest in the direction OF
Hibbing, but the wind has died down
and If 1t does not rise again there is
no Immediate danger.
i Several hundred men were sent out
around Hibbing and are wetting the
roofs of the outlying houses and the
ground. Sparks carried by the wind
| are falling in showers within quar-
ter of mile of the city. hut SO fal
have failed to reach the town.
No attempt has been made as yet tc
capture the Montenegrins, the citi
zens' entire attention being devoted tc
fighting the fire.
No Sleep in Hibbinq.
4 Hibbing slept but little last night
4 The citizens were in the streets anc
on the hillsides watching the an
/ preach of the fire from. the south ant
/ west. There was no thought of bed
The fire whistle blowing wildly las
night summoned the men to fight the
fire. A long line stretching over tws
miles is now battling with the flames
laying pipe lines, starting back fires
Il and making water bitches.
Considerable alarm was felt earl,
Il in the evening owing to the breakins
of the main water pipe leading from
/ the pumping station. The break shu
off the water supply of the town. hui
q it was quickly repaired.
The fires. as they come through tn,
| forest, present a thrilling sight. Tht
| flames mount high in the air, while
j heavy clouds Of red smoke hang owe
the city.
d Flying Sparks Spread Fire.
Flying sparks have set fire to thu
| forest In scores Of places and every
where the brushwood is like finder
These are the conditions with which
the people Of the range have to con
tend. and while they have so far beat
en- on the flames from their lleges
q human endurance cannot stand th,
terrific strain much longer. at til,
mercy q the Are and wind. the rang.
must have rain. Without 1t there i