Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-09-25
Flames Sweep Through Minnesota
Woods ard Leave Ruin in
Their Nakc.
PAIL OF SMOKE IN CHICAGO.
Homeless Settlers and Wild Animals
Driven from Raging Forest
to Lake Shore.

Northern forest fires blew over Mil
yankee II Hhira@o Saturday and
Sunday. In Milwaukee, Saturday it's
outlines Of buildings -four blocks dis
tant could be made uut
This is the first time in many years
that Chira e has seen and felt the eff
fcctS of the forest fires that rage in
the far north every summer. The
Michigan copper country are more Sc
we're than usual. and the country with
in Il radius Of 200 miles Of the blazing
districts is covered with Il pail of thick
smoke. The enormous cloud drifteu
~SouthWHrd III Il gentle wind.
Peculiar atmospheric conditions per
mittpd the light smoke to descend IN
til it covered the whole city, allowing
the RAYS Of the sun to filter down as
through Il light fog. The smoke was
thick enough to afford the spectacle OF
the sun hanging like Il copper red disc
In the heavens.
Lake traffic was badly hampercd by
the smoke, ana lnc government loo
whistles were put to work.
Rescued by Naval Reserves.
The dramatic story of the rescue OF
the north shore settlers and the citL
Zens of Grand Marais by the Duluth
naval reserves on board the steamer
Gopher, is told by a correspondent VINO
was aboard the vessel. The most heart
rending scenes were witnessed an
along the north shore of tnc lake.
Homeless settlers. with everything they
possessed licked up by the flames. H"d
to the lake shore for refuge. with lt-
tie food and no clothing but what the!
carried on their backs. Tn" Gopher
constod along the shore. picking W.
the REFUGEES. THE shore was awe WA
wild ani.lllS of all kinds. driven "I'
OF the woods Ivy I'll" fires. Three men
had been forced to take refuge in the
waters of the lake and were picked
up by the Gopher. One woman WIN
a pack on her back and Il sick bapy III
her arms fed three miles from her
homestead to the lake and was picked
up by the boat.
VITA Grand Marais. a town of Lot"
people, on the Lake Superior n"rlh
shore. partly destroyed. and Beaver
Bay. so miles away. also attacked by
fine flames, and a dozen smaller towns
in great peril. it was apparent Satur'
day that, unless rain came soon, the
entire forest firc-SWept district was
-, 1nr{,,,rtinn
Among the larger places in peril were
Cc]erain, ROvey. NashWauk, "arble'
ubbinc, Bull. Big Bay, Chicago Bay
Cotton, Aurora. Mountain Iron Ken
shall. Fort William, Ont, llym"rs. ont
Port Arthur. Ont. Cascade ana \utS"h'
The Great Northern, Northern IArIhc
ard all State railroads had fire trains
out fighting to save property along the
lines and protect bridges and stations
If was q battle in which all able-h"dl"d
men throughout the threatened terri
trrv took A hand. and hundreds were
near exhaustion as a result of the
weeks struggle.
Scene Was Awc-InspirinE.
The scene along the shore Saturday
right was an awe-inspiring sight as seen
from the water. For a distance Of more
than 100 miles the flames appeared to
be almost continuous. Tho roaring OF
tLe fire could he heard for miles. Great
trees we're suddenly cnvclOpod in flames,
the fire rushing up balsamS with a
swish like 4 giant rocket. The great
Doat beds of northern Minnesota were
all ablaZe.
In response to Governor Johnson's
appeal $4,000 has been raised by the
Duluth relief committee for the home
less refugees. TIL" supply of food and
clothes now seems to be ample. Keller
measures are being taken in all the
cities throughout the State to help the
fire sufferers. Along the north shore Of
Lake Superior the situation is critical.
The Fire Monsters Work.
Here's a summary of the fire mon
ster's work:
Duration of fires. two weeks.
Cause of fires believed to be inccn-
diary.
States and provinces visited by fires
minnesota. Wisconsin. Michigan and
Ontario.
Towns and mining settlements d.
strOved. about ten.
Towns in imminent danger. twenty.
Total fire loss (cstimated). from $1O,-
10000 to S~15.OON,COO.
People homeless. about 10000.