The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-09-10

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Ar DORM
Conditions Improve on,ll Min.
ne $ D. Iron + ] R(anges.
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NIGHT Of TERI OR PA ssEs.

- A-.s.s.AAs
Wind y Dies Down and Residents Of the
Threatened Towns Secure Respite.
From the Arduous Task Of Fighting
FIames-Rene 81 Fires Feared
if Wind Changes 81 Increases It's
Velocity.
Duluth, Sept. 10.--After a night Of
terror on the range and one of deep
anxiety in Duluth conditions appear
to have changed for the better
For tWenty-four hours fires threat
ened half a dozen Of the larger towns
on the range. Hibbing fought almost
persistent fires from 3 o'clock in the
afternoon until late at night. At 4
O'Clock Duluth was asked for assist
ance and fire engine was made ready
for shipment by special train. a
telephone message later held it in
Duluth ready for shipment at any time
and stated that the crisis appeared to
be passed. More than one thousand
residents Of Hibbing fought back the.
flames all night long, stamping out
brush fires and wetting down the
fields about the town to keep the fire
from spreading. Later the reports are
that the town is safe. j
Similar experiences are reported
from a dozen other range towns, but
SO far as is known there have been no
others destroyed. Bovey had as hard
q fight as Hibbing and the residents
Of Coleraine, the model town of the
Steel corporation, just ten miles away,
had to go to their assistance All
business was suspended, the schools
released and citizens, after packing a
few valuables ready to flee at a mo-
ment's notice, fought the fire all night.
At Aurora, Nashwauk, Bull, Wren
shall and several smaller towns and
villages the same story was repeated.
Later the wind died down and the fires
appear to be gradually burning them.
selves out. Great vigilance is still
necessary, however.
Fate Of Grand Marais Unknown.
The most dramatic incidents Of the
entire fire promise to develop around
Grand Marais. The steamer Gopher,
the United States gunboat, carrying
fifty members of the naval militia, left.
for Grand Marais to rescue the set
tiers along the north shore. The lit
tie village is entirely shut off from
communication by means Of telephone
or telegraph and it will be twenty
four hours at least before anything is
heard from them. The passengers on
the last boat reported that the fires
were rushing toward the lake and
gradually hemming in the inhabitants
of the little village, comprising about
six hundred people, mostly fishermen
and Indians. There are also many set
tiers along the lake shore. If the fires
sweep right up to the lake shore the
intense heat and the smoke might
cause the loss of many lives, although
the people could save themselves from
actual cremation by, taking refuge on
the beach.
The Gopher carried provisions and
clothing and will pick up any settlers
who are found to be homeless. The
men will help fight the fires at Grand
Marais if the village is not already
destroyed. s ~
j. The Duluth relief fund has now
passed the 100000 mark and is rapidly
growing. All the Immediate wants of
the sufferers have been cared for. The
range railroads belonging to the steel
corporation are carrying all supplies
free of charge and running specials
whenever. they are needed. The cor
poration and it's officers have also con-
tributed nearly SIS, 1000 in cash toward
the fund. 49,
The range is by no means out of
danger as yet. AS stated above the
reports are more favorable, but a
change of the wind or an increase in
its velocity might cause them to break
forth with renewed violence and every
! moment 1t is feared that new town
will be reported ablaze. E.
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