The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1908-09-09
famed TO LIFE
BY FIERCE WIND
Forest Fires Again Threaten
Northern Minnesota.
MANY TOWNS In DANGER

tory One Hundred Miles Square and
Settlers Are Being Burned Out by
the Hundreds-Citizens in a Score
of Little Villages Fighting Desper-
ately to Save Homes.
r J. T. i. i. = + !. j. T. /. = !. X !. !. =
p Duluth, Sept. e.-onIy a !.
4. change in the wind can save the !.
i. town of BuhI from the forest fire. !.
+ The fires are steadily advancing +
!. on the little village in spite of +
Il desperate efforts to fight them 4
!. off. !.
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Duluth, Sept. 9.-All of Northern
Minnesota seems to be ablaze with
forest fires.
Reports coming in indicate that the
region covered by the fires extends as
far along the north shore as Grand
Marais, as far west as the Western
Mesaba ranges, south to within ten or
fifteen miles of Duluth and as far
north as the extreme northerly edge
of the ranges and perhaps much fur
ther.
Throughout this district, a territory
100 miles square, fires are raging, set
tiers are being burned out by the hun
dreds and it will be impossible to
estimate the total loss for weeks to
come 1t will run into millions of dol
lars.
Citizens in a score of little villages
such as Buhl, Nashwauk, Wrenshall,
Aurora Mitchell and many mining To-
cations are devoting all their energies
to fighting back the flames. No more
towns of any importance have been
burned since the destruction of CHS
holm, but constant vigilance is need
ed to save Hibbing and the little town
of Snowfall, with 100 inhabitants, is
wiped off the map.
Duluth has raised $4,000 for the
sufferers and relief trains are being
rushed forward from here.
Homeless settlers are arriving in
Hibbing and Duluth by every train
telling tales of hairbreadth escapes
from the flames. Up to the present
time no lives have been reported lost.
Aurora, a town of 1000 inhabitants,
was threatened all night. but it is re-
ported safe Tor the time being.
A brisk wind is blowing in the ter
ritory affected and unless it dies down
or a drenching rain comes the entire
hn
swept clear of standing timber.
Desperate Fight for Life.
The district about Grand Marais is
cut OFF by the flames and from 600 to
1000 settlers are fighting for their
lives, with no means of escape. The
fire has penned them in and the
flames are rushing toward the lake
shore with fearful rapidity. Many
settlers may be forced to take refuge
in the waters of Lake Superior. A
frantic appeal for help was sent to
Duluth by the steamer America
which brought down many of the set
tiers. The United States steamship
Gopher. with two companies OF the
naval reserves, has left for the north
shore with provisions and will pick
up all settlers found along the shore
of the lake. Grand Marais, village
of about six hundred inhabitants, 1t Is
feared will be total loss. There are
no telegraph connections with the vii
lage and no railroad there. Many lives
may be lost if the fires destroy the
town, as there would not be boats
enough to pick up all the inhabitants
Between Nashwauk and Hibbing, {
region of twenty-five miles long, the
forests are one continuous battle from
of flames From Hibbing it Is an ap
palling sight and big clouds of smoke
are pouring over the threatened city
hiding the sun as though the sky was
overcast with rain clouds.
Northwest of Hibbing the flames
have spread over wide area of tim
ber and the burning district is increas
ing rapidly Between Chisholm AM
Buhl, a distance of eight miles, there
are many small fires, which threateI
hourly to be famed into confiagra
tions.