The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1908-09-25
NORTH FORESTS BURN;
TOWNS LAID IN ASHES
Flames Sweep Through MiansootQ
Woods and Leave RciG la
Their Waka.
PAIL OF SMOKE IN CHICAGO.
Homeless Settlers and Wild Animals
Driven from Raging Forest
to Lake Shore.

Blown more thar 800 miles BY gentle,
steady air currents aud kept close to-
earth by peculiarly favorable atMos-
pheric conditions, the smoke from
Northern forest fires blew over Mil
waukee and Chicago Saturday and
Sunday. In Milwaukee Saturday ito
density had Increased ,a.atil only the.
outlines Of buildings four blocks dis
tant could be made ont.
This is the first Cine in many yearn
that Chicago has seen and felt tle eff
fects of the forest fires that rage i'm
the far north every summer. Tho
fires about Ilfbbing, Mimi, and he
Michigan copper country are more Sc
we're than usual. and the country with~~
In a radius of 20o miles OF the hlazing
districts Is covered with 4 pail OF thick
smoke. The enormous cloud driftcGa
southwark on Il gentle wind.
Peculiar atmospheric conditions per-
mitted the light smoke to descend I'M
til ii covered the whole city, allowing.
the rays of the sun to filter down aS.
through Il light fog. The smoke was,x
thick enough 10 afford the spectacle OFT
the sun hanging like a copper red Disc
in the heavens.
Lake traffic was badly hampcred by
the smoke, and the government fog
whistles were put to work,
Rescued by Naval Reserves.
Tho lro,,at;. St,,x- nf thn rAafltn nT
the north shore settlers and the citi~-
zens of Grand Marais by the Dnluths
naval reserves on board the steamer
Gopher. is told by n correspondent Who
was aboard the vessel. The most heart
rending scenes were witnessed ais
along the north shore of the lake
Homeless settlers, with everything they
possessed licked up by the flames. tleda
to the lake shore for refuge, With lit
tie food and no clothing but what they
carried on their backs. The Gopher
coasted along the shore. picking up"
the refugees. The shore was alive with
wild animals Of all kinds, driven out
OF the woods by the fires. Three meias
had been forced to take refuge in tho
waters Of the lake and were picke(E
I'D by the Gopher. One woman with,
a pack on her back and a sick baby in.
her arms fled three miles from her
homestead to the lake and was pickeD
up by the boat.
With Grand Marais, a town Of LOCO
people, on the Lake Superior north
shore. partly destroyed. and Beaver
Bay. 80 miles away. also attacked by
the flames, and a dozen smaller owns'
III great peril, 1t was apparent Satur-
day that. unless rain came soon. tho
entire forest fire-swept district was-
doomed to total destruction.
Among the larger places in peril were
Colerain. Bovey, Nashwauk, Marble,
Hibbing. Buhl. Pig Bay, Chicago BaE,l
Cotton. Aurora, Mountain Iron, Ren9\
shall, Fort William. Ont, Hymers. Ont.s-N
Port Arthur. Ont. Cascade and Nutson.
The Great Northern, Northern Pacific
ard all state railroads had fire trainsA
out fighting to save property along tho
lines and protect bridges and stations.
1t was n battle in which all able-bodie4
men throughout the threatened teH1-
tory took a hand. and hundreds were.
near exhaustion as q result Of the.
weeks struggle.
Scene Was Awe-InspirinR.
The scene along the shore Saturday.
right was an awe-inspiring sight as seems
from the water. For a distance OF more
| than 100 miles the flames appeared to-
Il. - M. ....-
tie fire could be heard for miles. Great
trees were suddenly enveloped in hames,
the fire rushing up balsams with r.
swish like a giant rocket. The great
peat beds Of northern Minnesota were
all ablaZe.
In responsa to Governor Johnson ~
appeal $4,000 has been raised by the
Duluth relief committee for thu home,
less refugees. The supply of food md
clothes now seems To be ample. Relief
measures are being taken in an the.
cities throughout the State to help the
fire sufferers. Along the north shore Of
Lake Superior the situation liz critical.
h Fire Monsters Work.
Here's a summary of the fire mon.
ster's work
Duration OF fires. two weeks.
Cause OF fires believed to te incen
diary.
States and provinces visited by ,iress
minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and
Ontario.
Towns and mining settlements d.
stroved. about ten.
Towns In imminent danger, twenty. !.
Total fire loss (estimated). from slO.~
100000 to $4,000 600.
People homeless, about 10000
NEWS OF MyNop MOVIE