The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-09-17
FOREST FIRES ARE
DESTROYING MANY TOWNS
Flames Rage Through Northern
Minnesota Counties.
HUNDREDS MAY LOSE THEIR LIVES.
Hibbing, With Population Of 10000,
Is In Danger Of Destruction, and
Only q Change of Wind Can Save
It-Grand Marais, With 600 People,
May Be Totally Burned.

Nay bt A0thny buEnths
---------
Duluth, MINI. Especially Forest
fires which have been raging for sew
erai days. threaten Hibbing, the larg-
est and most prosperous town OH
the Mesaba range. The flames have
been getting closer constantly. Ev-
cry place OF business is closed and
the men are all out fighting the
flames. A telegram from Hibbing
says:
The fire is very near the Great
Northern spur on this side of Brook
lyn, a suburb of Hibbing. and the
wind is blowing in our direction.
THE city has all available hose out
and every man we can find is fighting
the fire. They have established
pipe line and installed two plugs.
The sky is clearing OF smoi;e some
what now. but we are thi, tened on
the north"
In response to an ar1eal the Du-
luth fire department nas gone to
the scene, while the Mesaba Railroad
has trains in readiness at Hibbing
to take the people away.
Smoke from the forest fires which
surround the town made Hibbing
so dark that the electric lights were
turned on there in the day to enable
the citizens to see their way about.
The smoke is sitting and the heat
very oppressive.
Near Grand Marais.
Grand Marais, Mimi. on the north
shore, is on the verge of the fire.
The women are weeping with fright
and the worst part of the situation
is that there is no avenue of escape
open. AL. J. Smith, county attorney
of Hennepin County, who has been
camping beyond Grand Marais, was
burned out at his camp, and, with
his party, escaped to Grand Marais
in a launch. Settlers are walking
into Grand Marais, smoke begrimed,
burned and exhausted, with packs
of their most valuable belongings on
their backs and their families drag
ging behind them.
When Mr.. Smith left the fate of
Grand Marais was in doubt. The
citizens were loath to leave their
homes and belongings without max
ing a fight for them, so many of
them remained behind.
Mr.. Smith says that an east wind
would bring on the destruction of
Grand Marais in an hour, and no
power can save the town. If fire
comes before boat gets there, the
fate of the population will be in
doubt. a
There has been no rain in parts
of the fire stricken country for IA
weeks.
Only a change of wind will save
the village of Bull with 1900 people
from being wiped off the map. The
fires are steadily advancing on the
little village in spite of desperate
efforts to fight them off and nothing
but a change of wind will save II
from complete destruction before
night.
Ready For Flight.
The citizens of Bovey are pack
ing their household goods and pre-
pairing for fight. Coleraine is still
safe but the streets are deserted, the
residents helping the Bovey citizens
to fight the fire and pack their be-
longings. Schools have been dis
missed and everybody is ready for
fight Toconite is also in great dang
er and may go before night. Bovey
has about 1000 people and Taconite
about 500. The Gopher left Duluth
at 10 O'Clock TO rescue the residents
of Grand Marais. Reports received
here today indicate that the region
covered by the fires extends as far
along the north shore as Grand Ma
rias, as far west as the western Mes
aba ranges, south to within ten or
fifteen miles of Duluth and as far
north as the extreme northern edge
of the ranges and perhaps much far
ther.
Throughout the distance, terri
tory one hundred miles square. fires
are raging and residents are being
burned out by the hundreds. 1t will
be impossible TO estimate the total
loss for weeks to come. 1t will be
very heavy.