Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-10
FIGHT FIRE ALL NIGHT
Flames Along Shore ESe Superior
Dying ou%n
SITUATION Is MUCH >ETTER
Town Of Hibbing is Saved AtSF ong
Struggle. a.
ALL BUSINESS Is SUSPENDED
Duluth Opens Relief Fund for Benefit
Of Homeless.
GRAND MARAIs IN DANGER
Little village L. EntIreIy shut on
from Communication and
Loss Of Life is
Feared.
GRAND MARAIs IN DANGEl

DULUTH, MINI, Sept. at was a nignt
of terror on the range, and one Of deep
anxiety In Duluth, but today conditions APP
pear to have changed for the better.
All yesterday afternoon and last night
fires threatened half dozen OF the larger
towns on the range. Hibhing fought almost
persistent fires from 3 o'clock in the after
noon until late last night. At o'clock
Duluth was asked for assistance and
fire engine was made ready for shipment
by a special train A telephone message
later held II IA Duluth ready for shipment
at any time and stated that the crisis ap-
peared to be past. More than 1000 resi-
dences 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. This
morning the reports are that the town is
safe
Similar experiences are reported from
dozen other range towns, but so far as is
known there have been no others destroyed
Bovey had as hard fight as Hibbing and
the residents OF Coleraine, two miles away
had to go to their assistance. All business
was sugpended. the schools closed and citi-
zens after packing a few valuables ready
to flee at a moments notice, fought the
fires all night
At Aurora, Nashauk, Buhl. Krenshall and
several smaller towns and villages the
same story was reported
Fires Are Dying Out.
This morning what reports have been
received from the busy fire fighters arc
more optimistic The wind Is dying down
and the fires appear to be gradually burn
ing themselves out. Great vigilance is stil
necessary however.
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 last night for Grand
Marais 20 rescue the settlers along the
north shore. The little village is entirely
shut off prom communication by means Of
telephone or telegraph and 1t will be
twenty -four hours at least before anything
is heard from them The passengers on the
last boat reported that the fires were rush
Ing toward tfa lake and gradually hem
ming IN the Inhabitants of the little village
comprising about COO people. mostly fishor-
men and Indians. There are also many
settlers along the lake shore. II the fires
sweep right up to the lake shore the In
tense heat and the smoke might cause the
loss OF many lives, although the people
could save themselves from actual crema-
ton by taking refuge on. the beach.
The Gopher carried provisions and cloth
ing and viii pick up any settlers who are
found to be homeless. The men will help
fight the fires at Grand Marais II the viii
iage Is not already destroyed.
Relief Fund Growing.
The Duluth relief fund has now passed
. the $50 900 mark and is rapidly growing All
the immediate wants OF the sufferers have
been cared for. The range railroads be-
longing to the steel corporation are carry
ing all supplies free of charge and running
specials whenever needed. The corpora
ton and It's officers has also contributed
nearly $4,000 in cash toward the fund.
The range is by no means out Of danger
as yet AS stated above, the reports this
morning are more favorable, but a change
of the wind or an increase In its velocity
might cause them to break forth with re-
newed violence and every moment It is
feared that a town will be reported ablaze.