The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-09-25
TWO TOlV|lNS'BUR|||llVIIf|':O|I|l,; !
!. /. lives ! |! NAY B | | !
Gagen and Woodboro, Wisconi.:..
sin, Wiped Out Fears For
Safety Of Refugees.
RHlNtlANDtR has CLOSE Gail
Shift in Wind Probably Saved City
Fires Continue to Ravsge Forests
in East.

in East.
Rhinelander, Wis.,, Sept. %. ~ The
towns of Gagen and Woodboro were
wiped out by forest fires early yestei-
day. Both are prosperous lumber
towns on the 500 railroad. each hav.
ing about 1000 inhabitants. Grave
fears are entertained for the safety Of.
the refugees Of Woodboro. They stat
ed for Rhinelander,. but have not
reached here. It is feared they may
have been hemmed' in by the flames.
The fire started in the woods yes
terday morning and quickly reached
Gagen and Woodboro. Men. women
and children fought valiantly to save
their homes, but without avail.
People Flee From Flames.
Burned out of their homes, the peo,
pie began fleeing from the fire which
grew more dangerous with each min
ute.
Women carrying children in their
arms and men and boys with picks on
their backs ran toward Rhinelander,
many falling PROSTATE in the heat,
only to be helped on by the stronger
refugees.
Nearly all of those burned out at
Gagen reached Rhinelander last
night and are being cared for. But
few Of the Woodboro people are here,
and it is not known what has become
of all Of them. The fire is fresh one
and not a continuation of the fires
which did so much damage last week.
Wind Saves Rhineiander.
When the blaze started the wind
was from the west and it was feared
Rhinelander, with it's homes for 1000
persons, was doomed also, but a
change in the direction of the wind
probably has saved the city. The may
or and members of. the city council
got together when the danger seemed
greatest and decided to ask Milwau..
kee for aid. At that time it was be-
lieved nothing could save Rhinelanl-
er from the fire.. +.
Reports from the refugees who
came to this city say nothing is left
CT Gagen.
Ask Governor for Militia.
Citizens have decided to ask Gov
Davidson to order out the state mill
tia to assist in fighting the flames
which. because of the dry condition
Of the woods in this neighborhood,
threaten to destroy the forests
Hundreds of men have gone ont
from this city to fight the flames, bu!
reports received from these who have
returned say they have made little
progress in their battle against the
fire.
Several lumber plants in the dis
trict have been burned and the fire
means loss of employment to several
hundred men.
Boston, Sept. 21.-Smoke from the
burning forests of Maine, Canada and
Northern New York has hung over
New England for the last week, Oh
securing the rays of the sun and
and threatening to rival the famous
yellow Days of 1882 AS the -e-
suit of the extraordinary conditions
shipping all along the New England
coast has been seriously hampered.
From the Canadian woods and the
forests of Maine down through the
Adirondack region to the Catskills
end beyond to the Pennsylvania lu.n.
Der regions, fires are burning in the
forest mountain regions.
Wind Fans Flames.
Johnstown, Pa, Sept. 22.-The for
est fires which have been raging IN
the vicinity of Ashtols, Somerset
county, for week were last night
much nearer the town. Hundreds of
men and boys are fighting the flames,
but are hindered by wind which -
blowing embers into .the village
Great tracts of standing timber have
been burned over and unless rains
come soon the devastation of that en-
tire region is certain.
Check Fires in Maine. I.
Augusta, Me-, Sept. 22.-Although
forest fires continue in many sections
of Maine. the situation was much i'm
proved last night. BY taking adv4
tage of the light wind which prevailed
and concentrating their forces, the
fire fighters were able to hold the
flames in check and protect the build
ings of the threatened settlements Is.
Thousands Of dollars worth of valua-
BILE woodland are still being destroy.
ed, however.
Blazing In West Virginia.
Cumberland, Nd, Sept. %. - Re
ports are being received Of disastrous
| forest fires in the vicinity of Thoms,
David, William and other points in
West Virginia, along the line of the