The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-09-24
TWO TOWNS BURNED;
LIVES MAY Be LOST
Gagen and WOOdbOrO, WisCOn-
sin, Wiped Out-Fears For
Safety of Refugees.
RHINElANDER HAS CLOSE CALL
Shift in Wind Probably Saved City
Fires Continue to Ravage Forests
in East.

." -@cts
Rhinelarder, Wis, Sept. %. - The
towns of Gagen and Woodboro were
wiped out by forest fires early yestef-
day. Both are prosperous lumber
towns on the o railroad, each hav-
ing about 1000 inhabitants. Grave
fears are entertained for the safety Of
the refugees of Woodboro. They sta t.
ed for Rhinelander, but have not
reached here. 1t is feared they NAV
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 a 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 IL 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 ave Rhinelani-
er from the fire.
Reports from the refugees who
came to this city say nothing is left
| Of Gagen.
Ask Governor fer 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 ort
| from this city to fight the flames, but
| 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, OBJ
securing the rays of the sun and
and threatening to rival the famous
yellow Days of 1888" AS the re-
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
and beyond to the Pennsylvania lum-
Der regions, fires are burning in the
forest mountain regions.
Wind Fans Flames.
Johnstown, Pa, Sept. 22.-The for
est fires which have beer raging IN
the vicinity OF Ashtols, Somerset
county, for a week were last night
much nearer the town. Hundreds of
men and boys are fighting the flames,
but are hindered by a wind which IS
blowing embers into the village
Great tracts of standing timber have
been burned over and unless rains
come soon the devastation of that IN
tire region is certain.
Check Fires in Maine.
Augusta, Me-, Sept. 22.-Althoueh
forest fires continue in many sections
Of Maine. the situation was much i'm
proved last night. BY taking advln-
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
e6. however.
Blazing in West Virginia.
Cumberland, Md. 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
Western Maryland railroad. Water
is very scarce, complicating the stu
alton