The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1908-09-10
FOREST FIRES
ARE DORMANT
Conditions Improve on Min.
nesOta Iron Ranges.
NIGHT OF TERROR PASSES

Wind Dies Down and Residents of the
Threatened Towns Secure a Respite
, From the Arduous Task of Fighting
FIames-RenewaI of Fires Feared
If Wind Changes or Increases Its
Velocity.
Duluth, Sept. 10.-After a night OF
terror on the range and one of deep
anxiety in Duluth conditions appear
to have changed for the better.
For twenty-four hours fires threat
ened half a dozen of the larger towns
on the range. Hibbing fought almost
persistent fires from o'clock in the
afternoon until late at night. At 4
o'clock Duluth was asked for assist
ance and fire engine was made ready
for shipment by a special train. A
telephone message later held 1t in
Duluth ready for shipment at any time
and stated that the crisis appeared to
be passed. More than one thousand
residents 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. Later the reports are
that the town is safe.
Similar experiences are reported
from a dozen other range towns, but
SO far as is known there have been no
others destroyed. Bovey had as hard
a fight as Hibbing and the residents
of Coleraine, the model town of the
Steel corporation, just ten miles away,
had to go to their assistance. All
business was suspended, the schools
released and citizens, after packing a
few valuables ready to fee at a mo-
ment's notice, fought the fire all night,
At Aurora, Nashwauk. Buhl, Wren
shall and several smaller towns and
villages the same story was repeated
Later the wind died down and the fires
appear to be gradually burning them
selves out. Great vigilance is still
necessary, however.
Fate of Grand Marais Unknown.
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
for Grand Marais TO rescue the set
tiers along the north shore. The lit
tie village is entirely shut off from
communication by means of telephone
or telegraph and it will be twenty
four hours at least before anything is
heard from them. The passengers or
the last boat reported that the fires
were rushing toward the lake anC
gradually hemming in the inhabitants
of the little village, comprising abou
six hundred people, mostly fishermen
and Indians. There are also many set
tiers along the lake shore. If the fire:
sweep right up to the lake shore th'
intense heat and the smoke nigh
cause the loss of many lives, although
the people could save themselves from
actual cremation by taking refuge ol
the beach.
The Gopher carried provisions AM
clothing and will pick up any settler
who are found to be homeless. TIL
men will help fight the fires at Gran'
Marais if the village is not alread
destroyed.
The Duluth relief fund has nov
passed the $4,000 mark and Is rapid,
growing. All the immediate wants o
the sufferers have been cared for. TIL
range railroads belonging to the stee
corporation are carrying all supple
free of charge and running special
whenever they are needed. The col
poration and its officers have also cor
tributed nearly $4,000 in cash towar
the fund.
The range is by no means out
danger as yet. AS stated above tn
reports are more favorable, but
change of the wind or an increase !
Its velocity might cause them to brea
forth with renewed violence and ever
moment it is feared that new tow
will be reported ablaZe.