New-York tribune., 1908-09-06
ENTIRE TOWN BURNED
t. OTHERS THRE4TENED.
Forest Fires Cause Loss of Millions
IN Minnesota.

r,ul5th Minn Sept 5.-Forest fires after
s,i,r for three days enveloped several towns
near Duluth to-day, rendered thousands OF per-
sons homeless and destroyed millions OF dollars
vorth Of property, Chisholm, Mimi, town OF
1ooo inhabitants, completely wiped out
z-fhbinr five miles from Chisholm. sur
-ounded by fire and was saved only by the shift
,ng Of the wind
The entire northern portion OF Douglas Coun-
~ wisconsin is on fire. Renshaw, village
.-,an+v-fve miles west of Duluth is surrounded
bz flames and there is hope for 1t The
farmers have been driven from their homes, and
as massage along the roadway is difficult owing
20 she dense smoke and the heat IL is believed
that some lives have been lost A fire at Bay
field. Wis. damaged two docks and lumber
eon,nauv's property TO the extent OF 100000.
For three days the dry woods have been on
ere west and north Of Chisholm. and small bush
7res were reported to the eastward. At noon
three walls Of fire coming from different direc-
lions 5osned and swept toward the little mining
town with a roar, licking UP every tree. stump
and yestige Of plant growth and sending up a
hurricane of red hot brands that fell upon the
town.
The citizens Of Chisholm went forth to fight
the fire The fire department was not able TO
cover a large area. and though intermittent
1,lazes started by the falling firebrands were
quickly extinguished the fire rolled toward the
town and the citizens soon realized that its de-
struction was inevitable. Soon the reads lead
ing from the town were thronged with fleeing
people in wagons, horses and on foot
Conveyances were at a premium. A foreigner
with a small wagon and one horse offered to
n,l,ild to Hin
hing for S25. A man overheard the converse
-son and drawing a revolver. pointed it at the
foreigners head and then. climbing into the ris,
compelled him TO drive the party over the f1re
gone
business men ran home get their families
erd many separations occurred as they. in turn,
aed toward the business district
The Great Northern the only road running
into Chisholm took fifteen box cars crowded
with homeless people 10 Hibbing tonight. where
The citizens are throwing open their homes and
-ents are being supplied 10 care for the refugees
The loss on buildings at Chisholm is esti-
mated Al s2oOoO0o Chisholm IS in the centre
cf tn, greatest :ron producing area in the world
Rcfugees poured into Hibbing tonight until the
population OF 10000 was almost doubled. To
relieve the congestion special train start
ed from Hibbing fer Duluth, crowded TO the
guards with homeless persons
A dense pail of snoke. filled with burning
fakes hovered over Duluth tonight.
Nashwauk. twenty miles southeast of Hib-
hing is surrounded by fire, and if present high
wind keeps up the town is doomed A Great
Northern train from Nashwauk ran through
turning district fifteen miles long.
The Pillshury and Marley mines of the United
States Steel Corporation. six miles west of Hib-
hing, were destroyed. The loss was about s75.
900 in each instance. The Duluth Fire Depart
nent tonight sent twenty-five thousand feet Of
hose TO the mining locations Hibbing and
the burning town Of Chisholm.
Eoughton Mich. Sept. 5.-Forest fires have
sprung up in Houghton County and to-day Hough-
ton and the entire Portage lake district are en-
veloped IN q dense rall Of smoke. The losses by
forest fires in the upper peninsula this year are
hca.- gar,-