The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-05-21
Laona Scene of Flames
That Constantly Threat
en- Destruction.
HEROIC W. N. G. FIGHT
Guardsmen Covering Sel Fes
with Glory in Civic Service
of Valor and Daring.

Iaona. Wis.-( mo respite was
In store today for national guards who,
augmented by townsmen, battled nnru
the night woods fires that virtually
surrounded this village of 1000 people.
Forest Ranger William Clawson, IN
charge. stated today that there was no
sign Of the high wind abating. 1t had
been blowing all night after driving
the flames to within a mile OF Laona
Yesterday afternoon. Back firing was
said to have saved the town. HOW
ever. it was still threatened today.
Three fierce fires were burning soutn
cf here.
Fight Holds Fire Back.
Only one dwelling was destroyed.
That was located on the OUTSKIRTS OF
the town. Exhausted guardsNen re-
turninp from the Stone Lake region
where green timber was ablaze all day
Yesterday, reported that the farm
buildings of settler were burned
All livestock was saved, they said.
At one time yesterday afternoon
grave danger confronted Blackwell
Junction, south of Laona. The fire was
stonued at almost the very edge OF the
station platform, according to the
watchmen in the observation tower
here. who said "they saw the hardest
fight of all"
The first casualty among guardsInen
occurred yesterday when q member OF
Battery B, Green Bay unit, was Sc
verely burned by flying embers.
Threatening fires in both brush and
forests in northern Wisconsin, Mime
sofa and Michigan are being fought by
forest rangers, SETTLERS and state
Cuardsmen. with the only hope OF COM
plete control lying in heavy rains, ac-
cording to those directing the fight
against the menace. Weather observ-
ers however are not holding much
hone of drenching rain.
In Forest, Oneida, Oconto and Ash
land counties every effort IS being
made TO control the scores OF tres
which have sprung up, due to the con-
dition of the wood country, which old
timers declare is dryer than at any
time during the past forty years.
Reports this morning were to the
effect that the village Of Townsend
was threatened by heavy fire which
was but a mile from the outskirts and
running rapidly through the brush. d
Fire apparatus from many of the
villages have been sent to fight the
fires which are approaching towns and
settlements and several settlers are
said to have been burned out. The
home of Louis Thompson, living two
miles east of Crandon, was destroyed
yeste rday and Gus Oberts, who is i'll,
was taken to Crandon on stretcher
when it became apparent that his home
would be destroyed.
In Minnesota thirty fires are report
ed and in northern Michigan "a series
of brush fires are causing anxiety.
Lessening of west wind which fo1
two days has famed the brush and
forest fires in Wisconsin and Mime
sofa heartened fire fighters late today
From Laona, where fires threatened
the town yesterday and this morning
comes a report of a dead calm, with
| indications that the wind will shift to
an easterly direction and carry the fire
back over the burned section. Attic
! the weather observers are still opti-
mistic, gathering clouds over the fire
section give promise of sufficient mos.
ture to dispell the present menace