Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1894 — PERISH IN FLAMES. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PERISH IN FLAMES.

Hundreds Lose Their Lives in Forest Fires. HEDGED IN BY FIRE. NinetcenTowns in Three States Wiped Out. Victim* Drop in the Streets, or Flee to the Woods Only to Die by Suffocation or Flame—Trains Kun Over Burning Ties, Trembling Trestles, and Warping Rails Not a Vestige of Hinckley Remains —Hand of Charity Quickly at Work, but Hindered by Broken Communications. The forest fires in Minnesota and Wisconsin are something terrible. A wids district has boen swept by fire that came almost as suddenly as a cyclone, a dozen or more cities and towns have been destroyed, hundreds of lives have been lost and thousands of people have been made homeless. Tbe details of the calamity are simply appalling and the story of disaster told in the dispatches is almost without precedent in the record of thrilling and horrible incidents. In addition to the loss of life and the destruction of homes and establishments representing business activity, wide stretches of valuable timber have been destroyed and the losses will be counted by millions. The story of the struggle, flight and death or narrow escape of thousands of people in the fire-swept district in Minnesota and Wisconsin makes a lurid and thrilling narrative. The fury of a forest fire in a dry season is not to 1 e stayed by man's ingenuity. In the old prairie fires measures could be taken to turn the tide of destruction, but before the fierce blazes of the forest; man stands as help.ess as were the victims of the Johnstown flood. Railway t ains are overtaken, whole towns swept out of existence, isolated homes by the score or hundred burned, leaving no trace of those who occupied them, and a wide extent of country blackened to a desert. This is the stery in brief of the tires in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The fire king had everything his own way and his legions were triumphant. Hinckley. Partridge, Kerrick, Sandstone, Mansfield. Dedham on the Great Northern, Barronett. Shell Lake on the Omaha and Poplar on the Northern Pacific lines were‘destroyed Saturday night and Sunday, with the exception of Shell Lake, where only sixty houses are burned. It is not possible to give anything like accurate details, bat ttie loss of life and property has been terrible. The fires originated in the forests, the wind was blowing a gale Sunday night, and the smoldering fires sprang suddenly into formidable life, and leaped with almost inc edible activity upon the unsuspecting towns in their path. The worst suffering is reported from Hinckley, Minn., and vicinity. The est.mate of the lo s of life there and in the surrounding towns is being increased by every report. It is said that strewn along on one street of Hinckley the bodies of twenty-nine victims were found, while in another spot the charred and unrecognizable remains of 103 citizens were counted. A low estimate of the fatalities in that town alona is now placed at 300 persons. Scores cf others were discovered severely inured, while the list of missing was in the hundreds. It is believed that at least 100 victims are on the farms and clearings throughout the burnt district. The lo;sof lifedn and about Hinckley, Sandstone, Pokegama, Skunk Lake arid Mission Creek will not be known for weeks, if ever. The survivors were taken to Pine City, where physicians cared for the injured, while relief trains from Duluth. Minneapolis and St. Paul carried in tents, clothing, food and everything necessary to cover the wants of the suffering survivors. Very few persons are left in Hinckley. Score of Town i W’pei Ou . Nineteen trwns are known to have been wiped out, and the property■loss reaches $l;,0oy,0 0. Following is the list of towns destroyed: Bashaw, Burnett County. Ufa. Barronett. Barron County, Wis. Benoit, Wis. Cartwright. Chippewa County, Wis. Ewen. Mich. Fifleld, Pine County. Wis. Granite Lake. Barron County, Wis. Grantsburg, Buiuett Countv, Wis. Glidden, Ashland County. Wia. Hinckley, Pine County. Minn. Mission Creek, Pine County. Minn. Marengo. Ashland County,-Wis. Milaca. Pine County. Minn. Muscoda. Grant County, Wis. Shell Lake. Washburn County, Wis. South Range. Douglas County. Wis. Sldnaw. Houghton County. Mich. Sandstone, Minn. Trout Creek. Mich. Many other towns were reported in danger late Sunday night. Cadott, near Chippewa Falls, Wis., was surrounded by Hames, and the people of Chippewa Falls went to the rescue with steamers. Good news came that the town of Washburn, Wis., across the lay from Ashland, had finally been saved. But other reports are that the flames elsewhere are increasing their fury, and are now advancing into the vast forests ea;t of Ashland and towards the cities in the iren belt, leading to Marquette. The losses at Hinckley and Barronett were each over $l,Oi)?,OC0, while the losses at the other towns reported destroyed range from $100,003 to .’5 10,000, according to latest advices. The loss in Washbarn was estimated at $301,000. Aid for the Homeless. The extent -of the suffering can hardly be described, but the hand, of charity was quickly at work, the cities of the three States sending aid to the sufferers. But railroads have been injured by the fires, and in many cases' traffic has been entirely suspended, thus preventing, the starting out of relief expedit'ons. There seems no hope for a cessation of the progress of the flames save an end of the great drought No such hope is held out, for, while much-needed rain is promised for other points, “dry and fair”.is the prediction for the burning districts by the Weather Bureau. Up. to last reports the estimates of the lives lost in the fires at different points in the two States arenas given in the following list, and it is feared the list is far below the actual destruction of. human life: Hinckley, Minn . 3TO Sandstone, Minn 40 Sandstone, Junction \ 25 Pokegama, Minn , 25 Skunk Lake Minn i 29 .Shell Lake. Minn 1 Miscellaneous points ’ ” / 40 Total .. 4(j6 SICKENINGREPORTS FROM HINCKLEY Destruction Wrought by Flames—Train Overtaken «nd Destroyed. Of the many reports received ths most terrible and sickening comes from Hinckley, Minn. Saturday after-

noon the fire jumped into the little town with the suddenness of a thunderbolt. With big leaps the flames came like a whirlwind w.th such force that trees several inches in thickness were twisted in twain as if they had been tootapicks. Firebrands were hur.ed into the air and carried eighty reds cnly to fall.and start new conflagrations. The fire-fighters gave up the battle and turned their attention to 1 ersonal safety. An Eastern Minnesota train had just come in, and the people flocked to it for safety. Box-cars were coupiea on, and in an instant almost were filled and covered all over with men. women, and children. The train barely pulled out iu time and succeeded in reaching Duluth. About the sanjg time an pccommodaticn train on the Hinckley and St Cloud branch of the road left the lattar point. Its route lay directly across the path of the fire, and in a short time the train was in a desperate situation. Smoke almost blinded the engineer. The ties were burning and rails warping. Burning trees were lying across the track and were leing dashed aside by the engine. Suddenly the tracks gave way and the train toppled over. Fortunately no one was injured, and all on board hurried forward to Pokegama station, which was only a short distance ahead. The condition of the people who did not get away from Hinckley on the train for Duluth was pitiable. Wagons and buggies were hurriedly filled with women and children, horses were swiftly harnessed and in the vehicles 200 people fled the town, with the tire literally at their heels. Over a hill they flew to a swamp, hoping that might prove the r salvation, as tae crowd reached the edge of the morass they were overtaken by tho flames and all was over. With a last desperate effort the burning human beings rushed into the lower portion of the swamp, but the fire pur med its victims and not a soul was left to tell the tale. On Sunday morning 130 corpses were counted on a space of but four or five acres. About 100 remained near Hinckley and took refuge in a gravelpit, saving their lives. Wild Time on a Train. One of the most thrilling stories that come from the Hinckley conflagration

is that of the fate of a train which left Duluth for Hinckley at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon. Shortly after leaving Duluth the smoke along the railroad track became so thick it was impossible to see 100 yards ahead. The darkness increased and the lamps in the coaches were lit. Soon it was as black as midnight and the train was filled with the suffocating smoke until the pas-engers were gasping for breath. Tiie roar of tho flames could be heard off to the right of the train and the encouragement the trainmen offered the passengers fell on heedless ears. Childien began crying and shrieking as they c'ung in terror to their mothers who fell on their knees in the aisles praying for deliverance. The people on' the train had no knowledge of the de truction of Hinckley which was then in prog ess. Citizens fleeing from the stricken town flagged the train and over 150 crazed and half burned men and women boarded tho cars and begged th a trainmen to pull back to Duluth. With the speed of the wind the fire wai coming from Hinckley, which was only a mile and a half away. Engineer Root of the ill-fated train put on all steam and sent hi; train spinning back toward Duluth. It was too late. The lire was switter than steam. The roar became louder and louder. In a moment the red glare burst on the view of the frantic passengers. The train was flying under a full head of steam, but the fire was pursuing like lightning. Soon the llamas were dancing at the side of the windows. Tne g.ass began to crack e. The heat came in from under the seats, through the windows and ventilators. Men went crazy. One a ter another they jumped through the windows into the roaring flames and were swallowed up. The woman recovered their presence of mind and soothed the terrified little ones. Tho train was on fire from the tender to the last coach and as it reached Skunk Lake the order was given to abandon the cars and flee to a swamp near by. The passengers ran to the swamp and fell half fainting in its muddy waters, where, after the fire passed, relief parties found them blinded and burned and little more than ha f alive.

DEATH IN ITS WAKE. Awful Scenes as tae Smoke Lifts from Burned Town, tn the North. The partial lifting of the veil of smoke Monday from the desolated lumber districts gave the surviving inhabitants the first full knowledge of the awful horrors of the fire. From ! the rescuing parties that are following I heroically in the black wake of the I flames come reports of the finding of scores of bodies, the great ma’ority of them burned bby’dmr'tn’e" clMnce of identification. On the clearings have been found the bodies of father-; and brothers who met death while striving to stay the progress of the flames towards the homes which sheltered wives and sisters. The stdry is one of horror, lightened as all such storie; are by acts of heroism. Physicians at Duluth who have been to the scene of the fire in Pine County to attend tp the in.urad sav if the deaths in other sactions are in anything like proportion to those in the section which they visited the list of the lost will be in-crea-ed to more tn an 1,000. The country between Ontonagon and Channing, Mich., which is full of lumber camps and contains the towns of Rockland, Pori and Greenland, has been cut off from outside communication, and it is feared almost the entire section has been burned over. Hains tell in the Ashland, Wis., district and checked the flames there, but in other places, notably near Hinckley, where the greatest 10-s of life occurred, the downfall was not heavy enough to be of material service. The inhabitants of Hermr.nsville, Mich., were battling with the fire Monday night and the reports made it appear that the town was doomed. Spooner, Wis., lies ;ust to tkie east of a great territory of burning forests.

A change of the wind to the west may mean the destruct! n of the town. Rib Lake. Taylor County, Wi--., has been added to the list of towns probably destroyed its 520 inhabitants are believed to be hcm?les=, and fears are entertained that many have lest their lives. Fires are reported on the line of the Northwestern between Commonwealth and Menominee. The rain must bo heavy and widely extended to extinguish thoroughly the tire over the territory still reported to ba burning. ' • The rain cloud that deluged St. Paul barely touched with its the Pine County district, and with tho increased velocity of the wind there is great danger that the scenes of horror will be repealed. At Ironwood. Mich., the citizens exploded dynamite at the top of a mountain in ' the hope of bringing rain. Railroad bridges and viaducts in that part of Michigan are reported destroyed, and stories of great loss of life and destruction of property come from Watersmeet. Hurley arid the whole Gogebic region. The awfulness of the desolation which strikes upon the eye of the observer as he reaches the camp which was once the t wn of Hine.-.ley is still more strongly imp essed on his vision as he travels northward. The tmoke ha; lifted, revealing a landscape bare and black, toe lew standing tree ; being charred to a height of forty feet, wnile tho ground is of that peculiar lint of brown sand mixed with gunpowder, for the grass has been burned even to the roots. And here and there, in the hl ak an 1 dreary stretches of country in what is now a great, lone land, is seen the body of a deer, wnose fleet feet had not been able to outrun the flames, or of a human being who had been absolutely powerle.-s against the grim destroyer. The loss throughout the burned districts will probably far exceed the estimate i already made. Standing timber ruined t>y the fires has not been taken into considerate n and scores of little towns, mill Htes, and lumbermen's camps are vet to be heard from. Various larger places fought fire all < av Monday, and still other towns in the path of the flame; se :med doomed to destruction. The losses of the Wis-

consin Central, the Chicago, St. Paul Minneapolis & Omaha, and St. Paul & Duluth, and other railroads traversing tho pineries will bo large, as roadbeds are injured, stations and bridges burned, ar d rolling stock damago.l beyon .1 repair. GRAVES IN ‘‘GOD'S ACRE." Scores of the Victims Buried Without Bein'? Identified. In the center of a burned and devastated t)25 square miles stands a greon spot untouched by flames. 'lts grass waves gently in the hot win'ds that arc sweeping across the stricken land; its simp.e. whitewashed fence can be toon for miles. It is God's acre, “Birchwood.” tho cemetery in which the peog’e of Hinck ey laid away their dead. y some freak of the wind, as tho thoughtless say, the wave of flrb swept around anil spared it. And there tho survivors buried their dead. Thy knew not whose bodies they were placing bjiw.ath the sod, but for eacn charred corpse, for each dismembered body there was a word of prayer. That was all. There was no time for extended services. The flames had played cruel tricks with their victims ana the blazing sun, which shone flercely through a haze of smoke, 1 endered expedition necessary.

For those to whom t ie tire had been more merciful in not utterly wiping out all resemblance to human beings, and who were identified by relatives or friends, a separate resting-place was j:rovided. There was no time to dig down six feet—six inches of soil was enough to cover the pine boxes from view and all tho wolves were driven from tho country or met the > ame fate as man. For these whoso identity was utterly destroyed a last restingulaco was provided in four long trenches. Only one minister was present, the Rev. P. Knudson- of the Presbytorian Church. From dawn until dark ho was busy. As fast as a coffin wa; lowered he was notified, and. casting a handful of earth on the casket, in a few simple words he spoke of the hope that is in the li e to come, and prayed the Almighty that a calamity such ai the pre-erit might never again be inflicted on the earth.

Sparks from the Flam»'A. Gov. Nelson, of Minnesota, has issued a proclamation appealing for aid. The woods are on fire on both sides of Russell City, Pa., and the fire extends o>er an area of twenty miles. Forest fires are within a mile of Kane. Pa., on all sides. The sun has not been seen at Dolgeville N. Y., for nearly a weeK, so dense is the smoke overhead from fires, both north and south. Gov. Peck, of Wisconsin, issued an appeal for the relief of tho burned out people of Barronett, Granitj Lake and Comstock, where 100 famdies arc suffering. He has gone to the scene with a car load of food aud clothing. A yillage of 150 people working for a quarry company, located two miles east of Sandstone has not been heard from. It is feared all have perished'. Forest fires ate raging all along tho line of the Buffalo. Rochester and Pittsburg railroad. The woods arc on site for miles. The American Express Company will forward free of cha ge to points in Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin contributions of money and clothing for the sufferers. St. Paul Ledge of Flks turne 1 over Ss Do to the relief committee. Prayers have been offered in the churches for rain. Immense fires pevail throughout the upper peninsula of Michigan and Northern Wisconsin. Homesteaders are fleeing for their lives. The citizens and members of tho St. Paul Chamber of Commerce raised nearly 854,t00 in cash subscriptions for the relief of the fire sutlerers. A belief train from Duluth rob mod bearing 24* survivors of tho disaster at Sands tons. \ i . ...