CO
n.
o
It
7
VOL. VII
THE DALLES, OREGON, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1894.
NO. 216
1 ft '
f Tj l fs 5 rfST ifG f Pii : (uJ
yuJJJS. M yMiv nU
APPALLING DISASTER
Hundreds of Lives Lost by
Forest Fires.
ENTIRE COUNTRY DEVASTATED
Awful Scenes of Horror and Desolation
In tne Burned District Impos
sible to Identify tne Victims.
Chicago. Sept. 3. Reports to the
Tribune from portions of Minnesota,
Michigan and "Wisconsin,' in which
forest firea are raging, show that the loaa
of property at a low estimate has already
reached $12,000,000, not including stand
ing timber destroyed, but even worse is
the loss of life, which it is feared, will
reach as high as 1,000. About 20 towns
have been destroyed, driving thousands
of families from homes.
The Herald Summary is as follows:
"Six towns wiped out and more than
500 dead is the record made by forest
fires in Minnesota in the last 24 hours.
In Ilinkley, Sandstone, Pokegama,
Sandstone Junction, Skunk Lake and
Mission Creek there are 355 known dead.
In addition, several hundred are miss
ing, while from 150 to 200 people are
scattered on farms throughout the dis
trict burned over."
The Times estimates at least 500 per
sons dead as follows : Hinckley, 250 ;
Sandstone, 40; Sandstone Junction, 25;
Pokegama, 25; Skunk Lake, 29; Pine
town, 12; Mission Creek 9; Partridge,
S ; Kettle River Junction, 6 ; Carlton 3 ;
llutledge, 2; miscellaneous, 80.
Reports from the forest fires received
at the Northwestern and Wisconsin Cen
tral railway headquarters today, showed
a fearful loss of life and destruction of
property. . The Northwestern received
word at 10 o'clock that a heavily-loaded
freight train bad been abandoned on a
burning bridge. An official said the re
ports indicated that unless the fire-swept
rion received rain the havoc would be
worse today than yesterday. The Wis
consin Central service was badly de
moralized. Professor Moore, of the weather
bureau here, predicts hard rain for the
bnrnt region today, and a light rainfall
began here during the forenoon.
"A. J. l-'.trling, local manager of the
Milwaukee & St. Paul railway, eays :
"Forest iires are still raging between
Sidnow and Ontagnon, in the Northern
Peninsula of Minnesota. The win.?
have been down north of Iron Moun
tain since Sunday evening, and we are
unable to get any information today.
Forest fires are also raging along the
line of our Wisconsin Valley division at
,Xecedah and Rudolph, about seven
miles north of Grand Rapids. Consider
able damage has been done to the cran
berry marshes."
AT HINCKLEY.
Graphic Story of the Fietat for life by
Settlers.
Hinckley, Minn., Sept. 3. Gentle
rains are falling today and quenching
the burning embers of ' the immense
forest fires that did so much damage to
this city. The blackened ruins of two or
three buildings are all that remains
standing of the once prosperous town of
Hinckley, with 1700 people, 'and its
busy railroad and lumbering interests.
.The town is the
the
' J . Ta,.l n .1 T1..4.v P T"" .
.s. i-uiutu oc .eastern railways
of Minnesota, and both of these roads
have suffered losses that cannot now be
estimated, while the loss to the timber
interest is something beyond computa
tion. This is today a place of mourning,
and the burial of the charred and un
recognizable bodies of the hundreds of
'tjctims has saddened the survivors even
more than the disaster itself. The fire
was so overwhelming in immensity that
none, in the first terror of the moment,
could realize how great was the loss.
Each was so intent in saving his own
life that little thought was given to the
disaster in general by most, although
many cases of unselfish heroism have
been Sported. The bodies thus far re
covered have been placed in rough pine
boxes for burial, and the majority bur
ied without a knowledge of their identity.
The wires that were down this side of
Highest of all in Leavening Power.
1 vS. ST
P'ne City have been so far put in shape,
and the Associated Press operator is
able to send his report as he eits on an
empty keg in the open air, there being
no shelter of any kind in town. Most of
the survivors went to Pine City yester
day for food and shelter, and the women
and children are still there,, but many
men have returned to ' their ruined
homes to see if by any possibility any
thing remains.
The limited train that left Duluth at
1 o'clock, Saturday afternoon had an ex
perience north of this place that will
place the entire crew on' the roll as
heroes. They came to within a mile
and a half of this place through the
smoke, although Engineer Root could
not see 100 feet away. Fires were bear
ing down on on them from every side,
and there seemed no chance for their
lives but to go ahead. The number of
fleeing homesteaders and residents of
this place was so great that finally the
engine was stopped, and as many as
could get aboard the train were taken
on. Meantime the engineer's clothes
caught fire as did also those of the fire
man, and both men seemed overcome
with the fury of the flames, which had
seized on the engine. Fireman Mc
Gowao put out the fire on his own
clothes by jumping into the water tank
and threw water on engineer Root, who
staid at his post holding the throttle and
nerving himself to stand to his duty,
though he perished. . There seemed to
be no chance ahead. The train .was
backed at full speed as soon as the refu
gees were aboard until the swamp near
Skunk lake, six miles north, was
reached, where the passengers and over
250 residents of Hinckley, who had
boarded the train, buried themselves in
mud. They remained there through the
night, and early in the morning were
brought down the road. Many cars
were badly burned and much shattered
by the experience. The windows on the
coaches were burst by the heat, and a
number of men became crazed by ex
citement and terror, and threw them
selves out of the windows to their deaths.
The cars were all on fire before the
swamp was reached, and the entire train
was soon in ashes, tte tender being also
burned.
Engineer Root was tasen to his home
at White Bear. His physicians hope he
may recover, although inhaling the hot
fumes, smoke and air may be too much
for him. The glass in the cab windows
broke and he was badly cut about the
head, while his clothes were nearly
burned from his body. One piece of
glass laid bare bis jugular and it seems
miraculous he escaped alive. His only
thought was for the safety of his passen
gers. He said in reply to the remark
that he had become the hero of the
country: "I only did my duty."
A train on the Eastern Minnesota was
ditched near Pokegama, a short distance
west ot Hinckley, but the passengers all
escaped. The train was probably
burned after the passengers and crew
escaped, although no definite news was
received. A remarkable thing connected
with this accident is the fact that only a
few feet in front of where the train was
ditched a bridge had been burned, which
would have caused a very serious acci
dent, with a certain loss of life. It is
not thought any other trains have been
caught in the fires. None are running
today. All the bridges have burned and
in some places the track is useless, rails
being twisted out of shape and the ties
burned. Only one dead body has been
found at this place this morning, and is
likely the dead here will not exceed 200,
the figure given last night. All the
bodks will be buried today, as it will be
impossible to keep them any longer.
A call has been sent to the Twin Cities
for more shovels and men to bury the
dead, and they will get here on a relief
train during" the afternoon.
Destruction of Barronette.'
Spook, Wis., Sept. 3. The destruction
of Barronette was complete. One lone
building ia left of a city of 700 inhabitants.
One man was burned. The total loss is
$250,000. Shell lake has 52 dwellings
burned, with a loss of $75,000. .Three
hundred and sixty people are homeless,
and many without a dollar of insurance.
Deeds of heroism are plentiful. One
wiciow dragged a sick son from the house
into a potato patch, and there protected
him from the flames, while the rest of
the inhabitants fled in terror. Tke fires
are now under control in this vicinity.
Subscr.be for T.hb Chronicle."
Latest U. S. Gov't Report .
Northwestern Wisconsin Ablaze.
Chippewa FALLS.Wis.,Sept.3. North
western Wisconsin is one sea of flames,
and reports are coming to this city cons
tantly of fatalities caused by the confla
gration. Rib Lake, Marengo and Brad
shaw have been completely wiped out,
and at Bradshaw three persons lost their
lives. ; Yesterday a message was received
from Caddot, asking for assistance. A
force from Chippewa was sent up, and
until 10:p.m. last night 100 inhabitants
of the village struggled to preserve their
homes. At lOj o'clock the fire had
abated in the immediate vicinity of Cad
dot. Two miles away, in a dense forest,
which terminates at the limits of the
town, the woods are in a blaze, and the
wind is carrying the flames with great
rapidity toward the town. If no raina
fall before evening the town will be
wiped out. The inhabitants are pre
pared for fight on a moment's warning.
No news has been received from the
party sent to rescue the village.
The Pokegama Survivors.
Mob a, Minn., Sept. 3. The eurviving
families from . Pokegama have been
brought in by hand-cars. Several dead
bodies were found by a rescuing party.
Twenty-two more are missing, with little
chance of being found alive. The dead
are : Fred Molander, wife and two chil
dren; Charles Olsen, Miss Nora Olsen,
Thomas Raymond, wife and three chil
dren ; Oscar Larsen and sister, David
Goodsell, Charles Whitney, Mr. Barnes,
J. Brannon. A number of families es
caped by lowering themselves into wells
and seeking refuge in the river. A relief
party has started out today. The loss
will foot up about $50,000, on which there
was not a cent of insurance.
Breckinridge's Campaign.
Lexington, Ky., Sept. 3. The primar
ies, which will decide the result in the
Ashland district, will be held Saturday,
September 15. For the closing two
weeks, Colonel Breckinridge will rally
his supporters, and his campaign com
mittee announces meetings day- and
night for every remaining day, all over
the district. Breckenridge is . speaking
night and day. He will speak here for
the third time in this contest Wednes
day night. The Owens and Settle cam
paign committees also announce lists of
speakers,1 among them being mary
prominent citizens.
Electric Hitters.
This remedy is becoming so well
known and so popular as to need no
special mention, All who use Electric
Bitters sing the same song of praise.
A purer medicine does not exist and it
is guaranteed to do all that is claimed.
Electric Bitters will cure all diseases of
the liver and kidneys, will remove
pimples, boils, salt rheum and other
affections caused by impure ' blood.
Will drive malaria from the system and
prevent as well as cure all malarial
fevers. For cure of headache, consti
pation and indigestion try Electric Bit
ters. Entire satisfaction guaranteed or
money refunded. Price 50c and $1
bottle at Snipes & Kinersly's.
TREE MINES.
A Curious Industry . of Southern Asia
Logs Excellent for Coffins.
One of the most curious industries in
the world is the business of mining- for
coffin planks which . is carried on in
Upper Tonquin, a portion of the French
possessions, in southeastern Asia. In a
certain district in this province there
exists a great underground deposit of
log's, which were probably the trunks
of trees engulfed by an earthquake or
some other convulsion of nature at a
comparatively recent period.
The trees, says the Youth's Compan
ion, are a species of pine known to the
natives, and also to some extent to Eu
ropean commerce, as nam-hou. The
wood is almost imperishable, and has
the quality, either through its nature
or as the result of its sonjourn under
ground, of resisting' decay from damp.
This quality makes it particularly val
uable for the manufacture of coffins,
and for this purpose it is largely ex
ported to Europe.
The trees are often a yard in diame
ter. They are buried in" sandy earth
at a depth of from two to eight j-ards,
and are dug- up by native labor as de
mand is made for them.
In many other places in the world
trees are found underground in a very
fair state of preservation. In Ver
mont certain meadows, which now are
cultivated every year, are known to be
underlaid with great masses of logs
which were brought down and deposited
in great jams in floods within the rec
ollection of living men. and left where
they were. In the course of time the
interstices between the logs filled up
with earth and all were covered over
evenly with more earth and vegetable
growth. . .
Whenever any of those buried logs
are dug up they are found to be in a
surprisingly pood state of preservation;
but the business of 'mining'' them has
not yet become an industry.
The Chronicxjj isprepsred to do all
kinds of job printing. .
A Beautiful Tablet.
Mill
for Infants and Children.
Castoria promotes Digestion, and
overcomes flatulency, Constipation, Sour
Stomach, Diarrhoea, and Feverishness.
Thus the child is rendered healthy and its
sleep natural. Castoria contains no
Morphine or other narcotic property.
"Castoria Is so well adapted to children that
I recommend it as superior to any prescription
known to me. H. A. Archer. M. D.,
Ill South Oxford St., Brooklyn, N. T.
" For several years I have recommeifa'ed your
Castoria,' and shall always continue to do so,
as it has invariably produced beneficial results.
Edwin F. Pardek, M. D.,
135th Street and 7th Ave., New York City.
"The use of 'Castoria1 is so universal and
its merits so well known that it seems a work of
supererogation to endorse it. Few are the in
telligent families who do not keep Castoria
within easy reach.'
Carlos Mahttn, D. D.,
New York City.
The Centaur Company, 77 Murray Street, N. Y.
FRENCH & CO.,
BANKERS.
TRAN8ACT A GENEBALBAKEING BUSINESS
Letters of Credit issued available in the
- Eastern States.
Sight Exchange and Telegraphic
Transfers sold on New York, Chicago, St.
Louis, San Francisco, Portland Oregon,
Seattle Wash., and various points in Or
egon and Washington.
Collections made at ail points on fa v.
orable terms.
M.
Has been appointed sole agent for the exclusive sale
in this locality of the Celebrated . : 1
BROWNSVILLE CLOTHING, '
BROWNSVILLE UNDERWEAR,
BROWNSVILLE OVERSHIRTS,
BROWNSVILLE BLANKETS,
BROWNSVILLE FLANNELS.
Men's Suits Made to Measure.
The above manufactures need no comment. ,
BBBSBSSSam
With every pair of School Shoes
bought of- us,
A. M. WILLIAMS & GO.
E. JACOBS EN
THE LEADER IN
Pianos and Organs, Books,
NOTIONS, STATIONERY.
Call and get his prices. Sells PIANOS on
easy monthly pavments, and is prepared to meet
any COMPETITION.
162 Second St, THE DALLES, OR.
J. B. 8CHBHCK,
President.
J. if. Patteeson,
Cashier.
First national Bank. .
THE DALLES, - - - OREGON
A General Banking Business transacted
Deposits received, subject to Sight
Draft or Check.
Collections made and proceeds promptly
remitted on day of collection.
Sight and Telegraphic Exchange sold on
New York, San Francisco and Port
land. DIRSOTOKS.
D. P. Thompson. Jno. S. Schbnce.
Ed. M. Williams, ' Geo.' A. Likbb.
, H. M. Beall.
House
Moving I
Andrew Velarde
IS prepared to do any and all
kinds of work in his line at
reasonable, figures. Has the
largest ho rise moving outfit
4 in Eastern Oregon. ' '
Address P.O.Box 181.The Dalles
HONYWILL
THOSE '
WHO WISH
lass, Lime, Cement ,
PLASTER, LATH.
Picture Frames,
-SUCH AS-
Shafting, Pulleys, Belting,
' Engine and Boiler,
CALL and bee
Snipes-Kinersly Drug Co.
DEALERS IN-
Pure Drugs cnemicais.
FIXE LIXE OF
IMPORTED and D0J5ESTIC CIGflSS
At Our Old Place of Business.
166 SECOND ST.
G
i . - ' - -