Report of the Forest Commission. 65 



boats. The frail craft were overloaded, and as the occupants leaned over the 

 sides to get water to sprinkle on their bodies, one boat after another capsized. 

 All were drowned with the exception of Mrs. Cliss, who was found Saturday 

 morning hanging to an overturned boat. Her face and hands were burned 

 and around her neck were clasped the arms of her dead child. It is thought 

 that Mrs. Cliss will recover. The bodies of Mrs. Bryden and two children, 

 James Locke and two children, and Frank Cliss and one child were recovered 

 Sunday, leaving only the bodies of Mrs. Locke and two children still in the 

 water so far as known. 



{From the Neiv York Times, August 31, 1894.) 



Chippewa Falls, Wis., August 30. — Forest fires in this section of north- 

 western Wisconsin have been intermittent for two months, and the aggregate 

 loss is not less than $3,000,000 among the pine-land and sawmill owners, 

 besides the loss to individuals. Reports to-day are that fires prevail on the 

 outskirts of Prentice, which was almost destroyed a few weeks ago, and fire 

 apparatus has been sent there from this city. 



The village of Vesper, in Wood county, was almost destroyed yesterday, and 

 20 families are reported homeless. At Mason City, 100 miles distant, citizens 

 are exhausted by the continued fighting of fires. At Lafayette forest fires 

 have devastated the homes of six farmers. 



Fire again prevails in Phillips, which was almost destroyed in a recent con- 

 flagration. A fire engine and crew sent from this city are now engaged in the 

 outskirts keeping back the flames. Fire is at present burning at Silver Spring 

 Park, four miles from this city, and the plant of the Chippewa Spring Water 

 Company, a large concern that ships to all parts of the country, is in danger. 



Fires are burning between Chippewa Falls and Spooner, a distance of 200 

 miles, along the tracks of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha rail- 

 road. A number of towns are in danger, protection from the flames being 

 almost impossible. 



Fires are sweeping with terrific fury throughout the forests of Burnet and 

 Washburn counties, close to the railroad tracks, and passengers say the coun- 

 try is like a sea of fire. The Wisconsin Central and the Omaha railways have 

 been heavy losers by fires, their tracks being damaged for miles. A number 

 of freight cars were lost by the latter road at Mason. 



Phillips is the greatest sufferer by the fires, not a building out of 280 being 

 left. 



The principal losers are the J. R. Davis Lumber Company, Jacob Leiner- 

 kugel and Owen Lappin of Chippewa Falls. The most extensive cranberry 

 farm in Wisconsin, five miles from this city, owned by Aglum & Donovan, 

 was destroyed yesterday. The loss is $5,000, with no insurance. 



The Chippewa Lumber and Boom Company of this city, one of the biggest 

 concerns of the kind in the United States, has lost in the neighborhood of 

 $1,000,000 in standing pine. The heaviest losers are: 



Chippewa Lumber and Boom Company, Chippewa Falls, $500,000; J. R. 

 Davis Lumber Company, $1,000,000; White River Lumber Company, Mason, 

 $200,000; Lake Superior Lumber Company, Nebogomain, $50,000; Jump River 



y 



