66 Report of the Forest Commission. 



Lumber Company, Prentice, $200,000; Wisconsin Central railroad, $50,000; 

 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha, $100,000; Jacob Leinerkugel, 

 Chippewa Falls, $10,000; Owen Lappin, Chippewa Falls, $5,000; town of 

 Phillips, $200,000. 



The losses to the lumber companies are mainly on standing pine, on which 

 there was no insurance. 



Chippewa Falls, "Wis., September 3. — Northwestern Wisconsin is one sea 

 of flames, and reports are coming in to this city constantly of fatalities caused 

 by the great conflagration. The towns of Rib Lake, Marengo and Bradshaw 

 have been completely wiped out, and at the latter place three people lost their 

 lives. Many others are missing and it is impossible to estimate the extent of 

 sufferings by the people. Yesterday a message was received here from Caddot 

 asking for aid. The town was threatened and the inhabitants were panic- 

 stricken over their danger. 



Ready to Fly for Life. 



A force of men from Chippewa was sent up and until 10 p. m. yesterday the 

 inhabitants struggled to preserve their homes from destruction. Several 

 buildings on the outskirts burned, but the fire was prevented from spreading 

 and preparations made for a hurried flight in case the town fell a prey to the 

 fire. Wagons loaded with household goods stayed in the street and the scene 

 was one of indescribable confusion. 



At 10 p. M. yesterday the fire had abated in the vicinity of Caddot and for 

 the present the village is safe. Almost two miles away, in a dense forest 

 which terminates at the limits of the town, the woods are in a vast blaze and 

 the w T ind is carrying the flames with great rapidity toward the town. 



If no rain falls before this evening it will be certain to be wiped out. The 

 inhabitants realize this fact and already quite a number have taken refuge in 

 the city, while the others are prepared for flight on a moment's notice. A 

 special train and a fire engine were sent up. The town of Caddot has about 

 500 inhabitants and is situated in the midst of a dense forest, where escape is 

 practically impossible. No news has been received from the party sent to the 

 rescue of the village, and fears are entertained for its safety. 



Eau Claire, Wis., September 3. — "Wires to points on the northern division 

 of the Omaha road have been down since last night, and information of the 

 situation up north is lacking. Railroad men say the whole region to Cart- 

 wright, to Bashaw and to Haugen has been on fire since Saturday 



afternoon. 



Twelve Saved by the Cars. 



The Omaha train, arriving here at 5 p. m. yesterday, which came through 

 Bashaw, took 12 men, women and children from the burned village to Rice 

 lake, the conductor backing the train to get the refugees after he had run 

 through without stopping. The Northwestern Lumber Company has reports 

 of fresh breaking out of fires along the Eau Claire river. One of the com- 

 panies said that they already had 50,000,000 feet of pine burned on the Eau 

 Claire and did not believe there would be a green tree left when rain comes. 

 One of the Eau Claire owners of the Barronnett Lumber Company's plant says 

 the loss there is $250,000. A special from Cadott says the village is surrounded 

 by fire. 



