Report of the Forest Commission. 69 



Duluth, September 3. — Soon after noon Saturday there sprang up a fierce 

 wind that blew vast volumes of smoke into Duluth, while travelers against the 

 wind soon had their eyes filled with ashes and cinders. The air was as from a 

 furnace even at a distance of 70 miles from the nearest blazes of magnitude, 

 and the light of day was long before 4 o'clock completely obscured, so that 

 lights were turned on all over the city. 



Pratt Junction, Wis., July 27. — Forest fir. s are burning along the line of 

 the Chicago and Northwestern railway, north of Antigo. The stage left Peli- 

 can Lake for Crandon this afternoon, but it was compelled to return on 

 account of the fire along the road. Everything is very dry and much damage 

 will be done unless rain comes soon. 



Bridges at Mason and Forest City Destroyed. 



Hayward, Wis., July 27.— The bridges at Mason and Forest City have been 

 burned, ft is reported that the mill and lumber yard at Mason are burning. 

 Wires are down and it is impossible to get any definite information. The 

 country surrounding this town is all afire. The smoke is very dense. If no 

 rain falls soon there is imminent danger to all towns in this vicinity. A crew 

 leaves here to-night on a special train to repair the bridges. 



Grand Rapids, Wis., July 27. — Extensive fires are running in the woods 

 and marshes north and west of here. The cranberry marsh owned by Dr. 

 Witter was burned, and much of the extensive Spofford marsh has been 

 destroyed. The fire is very near the city of Centralia. Great volumes of 

 smoke are rising on a heavy wind. Thermometers indicated as high as 106 in 

 the shade to-day. 



Medford, Wis., July 27. — What is known as Powell's Mills, eight miles 

 west of here, sent word early this morning asking for assistance on account 

 of forest fires. The hand engine and 700 feet of hose was despatched at once 

 with teams, and 100 men went to the rescue and arrived none too soon to save 

 the mill, residence, barns, etc., for the time being. At 8 P. M. the wind was 

 going down. There will be no imminent danger until morning. Small far- 

 mers in the vicinity moved their families and what things they could gather 

 on a wagon, and came to the mill i-ite. For two hours this afternoon 150 men, 

 women and children were confined on five acres of ground surrounded by one 

 seething mass of flames, and one must see a forest fire to realize how much 

 danger there is with stifling clouds of smoke, and all communication or means 

 of escape cut off. It was a case of pump or take to the mill pond. Horses, 

 sheep and chickens are dying by the side of the road, burned to a crisp. Great 

 fears are entertained for a dozen farmers who live northeast of Powell's Mills, 

 whose one road or exit is surrounded by fire. 



Ashland, Wis., September 4. — An unknown steamer and consorts have 

 gone ashore in the dense smoke on Sand Island, about 50 miles from here. 



(From the New York Tribune, September 3, 1894.) 



Chicago, September 4.— From the revised returns received to-night from 

 the burned regions of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, the following are 

 the totally and partly burned towns and counties : 



