1894 — July 26-31, Forest Fires, 8 counties, esp. Phillips, Price County, northern WI– >20

–>300 Cornell, James. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). 1982, p. 361.
— ~20 Hamilton Daily Democrat, OH. “Events of the Year,” Dec 29, 1894, p. 6.
— >20 Wisc. Historical Society. Dictionary of Wisconsin History, “Forest Fires in Wisconsin”
— 13 Wisconsin Historical Society. Dictionary of Wisconsin History, “Phillips Fire.”
— 13 Wisconsin Historical Society. Wisconsin Historical Markers. “Marker 65: Phillips Fire.”

Narrative Information

Cornell: “Wisconsin, July 1894: More than 300 people were reported killed in a series of fires that destroyed over 100,000 acres of timber.” (Cornell, James. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). 1982, p. 361.)

WI Historical Society: “On July 27, 1894, forest fires racing through dry timber slashings descended on Phillips from three direction. Within a matter of hours the city of 2500 persons lay in smoldering ruins. More than 400 homes, the business district, a new tannery and the large sawmill were totally destroyed. Thirteen lives were lost, all in attempts to escape the flames by crossing the lake. Many families abandoning their possessions crossed the Elk River at the north end of the city to spend a frightening fire-red¬dened night at the water’s edge protecting themselves from the heat and flying embers. Undaunted, these same valiant people built a new Phillips on the ashes of the ruins. Squaw Island, seen across Lake Duroy, is of historical interest. For many years before Phillips was settled and for some years after, it was an Indian burial ground.” (Wisconsin Historical Society. Dictionary of Wisconsin History, “Phillips Fire”)

WI Historical Society: “1894: July 26-30, disastrous forest fires visited Douglas, Hayfield, Ashland, Chippewa, Pierce, Taylor, Marathon, and Wood counties. Phillips, the county seat of Price, was almost entirely destroyed, and over twenty persons lost their lives.” (Wisconsin Historical Society. Dictionary of Wisconsin History, “Forest Fires in Wisconsin.”)

Newspapers

July 24: “Cumberland, Wis., July 24. – Forest fires are raging for more than a hundred miles along the line of the North Wisconsin division of the Omaha railroad, between Ashland and Superior on the north and Chippewa Falls and New Richmond on the south. Thousands of cords of wood and cross ties are on fire; also fields of standing as well as harvested grain and hay. Every farmer through whose farm the railroad passes has watchers along the track to guard against the breaking out of fire from sparks from the engines. The drough has become appalling and farmers are much discouraged. Since the fires started it looks as if little would be left to them on which to weather a long, cold winter. Spring grain is already an absolute failure, and corn and potatoes will not amount to one-quarter of a crop in many localities, even if we get rain now.” (Chippewa Falls Herald, WI. “Forest Fires Raging in Minnesota and Wisconsin.” 7-27-1894, p. 6.)

July 28: “Ashland, Wis., July 28. – Northern Wisconsin is being swept by the worst forest fires in the history of the state. The losses already amount to millions of dollars, and unless rain falls speedily this enormous loss will be multiplied.

“Reports indicate that several towns have been burned within a radius of a hundred miles of Ashland. To the south Phillips, the county seat of Pine county, a thriving town of 2,000 inhabitants, has been wiped out. Fifield, just north of Phillips, in Price county, has also been destroyed. Taylor county, directly south of Price, is being laid waste.

“To the southwest of Ashland, Mason, a busy town of Bayfield county, has been burned. To the southeast in Forest and Langlade counties the flames are making destructive progress.

“Appeals for aid to fight the fire came pouring into this city all yesterday afternoon and evening. Relief trains were dispatched, but in nearly every instance they encountered burned bridges and were forced to return. Being walled in by flames it is practically impossible to get assistance to the towns frantically asking it. Cut off from all outside succor rains are the only source of relief. And there is no sign of rain. The woods are dry and the flames sweep through them as through so much kindling. As they sweep onward they carry a menace of destruction to all the towns and farms of northern Wisconsin.
Resistless Sweep of Flames.

Reports at Ashland of Surrounding Towns Destroyed.

“Ashland, Wis., July 28. – Philips, the headquarters of John R. Davis Lumber company, a manufacturing town of 2,000 people, is totally destroyed by fire, and only a few buildings remain standing. A dispatch just received from Fifield, a small station a few miles this side of Philips, says that 500 women and children from Philips are in the woods there without shelter. Along the Omaha line the fires are raging with terrible fierceness. Shores Crossing, a little village eight miles west of Ashland, was destroyed; not a building remains standing and the homeless families were brought to Ashland. The railroad bridges near there were destroyed and a fast Omaha freight and sixteen loaded cars were entirely burned. Both the engineer and fireman were injured and the brakemen are missing. Loss to cars and freight many thousands of dollars.

“Mason, a small town south of the Omaha line caught fire at 2 o’clock. The White River Lumber company’s mill, with 40,000,000 feet of lumber in the yards, was destroyed, and at 6 o’clock the latest report received here says the entire town was threatened. The Omaha bridge across White river at Mason is burned. Railroad officials say the loss at Mason is fully $1,000,000, with $250,000 insurance.

“Homesteaders in the outlying districts are all fleeing into the nearest towns, leaving their homes to the fury of the flames. So far no loss of life is reported. The fire department is carefully guarding the outside limits of Ashland and the city is not in any immediate danger.

“News from Hurley states that town was enveloped in a dense cloud of smoke all day, with fires on nearly every side.

“A construction train left over the Omaha road for the scene of a disaster near Washburn. A freight train went through a burning bridge and the locomotive and six cars were burned. Trainmen escaped. Thompson Lumber company camps at White river have burned. The White River Lumber company’s plant at Mason has gone up in smoke with 40,000,000 feet of lumber. The Ashland Lumber company’s camps have burned. Another bridge is reported as burned south of Mason, which puts the Omaha service under great disadvantage. Yesterday was the most destructive day for forest fires in the history of northern Wisconsin. It is impossible to fight the flames down. The only hope is that rain will come to put them out.

“Much damage is being done to timber, and logging interests throughout Northern Wisconsin are suffering. Two bridges are reported to have been burned and the logging railroad of the Ashland Lumber company, together with two engines. The progress of the fire has not been retarded and it swept away the buildings of Camp 1 belonging to the same company late in the afternoon.”

Fifield Burned To The Ground

“Ashland, Wis., July 28….I is feared that many lives are lost, as with the hundreds of women and children in the woods and fire all around them some must perish surely.

“The tannery and immense lumbering concern at Phillips are among the ruins, so that the loss will be appalling. The Omaha freight train destroyed near Shores Crossing was loaded with wheat. The fire came upon Shores Crossing with terrible rapidity and many residents there lost everything they possessed. Not a structure of any kind remains standing there….Mason is literally wiped out of existence. The fire started I the lumber yard of the White River Lumber company from sparks from the forest fires and through the 400 employees worked nobly in defense of their homes the resistless flames swept through the town.

Several Town Wiped Out.

Flames Sweep Down from Forests and Consume Them.

“Milwaukee, Wis., July 28. – Reports from various points in the northern part of Wisconsin, along the Wisconsin Central, the Green Bay, Winona and St. Paul, the Chicago. Milwaukee and St. Paul, and the Omaha and Soo lines show that much of the territory, which is covered by timber, is in a highly inflammable condition if not already burning. There has been no rain of any consequence in Price county and in the territory surrounding it for several weeks, and numerous blazes have got beyond the control of the settlers and railroad employees.

“Several bridges over the Soo line near Prentice have already been burned and a number of settlers rendered homeless by the flames they were powerless to stay. Much valuable property has been destroyed in the vicinity of Grand Rapids and Centralia and the people there are hoping for rain, which they believe is the only thing that will prevent further serious loss.

“Grand Rapids, Wis., July 28. Extensive fires are running in the woods and marshes north and west of here. 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 degrees in the shade yesterday.” (Daily Gazette, Janesville, WI. “Towns Are In Ashes Up In The Pineries.” 7-28-1894, p. 1.)

July 28: “Milwaukee, July 28. – A heavy loss of life resulted in Phillips from the fire. It is estimated that between fifteen and twenty-five persons were either burned to death or drowned in their efforts to escape from the flames that destroyed the town. The only refuge from the fire was the lake and hundreds of people fled to the water to avoid death in the fire. In the rush the weaker ones fell down or were carried into the deep water and perished. Others, overcome by the heat and smoke, fell in the streets and burned to death. The entire northern part of the state is a Sea of Flame.

“The country is dotted with the homes of farmers and homesteaders and with lumber camps. There is no doubt that hundreds of these buildings have been burned, while the fate of the people is in doubt. It is probable that many of these people have also lost their lives. Of those who perished here three bodies have been found. The citizens who escaped the fire are homeless and without food or clothing, and are in a state of the most serious destitution….

The Phillips Fire.

“Milwaukee, July 28. – A special to the Wisconsin from Phillips, Wis., says that 3,000 people have been made homeless there by the forest fires. Not a building is left standing, and property valued at between $1,500,000 and $2,000,000 has been swept away. All day the flames surrounded the village. Hundreds of men battled with the fire, but without success. The pine forests were as dry as parchment and the flames leaped from tree to tree with such rapidity that the air seemed on fire. The baking soil sent up a gas that ignited and the atmosphere itself seemed to blaze.

“When the fire reached the city it swept from house to house and in an hour had the entire village in flames. The people fled to the railway, where trains were standing, and were hastily conveyed to neighboring towns. Nothing but a few personal effects were saved. There are rumors of losses of life, but in the confusion they cannot be confirmed. Families are separated, some members having taken to one place, and others to another, and it impossible to learn whether or not they have all escaped….
Hilbert Also Scorched.

“A dispatch to the Wisconsin from Chilton, Wis., says that nine buildings were consumed by fire at Hilbert. The wind was blowing strong and the whole town was threatened with destruction. A fire engine and company from this city rendered assistance. The burned buildings included the railroad depot of the St. Paul road.
Marshes Burning.

“A special to The Evening Wisconsin from Stevens Point, Wis., says. The continued dry weather has resulted in many forest fires north and west of here. Fires are now in the marshes within two or three miles west of this city. By good work on the part of the settlers very little damage has as yet been done….

“The same state of affairs exists at Maladore, Sherry and other points west of here. Centralia forest fires have been raging in this vicinity during the past 24 hours and hundreds of men are now endeavoring to save the cranberry crop.

Flames At Oshkosh.

“Oshkosh, Wis., July 28. – A conflagration has just broken out in the lumber district. The yards of Stanhilber, Amos & Co., and the Diamond Match company, are a raging mass of flames. The finest residence portion of the city is threatened, and there is a great rush in that direction. The entire fire department is at the scene.

“Washburn, Wis., July 28. – The sawmill of the White River Lumber company, at Mason, burned last night with 40,000,000 feet of lumber. The town was in great danger….” (Sunday Leader, Eau Claire, WI. “Great Loss of Life Feared.” 7-29-1894, p. 1.)

July 30: “Out of 700 Buildings in the Town but Thirty-Nine Remain – Mason Practically Destroyed Also…

“Phillips, Wis., July 30. – The fires last night broke into a blaze all along the docks and in many portions of the city. The forest fires are still raging to the north and west of here, and it is reported that several small stations between here and Ashland on the Central have been wiped out. The town of Worcester, a few miles west of here, is reported to have been destroyed.

“Milwaukee, July 30. – The Sentinel’s special from Phillips says: Thirty-nine buildings out of 700 stand amid smoke and ashes on the scene of what was the flourishing town of Phillips, the county seat of Price county, and one of the wealthiest and most prosperous of all the towns in the timber regions of Wisconsin…,at least thirteen people are known to have lost their lives.

“The dead are: James Locke, wife and five children; Frank Cliss, in charge of the dry kilns of the John R. Davis Lumber company, and 2-year-old child; Mrs. David Bryden, wife of the foreman of the Fayette Shaw tannery, and two children; Mr. Bryden was also supposed to have died, but has returned here, having been away from the city, only to hear that his family had perished. The last on the list is an unknown woman.

Water More Deadly Than Fire.

“It was not the fire, however, that claimed these victims, it was the lake. There were four gales of fire swept the town and it was during the first that the loss of life occurred. Driven frantic by the gale of flame the families of James Locke, Frank Cliss and Dave Bryden gathered hurriedly in their arms all their possessions that they could and made for a floating boat house that was tied to the town bridge near the box factory. The ropes were cut and the occupants thought the gale would drive them across Elk lake where the flames would not reach them. But the raft was a rickety affair and overturned, and the fire seemed to create a current of air that pulled them directly towards a great pile of burning lumber on the lake shore. The raft began to sink, and with death by fire facing them on one side and drowning on the other the boats were resorted to, but in the gale the boats capsized almost instantly and all perished with the exception of Mrs. Cliss, who was found floating on the opposite side of the lake clinging with desperation to a boat….” (Racine Daily Journal, WI. “Revelry of Havoc…Dreadful Work of Forest Fires at Phillips, Wis. …Thirteen Persons Drowned in Elk Lake, Most of Them Being Children.” 7-30-1894, p. 2.)

July 31: “Phillips, Wis., July 31. – For miles around here yesterday the forest fires continued to burn. Early in the morning a fire to the northeast swept in on the back tack and threatened to destroy the poor farm, the fair grounds, and all of the timber along the east shore of the lake. An alarm was sent in from the farm and 150 men from Phillips with buckets, shovels and axes were sent to fight the fire. After several hours’ work the danger passed.

“Reports of fires to the east of here came in all day from along the Elk road. A farmer from down that way says the whole country along the road for thirty miles northeast of here is on fire.

“To the south of here near Worcester fires have been in the woods all day, and gangs of men have been out watching them and fighting against their approach to the town. Prentice also has been threatened, and there is a constant watch kept on all the fires around to prevent their coming into any of the towns. Everybody in the surrounding country is thoroughly aroused and is alive to the situation.

“Thirteen bodies have been found at Phillips so far, but it is believed this is not a full list of the dead. The work of rebuilding has begun. The Shaw Tannery company has ordered in the lumber to rebuild its plant. Twenty shanties to shelter the unfortunate people were run up yesterday and the work of clearing away the debris of the fire has commenced in all sections of the city.

“The exposure to which the women and children have been subjected since last Friday has had its effect and there are numbers reported ill. A dispensary has been established and the suffering will be relieved as much as is possible with the means at hand. The relief continues to pour in here from all points of the state. Eighteen full carloads have been received thus far.

“The wind had died completely away, but the fires are still smoldering in the woods. The only thing that will save the country is a heavy rain. It rained heavily fifty miles east of here yesterday, but there was no rain in Phillips or vicinity.” (Daily Gazette, Janesville, WI. “Still Girdled By Fire.” 7-31-1894, p. 1.)

Dec 29, 1894, Hamilton Daily Democrat, OH: July 27: “The town of Phillips, Wis., wiped out by a forest fire, leaving 8,000 people homeless loss, $1,250,000; about 20 persons lost their lives.” (Hamilton Daily Democrat, OH. “Events of the Year,” Dec 29, 1894, p. 6.)

Sources

Chippewa Falls Herald, WI. “Forest Fires Raging in Minnesota and Wisconsin.” 7-27-1894, p. 6. Accessed 6-9-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/chippewa-falls-herald-jul-27-1894-p-6/

Cornell, James. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1982.

Daily Gazette, Janesville, WI. “Still Girdled By Fires.” 7-31-1894, p. 1. Accessed 6-9-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/janesville-daily-gazette-jul-31-1894-p-1/

Daily Gazette, Janesville, WI. “Towns Are In Ashes Up In The Pineries.” 7-28-1894, p. 1. Accessed 6-9-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/janesville-daily-gazette-jul-28-1894-p-1/

Hamilton Daily Democrat, OH. “Events of the Year.” 12-29-1894, p. 6. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=71970899

Racine Daily Journal, WI. “Revelry of Havoc. Dreadful Work of Forest Fires at Phillips, Wis. …Thirteen Persons Drowned in Elk Lake, Most of Them Being Children.” 7-30-1894, p. 2. Accessed 6-9-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/racine-daily-journal-jul-30-1894-p-2/

Sunday Leader, Eau Claire, WI. “Great Loss of Life Feared.” 7-29-1894, p. 1. Accessed 6-9-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/eau-claire-weekly-leader-jul-29-1894-p-1/

Wisconsin Historical Society. Dictionary of Wisconsin History, “Forest Fires in Wisconsin.” At: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=10463&keyword=Persons

Wisconsin Historical Society. Wisconsin Historical Markers. “Marker 65: Phillips Fire.” Accessed 11-27-2016 at: http://wisconsinhistoricalmarkers.blogspot.com/2013/06/marker-65-phillips-fire.html

Wisconsin Historical Society. Dictionary of Wisconsin History, “Phillips Fire.” Accessed at: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=12209&search_term=fire