Chisholm, MN Fire, Sept 1908 - Under Militia Rule

Militia Makes Idlers Work

Shirkers Forced to Get Busy at Point of Bayonet-Pastor Describes Chisholm Conditions.

Chisholm is completely under the rule of the militia, according to REV. JAMES A. GEER, of the Lester Park M.E. Church, who returned yesterday from the scene of the fire disaster, where he has been assisting in the relief work.

Plundering and looting first demanded the attention of the soldiers, and they had their hands full. Now they are engaged in fighting fires, doing odd jobs, and in forcing the unwilling idlers of the place to do their share of the work.

Mr. GEER says that one day the flames threatened to again sweep over the ruined city, and wipe out the few remaining houses, the militia was forced to drive dozens of idlers at the points of their bayonets, to fight the conflagration.

W.G. SHANE, who has charge of the distribution of food at Chisholm, asked two girls to wash dishes yesterday, Mr. GEER says, and they refused pointblank, although they had been fed by the relief committee aver since the fire. Soldiers were called in and forced the girls to work. The bayonet is used constantly to comply men who would otherwise remain idle to get busy in the great work of restoring Chisholm and providing for the needy. At night, Mr. GEER says, the militia patrol every block in the ruined town. Pedestrians are challenged and every such pedestrian at night is scrutinized carefully.

“I have seen many pathetic things in my visits to the ruined city,” said Mr. GEER last night. “Many babies and children are sick, because of the heat and smoke and exposure. One died a day or two ago, and while I was there Rev. Mr. MANLEY, of Chisholm, was called out to baptize two little babies who had been overcome by heat and smoke.

“As a whole, however, there is a cheerful atmosphere at the place. At the ruins of the Miner’s State Bank, where the officials are doing business from the door of the vault, there is a sign which says: “Cheer Up! Cheer Up! The gang’s all here.” At the First National Bank a similar sign says: “Cheer Up! Cheer Up! Everybody’s on the job again. Get busy for a bigger and better Chisholm.”

“There is an abundance of provisions at Chisholm, and more are coming in constantly. The people are fed at regular hours, just as though it was one big boarding house. Breakfast is served from 6 to 8; dinner from 12 to 1:30, and supper from 6 to 7:30.

“Some people are leaving town for good, but most of the business men will rebuild. Ten or more buildings have been erected for temporary use, and others are going up. Permanent structures will be built as soon as possible. The water supply for the town will soon be completely restored.

“B. MAGNUSSON, one of Chisholm’s largest merchants, is preparing to rebuild his residence, in Chisholm, but is undecided about replacing his business house there. His loss was $40,000.”

Mr. GEER says the petty jealousies which have arisen among some of the stricken people at Chisholm are pitiful. Some women accuse the relief committee of partiality, and are very bitter over some of the refusals the committee is forced to make to certain requests. The Salvation Army has erected a big tent at Chisholm, with beds to accommodate 50 people. Major R.S. O’NEIL and his wife are in charge of this shelter.

Stoves, lamps and bedclothes, Mr. GEER says, are the chief needs of the people at Chisholm. They must have small stoves to heat their little shacks this winter, and with no electric lights in the burned city lamps are a great necessity just now. Bed clothes are in much demand.

Mr. GEER says that an old man named IVERSON was accosted by thugs on the outskirts of Chisholm ruins Wednesday night, and struck on the head with a rock. The injuries were not serious. IVERSON is 70 years old.

The Duluth News Tribune, Duluth, MN 12 Sept 1908

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Profits By Loss of His Neighbors

Chisholm Junk Man Does Flourishing Business-Has Mule and Cart.

The Chisholm junk man is happy. Hundreds of tons of wrecked iron and twisted steel await him. The only salvage from the ruins is the scarred iron bedsteads, the wrecked printing presses and equipment of the Chisholm Herald and the Chisholm Tribune and the girders which were used as supports in the brick buildings.

The fire loss was total and it is a fine eye that can discern anything that will enable the fire adjusters to pay anything but full insurance on any of the ruins.

The junk man is helping to clean up the town by removing the iron which he has purchased from the owners upon which the ruined dwellings stood. His little wagon, pulled by a black, ambling mule, is constantly loaded with scrap iron which he will ship to Duluth.

“It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.” and the junk man is profiting with the livery man as the result of the Chisholm fire.

The Duluth News Tribune, Duluth, MN 12 Sept 1908