Forests Ablaze

St. Paul, Minn., May 5.- Tha rain of Saturday eveninjr was but a May day showor. and the great forest ilres aged with terrino fury over vast u6H of Northern and Central Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin. The army of men fighting the flaraes amounted to thousands. Sunday's snow-storm, however, accovnplished the end for which they were striving. The center of the immense eonflagration was in Wrigbt County. In Rockford township, the flre destroyed much property in cordwood, fences, hay, aieadows, etc. One farm-houso, barn and othor outbnildinjra consumed. On the west, the Hamos burned for a distanee of over tive miles. At a switch near Buflato, over 3,500 oords of wood wero burned. The loss is estimated at 8100,000. Millions of feet of pine were consumed in the St. Croix valley. Prairie flres rajred almost unchccked for a week, and mmy thotiand of dollars' damage was d me in Smithern Minnesota. John Green los: o at 300 tons of hav and severa] i:gn uJlJ spreads. AsiiLAXi", Wis.. May 5. Koreat fires in Northern Wldconsln are considerably subdued. Tho little town of Mason was saved ouly by the heroio efforts of its inhabiiants. A few houses wore destroyed and there was much damage to lumber and lojjs. The damage at Rio Lake is conüned to a few dwellin;ri at the outakiris. Every one turned out to fight tire. The dames were checked early Saturday morning. Drummond and Cable narrowly escaped with slight damages. No towns were destroyed around Ashland. Eeports to this point from New Richmond, Wis., are of the most alarming character. Forest fires are buraing on three sides of the village. Hazelhurst had a narrow escape from total destruction. Fire started in soice lumber piles and driven by a terrific wind bore down on tlie village, oarrying every thing before it. Ten dwellings were burned before it was gotten under control.