Birmingham age-herald., 1894-09-05
GrfF THE END NEAR. Welcome Rains Hailed With Joy by Victims OF THE GREAT FOREST FIRES Relief Corps Seeking the Dead. Some Sad SightS-List
 of Mortality.
OF THE GREAT FOREST FIRES

DULUTH, Minn., Sept. An stretch of territory twenty-six miles long and from one to fifteen miles wide not single human habitation has been left standing. except section house at Miller, and in every part of the track of the flames bodies of men, women, children, horses and cat tie were found. The position of every body found outside of Hinckley shows that shelter of some kind was sought by the asonized sufferers, and the dead are found in holes, behind overturned stumps, trees, marshy depressions and in every water course.
 The general shape of the swept dis trict is like hugo cigar, with a south western end about Mission creek and the upper terminal few miles east of Finlay- son or Rutedge. From this number of branches extend northward to beyond the tracks of the Eastern Minnesota railway.
 The work of the flames has been complete und cyclonic in character. Where the fire held sway not single tree is standing ex- cept as a blackened stump. Thousands of overturned trees are lying prostrate and the roots were burning herceiy up to last evening, when the welcome rain fell.
 careful canvass reveals the fact that seventy-two settlers homes outside of the towns fell. As near as can be learned there were 800 people in these homes. At Brookdale, little town on the Eastern Minnesota railroad south of Hinckley, about ninety persons took refuge in the water of small creek. Out of this place sixty seven dead bodies were taken and buried, and some thirty living persons were rescued, some badly burned.
 Conductor James Sargent of the St. Paul and Duluth road has been working for the railroad with an improvised train, consist n if IhraQ hand fn a snicnd bpr wifi blanks, picking up and identifying the bodies Of the dead. All the bodies were carefully examined and in many cases were fully identified, and in every case a com plete record was made of everything that could possibly lead to Identification.
 The Duluth relief committees most re- markable work has been done without regard to age, sex or social standing. Hun dreds of people, including those of the very highest social standing in the city, have been working day and night since Saturday night, having organized thoroughly into all needed sub committees, aud have in a systematical way taken care of men aud women, children and babies. Special com mittees have been caring for the little ones. Over SSOoO in cash has been given for temporary relief, and goods and clothing valued at as much more have been given.
 A. $. Thompson, who went on the burial train yesterday. has returned All the way down the trainmen had almost to throw peoPiS ou Wuo WiSueu to RO aiong anQ Cake in the grave sights. At Finlayson party headed by Ed Finlayson dropped off and went east several miles, visiting among other places the Billedeaut farm, where the bodies of three children were found. The rest of the family had gone to Sand stone. A party headed by Fred Reynolds dropped of near Skunk lake and got the bodies of Mrs. Lind and five children, whose home was half mile west of the track.
 The train picked up the bodies of Little and Elder. two operators of the North