Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-10-15

Hauling Dead Bodies to the Railnoao
Lines BY The Wagon Load-Many
Are Going Mad With Fright anc
crief-RaiIroads Doing What They
Can To Rescue the PeopIe-setters
Unable to Save Any Property.
Warroad, Mimi, October 1O.-Beau
dette, Spoortr, Pitt and Graceton
Mimi, were wiped off the map of the
state by the most terrible forest fires
ever experienced by Minnesota set
tiers. The bodies of rs settlers have
been located and it is thought that
the death rate among the settlers will
be upwards of 300.
Wagon loads of bodies are being
brough into the railroad station at
Beaudette constantly.
1t Is reported that many settlers
crazed with grief at the loss of fami
lies and property, are roaming the
woods and searching parties are con.
stantly going out after the injured the
dead and the demented One family
Of nine, one of seven, and one of five
were wiped out on Friday
AT $50 o'c,ock Saturday evening a
cyclone of fire struck Beaudette and
SpOoner and within three minutes af
ter the first alarm, every building
ing was abaze and wi hin an hour
they were heaps of ashes. The PEG.
pie OF these two towns had just suffi-
cent time to get out of their home
with what they had on their backs,
taking nothing else with them. They
were loaded onto a passenger train
that was standing at the depot and
taken across the Rainy River, Ont, to
safety.
The whole country East of here is
on fire. Roosevelt, Swift. Williams
and Cedar Spur are in great danger
All the women and children are being
| rapidly removed to places Of safety.
The Canadian Northern Railway has
stationed trains at every station at
the service of the people and is do
ing everything in its power to relieve
the situation.
The people of Beaudette and
Spooner and the settlers through the
North Central part of the State have
lost everything. Five thousand are
homeless, and the greater part of
them destitute. Help must reach
them in the next day of two, and
that in substantial way, as the
greater part of them are but half
clad and cold weather is likely to set
in at any time.
If the wind remains in the North
it is possible the balance of Rainy
River will be saved. Most of Old
Beaudette, situated in Minnesota. and
International Bridge, have so far es-
capped the fire.
Most of the women and children
of these towns have been taken on
special trains TO points East, and
many more are on steamers ready to
leave should the wind change and
the fire spread.
All available hose is in use, but the
fire, driven by a strong Northwest
wind, is beyond control and must
burn Itself out
The wind has shifted and is carry
ing the flames away from Roosevelt.
Unless the wind changes again the
town will be saved.
Canadian Northern Railway trains
have been stalled there since Friday
night. when a freight train went
through a bridge near Pitt. The crew
was saved and Conductor Monahan
walked into Beaudette, which town
he reported as destroyed, only the
water tank, tine school house walls
and the depot standing. Monahan
says he walked over bodies on the
way. but could not say how many.
Many settlers took to the woods and
have not been heard from since.
Wires are down and news is OBJ
tainable only as refugees come in.
The damage is immense; loss OF
life uncertain.