The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-10-10
WAGON LOADS OF
HUMAN BODIES
AT STATIONS
Death List in Holocaust May
Reach 800
ENTIRE TOWNS WIPED OUT
Northern Minnesota Visited by Worst
Fire in History Of
State

Warren, MINI, Oct. 1O.-Beaudette,
Spooner, Pitt and Graceton have
been wiped off the map Of Minnesota
by the most terrible forest fire ever
experienced by Minnesota settlers.
The dead bodies of rs settlers have
been found and it is thought that the
death rate among the settlers will be
upward of 300. Wagon loads of bod
les are constantly being brought in
to the railway station at Beaudette.
1t Is reported that many settlers,
crazed with grief at the loss of fam
lies and property, are roaming the
woods and searching parties are con-
stantly going out after the injured,
the dead and the demented. One fam
lily of nine one of seven, and one of
five were wiped out on Friday night
At $3.50 o'clock Saturday evening
the fire attacked Beaudette and
Spooner and within three minutes af-
ter the first alarm, every building
was ablaze. Within an hour they
were heaps of ashes. The people of
these two towns just had time to quit
their homes only with what they had
on their backs. They were placed
on a passenger train standing at the
depot and taken across to Rainy Riv-
er, Ont, to safety. The whole coun-
try east of Warroad Is on fire. Roose-
welt, Swift, Williams and Cedar Spur
are in great danger. All the women
and children are being rapidly remov-
ed to places of safety The Canadian
Northern railway has placed trains at
every station at the services of the
people and is doing everything in its
power to relieve the situation.
The people of Beaudette and Spoon
er and settlers through the north
central part OF the state have lost
everything Five thousand are home
less and the greater part of them des-
titute. Help must reach them in<the
next day or two and that in a sub
stantial way, for the greater part OF
them are but half-clad and cold wea-
Their Is likely to set in at any time
II was impossible to get details and
names of the dead and the injured
before today, 'and some of the dead
will not be found until spring It will
be impossible to estimate the dam
age or casualties until later. The
surviving pioneers of northern Min
nesota are in need of immediate help
Warroad was on fire yesterda!
morning from the internationa
bridge to Sixth street, a distance o
half a mile. Included In the burned
area are the Ratportage lumber com
panys mill and lumber ward, con
tanning 100000 feet of lumber; tn,
Western Canada -four mills comnan,
and surrounding buildings. Fift,
houses are burned and scores OF pee
pie are homeless. Fire Is raging II
the woods as far as can be seen alonI
the south bank of Rainy river. II tn
wind remains in the north II is poss
BILE that the rest of Rainy River viii
be saved. Most OF old Beaudette sit
uated in Minnesota. and the Internal
ional bridge have so far escaped tn
fire as we'll as the u'ding of tn
Shevin Matthew lumber company a
Spooner. thanks to the activity OF tn
Canadian Northern railway company
Most of the women and children {
these towns have been taken on spe,
lal trains to points east and man
more are on steamers ready TO leav
should the wind change and the IN
spread All available hose Is in us
but the fire. driven by Il strong mort
west wind. is beyond control an
must burn itself out. The wind hi
shifted and Is carrying the flame
away from Roosevelt. Unless n
wind changes again the town will |
saved. Canadian Northern railw5
trains have been stalled at Warroa
since Friday night, when frelgl
train went through bridge net
Pitt. The crew was saved and Co
ductor Monahan walked into Bea
dette which town he reported as de
troyed, only the water tank, Il
school house walls and the dep
standing. Monahan says he walk,
over bodies on the way but could n
say how many.
Many settlers took to the WOO
and have not been heard from sine
A mother and five children are know
to have been burned. The fires a
still raging, and the smoke is stilr
Men from Warroad helped to sa
Roosevelt Calls are coming In
help FROM settlers 10 miles sou
Wires are down and news is obta
abe only as refugees come In. r
damage Is immense; the loss Of |