The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-11-26
T|MESWHENTHE
GROUND BURNS
EXCITING RACE WITH WINTER
WON ~ RED cRoss-sUILpINc
"DEGs~ BREAK REcoRos-NEw
t4oUsGs 90 UP LIKE MAGIC.

One Of the strangest facts observed
IN the forest fires which occasionally
sweep over the woods of Northern
Michigan and Minnesota Is the burn
ING Of the ground. Falling leaves,
bark and twigs and dying plant life
gradually accumulate in the forests.
The rains and dense shade keep the
mass damp. Moses grow on the sur
face Of the decaying vegetation The
half-rotted stun settles down and
hardens. Trees spring up and their
roots take hold in the peaty sub.
stance.
Then comes a season Of drought,
and the dampness slowly evaporates.
A hunter or woojman or farmer
builds . fire. or a railroad engine
drops . spark. The dry surface Of
the ground 10 ignited and a slow can
Ger Of fire eats deep among the roots
Of the trees, smouldering for weeks
Or months. Then one day a strong
wind springs up. The trees, under.
mined by the fire. topple over, their
roots throwing out showers Of sparks
and burning masses of tinder-like
nokeril. Flames burst out in every
direction. and, like . flash, q forest
ATe 10 in full sweep.
mo IOI0oI IlT0 WHICH OCCuIToU Id
Northern Minnesota q few weeks ago
broke out In many places at once.
became many Of these smouldering
fros were simply awaiting the gale
which sprang up on October 7th. In
this IRE about 1900 square miles Of
country we're burned. The thriving
villages Of Beaudette. with a popula-
lion Of 1000. and Spooner, with $50,
~ fofn In a n
hour. Hundreds Of 'homesteaders,"
carving their farms out of the for.
osts. lost their homes and saved their
lives BY lowering themselves into
wells, or plunging into streams or
ponds. Thirty lives were lost. and
5000 persons were left homeless.
with food, live stock. farm crops and
machinery all gone.
When the agents OF the American
Red Cross reached the burned dis
trict they realized that winter was
ut hand In this north country and
that their greatest task was the swift
construction Of q large number OF
shelters. Il was q big job. and 1t had
TO BE- quickly done. Here IL the
manner in which the Red Cross met
the emergency:
Two simple designs for houses
were prepared. Of one and two rooms,
respectively. These required only q
few standard sizes of lumber, and tar
Paper took the place Of shingles and
plaster Lumber was rushed in from
Canada ak Washington having waived
the customs duty on supplies requir.
cd By the Red Cross. A half dozen
carpenters were hurried to the scene
Then building bees" were organized,
with one carpenter in command Of
each A half.dozen neighbors. with
NaW and hammer. would help Ole
Olson build his house. Then all, in
Guiding Olson. would move along and
build Hans Hanson's house. and 50
on. The speed with which these
houses were erected, where several
bees" were cumming at the same
time, was startling. While this was
godng on the Red Cross was hurrying
into the IRE district from Duluth and
81. Paul and Minneapolis. big orders
Of doors, windows. stoves. bedding.
chairs, kitchen utensils and provi-
sious. A rapidly ~ the little houses
were ready they were furnished and
stocked up with food and the famt-
Mes moved In.
n was . desperate race with win
Ter, and the Red Cross won. While
the race was at its swiftest there
IVES not . buster spot between the
oceans than this black and desolate
stretch Of country along the north
ermost rim Of Minnesota. Much re-
mains to be done. but nobody is 60
ing to freeze or starve.
The generous people Of Minnesota
cent In supplies by the carload. and.
what II more. they sent $4,000 in
hard cash to the Red Cross for the
help Of the hardy and brave people
Who are starting all over again with
Characteristic American pluck.