The Irish standard., 1910-10-29
CANADIAN NORTHERN CHARGED
WITH SETTING FIRE THAT
BURNED BAuDETrE.
THE TOTAL DEATH LIST is %
Blaze Started IN Canada crept Under.
ground, Say Prohers.-Dau,.
age Placed at Five Mil.
lion Dollars.

oI. fAuls OcC. Z7.-ThO Canadian
Northern railway Is held responsible
for the fire which destroyed Baudette,
in a report made to General c. C. An.
drews, forestry commissioner, by Geo.
Chaplin of St. Paul and Frank Curtis
Of Roosevelt, who have been investi.
eating the origin. Of the forest fires in
Minnesota for the last two weeks.
The report says there is sufficient
evidence to show that a IRE was set
By the railroad on the Canadian side
during the latter part of July. This
IRE worked south to the North branch
of Baudette river and north to Rainy
river, covering about eight square
miles. 1t burned up to the west side
Of Baudette ana lay smouldering until
Oct. Z, when 1t was famed by ter
RHO wind and led to the disaster.
About the same time q fire was set
on the right of way just east of the
Winter Road river. This fire worked
east three miles and about two miles
back ON each side Of the track, where
It connected with the fire which was
started on the Baudette side of the
river ~
Fires Shoulder In Moss.
This fire also lay smouldering in
the moss, gradually eating into the
root OF the timber and telling it, max
ing conditions favorable for another
Dire. Four other fires also were start.
cd in this vicinity In August, covering
from ono 70 eight square miles. These
Ifres were also famed into life Oct. 2
and resulted IN the terrible disaster.
Tho report says the country through
which the fire travelled is wild and
thinly settled. It has been numbered
and slashed extensively for the last
six years. and the accumulation of
slashing was lying. on the ground. In
ordinary years tits very wet, making
1t impossible" fbr q fire to travel any
great distance. AS result thick
growth of moss covered the accumu.
lation Of long-decaying vegetation.
This year the country experienced a
drought. The swamp and moss be-
came dry, and as, a; result the ground
formed 4 peat, holding the fire below
the surface and keeping it shoulder.
ing during the entire summer. The
report said that il there had been no
slashings on the ground the fires
could Rave been choked.
'PrsseeutlonsT Arc Pending.
Eight prosecutions against the Cana.
dian Northern railway for allowing
combusttble material on the right of
way are now pending in the district
court Of Beltrami county. The railroad
is fighting the constitutionality Of the
law. II the state wins in these cases,
tho forestry department plans to bring
action against the Canadian Northern
for sixteen other fires alleged to have
been set since July.
The loss from the recent fires is es.
eimated at about 100000 by the
agents Of the forestry commission OF
this. property valued at 81, TOO, 900 was
destroyed in the towns.
Tho exact number Of dead is placed
at 40. This Is below. the last reports
sent from Baudette which placed the
loss Of life at 81; The list includes
two families with seven children each,
and one family with three children.
There were i've lumbermen and one
girl, Miss Kate Jasmer, who also lost
their lives.
900 Persons Homeless,
In report to the governor, General
Wood says there are 500 homeless
families to be provided for. He has
already arranged for the shipment Of
enough lumber to build SO houses in
the fire district. An adnstnistratfon
building is nearly completed, from
which all relief work will be carried
on. General Wood reports there is
great Jealousy between Baudette and
spooner and that the relief committee
Will have to use great diplomacy In
assisting these towns.