The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-11-04
BLAME R.R. FOR FIRE.
CANADIAN NORTHERN CHARGED
WITH SETTING FIRE THAT
BURNED BAUDETTE.
THE TOTAL DEATH LIST IS 20
Blaze Started in Canada Crept Under
ground, Say Probers.--Dam-
age Placed at Five Mil
lion Dollars.

ern Railway is held responsible for
the fire which destroyed Baudette,
in 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 fire was set
by the railroad on the Canadian side
during the latter part of July. This
fire 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 and lay smouldering until
Oct. z, when it was famed by ter
rife wind and led to the disaster.
About the same time 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
fire. Four other fires also were start.
ed in this vicinity in August, covering
from one to eight square miles. These
fires were also famed into life Oct. 7
and resulted in the terrible disaster.
The report says the country through
which the fire travelled is wild and
thinly settled. 1t has been numbered
and slashed extensively for the last
six years, and the accumulation of
slashing was lying on the ground. In
ordinary years it is very wet, making
it impossible for fire to travel any
great distance. AS a result thick
growth of moss covered the accumu-
lation of long-decaying vegetation.
This year the country experienced
drought. The swamp and moss be-
came dry, and as a result the ground
formed a peat, holding the fire below
the surface and keeping it shoulder
ing during the entire summer The
report said that if there had been no
slashings on the ground the fires
could have been choked.
Prosecutions Are Pending.
Eight prosecutions against the Cana
dian Northern railway for allowing
combustible 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. If the state wins in these cases,
the 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-
timated at about $5,O00,00O by the
agents of the forestry commission. Of
this, property valued at 81, 100000 was
destroyed in the, towns.
The exact number of dead is placed
at 49, This is below the last reports
sent from Baudette which placed the
loss of life at "a. The list includes
two families with seven children each,
and one family with three children.
There were five lumbermen and one
girl, Miss Kate Jasmer, who also lost
their lives.
300 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 administration
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.