The Detroit times., 1910-10-10

WAhROAD, MIMI, Oct. lO.-At least
200 persons have persisted In the for
est fires which have ragged IN this dis
trict for the past three days. and the
death roll may even reach $50 to 1000
according to information in d0s-
patches received at Warroad in the
heart OF the burning district. ut noon,
today.
Fires are raging over a large tract
OF territory south OF here. while
others are coming down on the west
ern side OF the Lake OF The Woods
to meet those from the south. Moth
ing can stop the flames but q heavy
downpour OF rain. and that is unlikely
at this season of the year.
The towns OF Beaudette and Spoon
err are completely wiped out, while
the villages OF Graceton, Swift. R0ose-
welt, Pitt and Cedar Spur have also
been destroyed.
The fire zone covered a district IS
miles In length, from Gravel Pit Spur,
west OF here, to Stratton, Ont. and
80 miles In width. including all the
territory between Red Lake. Mimi.
and the Lake of the Woods In the
north. The are is spreading rapidly
in all directions.
rsUne prominent lumberman sisted
that the loss will be about $4,000. =
square mile. and. as practically A04e
miles have been burned over, the lo0o
| will be many millions.
The town OF Roosevelt, Mimi, last
night sent an appeal for help to Ros-
seau, all the other available towns
having been appealed to, and nifty Ore
fighters left from there early this
morning for the scene OF the fires.
Later reports say the village was WHIP
ed out
r The town of Rainy River Is on fire
from the International bridge to Sixth
street distance of over half mile
and II is feared the town will be de-
stroyed
In the burned area was the RAJ
Portage Lumber company's mill, one
of the finest In western Canada. cost
ing $350,00O. This was destroyed as
well as the company's yards, contain
ing 10000 900 feet OF lumber The
Western Canada Flour Mills, stave
mills and fifty odd residences were de-
stroyed
All the available hose and fire. Tight
ing apparatus Is In use and appeals
have been sent TO towns In large
radius.
Every town to which refugees from
the fire-swept district have ned, are
wiring comparisons Of the persons &C
! counted for, but in the confusion II h
impossible to learn definitely the total
death roll.
II was shown today. however, that
at least 100 persons are still unac-,
counted for from Beaudette alone.
! The most serious aspect was revealed
when II was learned that most OF the
! homesteaders in the hre-swept dis
trict were still missing. They were
completely cut off from the towns
and being unable to reach the rail-
roads, II is feared they have persisted.
The authorities say today the con-
hagration bids fair to result In the
greatest disaster since the hres at
Hinckley. Mimi, In 1896. Railroad
and wire communication Ii cut on to
the west Of Rainy River and between
this point and Warroad. by wide
stretch OF burning forest.
The train crews have shown the
greatest bravery in attempting to rush
all OF the stricken people to safety
and the death list would have been
enormous had II not been for their ef-
forts.
When the fires first broke out 1000
men. women and children tried to
beard a special train Of boxcars at
Beaudette. AS they waited for the
train to arrive their homes were
destroyed Many were unable to
board the train and started to run
down the tracks without waiting for
the second special. The fires swept
across the right-of-way and their
charred bodies were picked up by the
crew of the specials. which came
later.
Yesterday Rainy River was filled
with the refugees. II seemed they
would be compelled to fee further, a.
sections OF the town caught fire. This
blaze was under control today.
! Physicians are being hurried here
from every point within radius OF
100 miles today to care for the injur.
ed. Whole families have been burne4
to death and hundreds are suner1nS
from burns which will result In oeekA
A