The Washington herald., 1910-10-11

Rainey River, Ont. Oct. I0.-Five thou-
sand people to-day thought they would
never see another sun rise. They were
the 2,000 residents OF this town and the.
!, 900 or more refugees quartered here.
At o'clock the wind sprang up. and
with a suddenness which was appalling
the town started 10 burn in q dozen
or more places at once The men, now
organized, rushed TO the flames, but the
velocity OF the wind increased. and their
efforts. even with the recently installed
high pressure water system. proved OF
no avail. Then with the same sudden
ness with which II had risen the wind
dropped 70 a calm.
Late this afternoon the wind rose
again. breaking into timber belts which
had previously escaped, and even burn
ing over the land which had been raw
ished by the flames during the past few
days. Tonight there care fully 5000
square miles OF timber on fire. II not a
larger area. and reports OF the finding
OF bodies are being received every few
minutes
Death List Now 500.
The dead will number 500. IS the gen.
eral belief, but General Superintendent
Cameron. OF the Canadian Northern
Railway. who has spent three days in the
districts on FIRE. says the estimate is far
too conservative. In support OF this
tematic search has been made FOR bodies,
although there are more than 100 bodies
az the morgue at Beaudette and they
have been taken from the vicinity OF that
town.
Three days ago fire burned over the
thickly-settled district between here and
Stratton, but so far only a handful OF
refugees have arrived from there and
the others cannot be heard OF in any
OF the other towns 20 which people fed
for safety.
Entire village Destroyed.
Warroad. MINI, oct 10.-The village Of
Zolal burned late this afternoon and its
20 people arrived here in a relief train
with nothing more in their possession
than the things they stood Up in. They
are being cared for by the other refu-
gees. adding TO the already crowded con-
dition Of the town. All the refugees are
penniless. Relief must be furnished
Immediately. a food famine appears in
evitable-
Ready 10 Flee Fort Francis
Fort Francis, Ont, Oct 10.-Every one
is ready 10 leave International Falls at
moments notice. The fires have been
busting around the town for the past
twenty,four hours. Mayor Berg has tele-
graphed for assistance. This town IS
in considerable danger, and II the fires
get much nearer the people viii leave.
Flames Threaten WarrOad.
Sprague. Man. Oct I0-Fires are on all
sides OF Warroad and in close proximity
10 the nearest buildings. Great North
ern train Is drawn UP there and the
people are preparing TO leave at a mo-
ment's notice.
The Winnipeg fire department is here
fighting off the flames as they catch
the outlying buildings. All business
places and schools have been closed
throughout the day.
winnipeg TO send Aid.
Winnipeg, Oct. 10.-MayOr Evans has
received an appeal for assistance from
several Of the towns. and is arranging
to az once send food and clothing to the
destitute. The Ogilvie Milling Company
will also donate a carload Of -four. and
other towns in Western Canada are to-
night preparing to send assistance in
various forms
Bodies Piled in Heap.
c. II. Land, a passenger who arrived
this morning. said the conditions were
frightfGl In one place, near Beaudette.
he saw eighteen bodies piled in heap.
Others he saw crawling on their hands
and knees in the bitches 10 escape the
terrible heat.
Mrs. Parsons. of Warroad. arrived on
the train from Duluth this afternoon,
/ accompanied by her small son, and all
that remained OF her belongings were in
small suit case. She said:
Two train loads left Warroad last
night after midnight. but we do not
know whether they reached place OF
safety or not. We have heard nothing
OF them"