The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-14

timberland tonight are smouldering, charred ruins of abandoned, depopul desolation.
 The bodies of 75 victims lie in Du- luth morgues. Hundreds more along the roads leading to Duluth and Su- perior lay where they fell when over taken by the fire.
 Twelve thousand homeless and pen- niless refugees, all in need, more or less. of medical attention are quar- tered in hospitals, churches, schools, private homes and in the armory here, while doctors and nurses sent from surrounding communities attend them and nearly every able-bodied man in the city has been conscripted to fight the flames which are now reported to be dying away.
 Reports that the holocaust resulted from the work of enemy agents were circulated here tonight Definite con- firnation was not available, but in- cendiaries were driven away from a local shipyard when the fires in Du- luth and Superior were burning at the height, according to F. J. Longren, fire marshal, and other city and state officials.
 WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION
 Reports reaching here by courier told of widespread destruction, but it was evident that in most cases the fury of the flames was spent
 Duluth and Superior are in no more danger. Virginia is safe and Brain erd was untouched. However peat bog fires now are said to menace the latter city. Bemidji reported only a small loss.
 Greatest loss of life and property damage is believed to have occurred in the Cloquet region, where a num- Der of towns have been destroyed and all semi-rural settlements virtually wiped out.
 A special rtain of 20 coaches brought 1500 refugees to Cloquet and Carleton. They confirmed reports that many persons lost their lives in those towns
 Albert Michaud, a special policeman, told a tragic story of the burning of Cloquet and of the mad rush of it's res- idents to escape.
 At o'clock last night forest range, gave warning that unless the wind died down the townspeople would have te flee. said 'Michaud. "A thick pail of smoke hung over the town and at o'clock the special trains were called.
 SCENE INDESCRIBABLE
 The scene at the station was inde. scribable. There came a rush of wind and the entire town was in flames. The trains pulled out with the fire blazing closely behind them. Women wept and clung to their children, while others cried frantically for their missing ones. The flames licked at the cars. Windows in the coaches were broken by the heat. The engineers and fremen alternately stoked, to give the boilers all the fuel they could stand
 Other trains were hurriedly made of flat cars, boxcars and anything that would roll. Even then, all did not get away. There are many dead in Clo. quet."
 Cloquet was a town with about 750l population. More than 400 persons were brought to Duluth and Superior from there alone.
 Information brought in by rescus parties here tonight indicated that nearly 100 bodies have been found on roads lead. ing to Duluth. Several burned automo- piles filled with bodies were passed by the rescuers. Other bodies are being brought from every village and hamlet stricken by the gale-driven fires,
 The list of dead will not be definitely compiled for days, perhaps weeks. Hun dreds of panic-stricken people have gath cred about the numerous lakes in the burned area, and those reported missing may be among them
 TOWN WIPED OUT
 The town of Twig, on the Miller Trunk road, was wiped out.
 Other towns reported as being entirely destroyed include Rice Lake, Brookston, Brevator, Arnold, Corona, Adolpn, Thompson, Moose Lake and Wright.
 There is no community within a ra- dius of 30 miles which has not sustained more or less damage, and each has its quota of dead and injured
 Both fire fighting and relief work are being carried on under the direction Of the Minnesota home guard and state of- ficials.
 The cities of Duluth and Superior were not definitely out of danger until today. As it was property damage wrought yes- terday will total more than Sl,0o0.oOo The Duluth Country club and the Children home one of the largest structures or It's kind in the state were total losses, and the fire swept Woodland and Lester park, recreation centers, loss Of when will amount to several thousand uoi- lars. The fire also destroyed one ap proach to the Interstate bridge, when connects Duluth with Superior, the WIS consin city across the St, Lotus rlNe' from here.
 Automobile parties dashed through a wall of flame to rescue 200 tubercuiosls patients at the Nopeming sanitarium which was partially destroyed. The pa tients were taken out with the gfeates. difficulty, fire having partially cut OFT the rescuers retreat, but 1t was said to- night none probably would sui1er Ill CT fleets.
 Every hour adds to the horror of the disaster and additional names to the list of dead
 cHIFF PRESSIEY 0E