The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-10-18
1000 DEAD AND
MANY HOMELESS
Whole Section of Northern Wisconsin
Ravaged by Timber Land Fires.

NllnOut clOlnlnS, ana WIN properly
damage mounting far into millions o.
dollars, whole sections of northern Wi:
consin and Minnesota timber land are
smouldering, fire stricken areas with
only the charred remains of abandon.
ed, depopulated towns to accentuatc
the general desolation.
The bodies Of seventy-fve victims
lie in Duluth morgues, hundreds more
along the roads leading to Duluth and
Superior 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 quarter
ed in hospitals, churches, schools, pri-
vate houses 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 now are reported to
be dying away.
Reports that the holocaust resulted
from the work of enemy agents were
circulated here last night. Definite
confirmation was not available, but in
cendiaries were driven away from
local shipyard when the fires in Duluth
and Superior were burning at height
according to F. j. Longren, fire mar
shall, and other city and state officials.
Reports reached here by eouriers
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. Vir-
ginia is safe and Brainard was untouch
ed. However, peat bog fires now are
said to menace the latter city. Benidji
reported only small loss.
Greatest loss of life and property
damage is believed to have occurred
in the Cloquet region, where a number
of towns have been destroyed and all
simi-rural settlements virtually WHIP
ed out.
A special train of twenty coaches
brought 1900 refugees to Cliquot and
Carleton. They confirmed reports that
many persons lost their lives in those
towns.
Albert Michaud, a policeman, told
of the burning of Cloquet.
"At six o'clock Saturday night a
forest ranger gave warning that I'M
less the wind died down the townspeo-
pie would have to f1ee,' said Michaud.
"a thick pail of smoke hung over the
town, and at 7 o'clock the special train
was called
1.-THE scene at the station was indie
scribable. There came a rush of wind
and the entire town was in flames. The
trains pulled out with the fires blaz-
ing closely behind them. Women wept
and elung to tier children, while 9TH
ers cried frantically for their missing
ones. The flames licked at the cars.
Windows in the coaches were broken
by the heat. The engineer and fireman
alternately stocked, to give the boilers
all the fuel they could stand.
"0ther trains were hurriedly made
of fiat cars, box cars and anything
that would roll. Even then all did not
get away. There are many dead in
Cloquet."
Cloquet was town of about $500
population. More than 4,700 persons
were brought to Duluth and Superior
from there alone.
Information brought here by rescue
parties last night indicated that near
ly 100 bodies have been found on roads
leading to Duluth. Several burned
automobiles 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 definite
ly compiled for days, perhaps weeks.
Hundreds of panic stricken people have
gathered about the numerous lakes
in the burned area, and those reported
missing may be among them.
The town Of Iwlg on the Miller
trunk road, was wiped out.
Other towns reported as being en-
tirely destroyed include Rice Lake,
Brookston, Brevator, Arnold, Corona,
Adalph, Thompson, Moose Lake and
Wright.
There is no community within ra-
dius of thirty miles which has not sus-
tanned more or less damage, and each
has its quota Of dead and injured.
Both fire fighting and relief work is
being carried on under the direction
OF the Minnesota home guard and the
state officials.
The cities of Duluth and Superior
were not definitely out of danger un-
til Sunday. As it was property dam
age wrought Saturday will total more