South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-15
FIRE REFUGEES
TAKE UP SEARCH
FOR THEIR DEAD
A Thousand People Estimated
Dead and so Square Miles
Stripped Clean in Big
Forest Fire.

MOOSE LAKE, Mimi, oct Is
Men and women of the Moose Lake
district of Minnesota. driven by fire
from their homes, penniless many
OF them wearing clothing furnished
by charitable relief workers, today
took up search for their dead
Barred by the military authorities
from leaving the city. they wandered
between long lines of bodies III the
imprOvised mOrgues here. searching
for loved ones who have not been
heard from since the forest fires laid
waste this section Of Minnesota and
a portion Of northern Wisconsin four
days ago.
Motor trucks arriving at frequent
intervals, brought in more and more
bodies, and the sad vigil of the
watchers continued throughout the
night.
Find 300 Charrcd Bodies.
During the past "A hours the
bodies of three hundred victims nave
been found in the charred no mans
land. which before the fire formed
the smiling shores of Moose Lake.
The bodies, some OF which We're
taken TO Duluth. were SO batly
charred that identi. alton will be
difficult Searchers nave been on
duty for ten hours, but there has
been as yet no Stacking Of the pace,
or shortening of intervals at which
the bodies are brought in. Adjutant
General Rhinow tonight estimated
that the number of dead in the
Moose Lake and Kettle river,regions
alone might reach five hundred.
These. with the other dead from
adjoining regions. VIII, it is be
lieved, swell the list Of dead 10 near
the 1000 mark.
Improvised hospitals here and the
permanent institutions at Duluth,
are caring for thousands of more or
less injured refugees. many Of whom
are in a critical condition.
Double Rescue Force.
The force of rescue workers will
be doubled tomorrow, General Rhi-
now said. Up to this time only the
main roads have been explored.
Many persons are believed TO have
been drowned in lakes in which
they took refuge from the terrific
heat. thinking the fire might pass
them by. Many refugees here. in a
serious condition from exposure, said
they stood for hours in ice cold water
while the flames RACED above them.
Rural residents, refugees say. were
given but a moments notice before
the fiery hurrican swept down upon
them. a pail OF smoke had hung
over the country for hours, and
a majority believed the holocaust TO
be merely the fall fires which are
annual occurrences. When the dan
ger became apparent they rushed
into cellars or huddled together
wherever a slight depression in the
ground seemed to promise prOtec-
ton. Whole families have been
found suffocated, their bodies burn
ed 10 a crisp In a majority of cases.
physicians say death was caused by
suffocatiOn, and was merCifully pre-
ceded by unconciousness
Omcials in charge Of relief work
still are unable TO make an accurate
estimate of the material damage re-
sulting from the fire. Il was said.
however. that in this district alone
fifty square miles has been stripped
clean Of timber. crops, livestock and
human habitatiOn.
No further danger is anticipated
although the conhagration continues
in isolated areas. Fires south and
southwest Of Cass lake. driven by a
high wind. were said 20 be gaining
tonight with the city directly in the
path of the flames. but il was be-
lieved efforts Of the fire fighters
would prevent the fire from attain
ing serious proportions