New-York tribune., 1918-10-14
Thousands Homeless.
Loss Reaches Million,
Rumors That Cerma,
Agents Started Holocaust
Are Being Investigated

DULUTH, Mimi, Oct. 13.-w#,
probably 500 persons dead. thousand.
homeless and without clothing an.
with property damage amounting fs,
into the millions Of dollars, whole SCI,
tions of Northern Wisconsin and Mir.
nesota timber land tonight are smou.
dering, fire-stricken areas, with ouA
the charred ruins of abandoned. a.
populated towns to accentuate the gen
eral desolation.
The bodies of seventy-iive victim,
arc in Duluth morgucs. Hundreds nor.
along the roads leading TO Duluth ani
Superior lay where they fell whe,
overtaken by the fire.
\ 10000 Homeless in Duluth
Twelve thousand homeless and penn
less refugees. all in need, more or lex
Of medical attention, are qua,tered +,
hospitals, churches, schools, privs.,
homes and in the armory here, whis
doctors and nurses sent from surround
ing communities attend them, am
nearly every ablebodied man in tn
city has been conscripted to fight TIA
flames, which now arc reported to b
dying away.
Reports that the holocaust results
from the work OF enemy agents wsr
circulated here tonight. Definite con
frmation was not available. but il
cendiaries were driven away from
local sh;pyard when the fires in Dulut
ard Superior were burning at thei
height, according 20 F. J. Longren, fl
marshal, and other city and stat
officials.
Say Danger Is Past
Reports reaching here by courier tol
Of widespread destruction, but it v;
evident that in most eases the ful
Of the flames was spent. Duluth al
Superior are in 10 further danger.
Virginia is safe and Bvainerd ",
untouched. However, peat bog FIJI
now are said to menace the latter cit
Bermidji reported only a small loss.
Greatest loss OF life and proper
damage is believed 10 have occurn
in the Cloquet region, where nun
Der OF towns have been destroyed ar
all semi-rural settlements virtual
wiped out.
A special train of twenty coacht
brought 1900 refugees from Cloqu
and Carleton. They confirmed report
that many persons lost their lives
those towns.
Survivors Thrilling Story.
+ Albert Michaud, 4 special policeman
told tragic story Of the burning 0
/ Cloouct and Of the mad rush of j.
residents 10 escape.
al 6 o'clock last night fores
ranger gave warning that unless til
wind died down the towns people woul
have TO fiee," said Michaud. A thc
pail OF smoke hung over the town an
at o'clock the special trains wen
called.
The scene at the station was inde
scribable. There came rush of win.
and the entire town was in flames
! lhe tlsins pulled out with the fire
blazing closely behind them. WomeI
wert and clung to their children, whli
others cried frantically for their mis-.
ing ones. The flames licked at th'
cars. Windows in the coaches were
broken by the heat. The engineers anl
'lremer alternately stocked, to give the
boilers all the fuel they could stand
! "Otfor trains were hurriedly msd'
oi fiat cars, box cars and anything
that would roll. But even then al
d ( rot get away. There aye MANI
dead in Cloquet."
Cloopet was . town with ABOUT 7,jN
population. More shan 4.70o persom
we're brought to Duluth 4nd superic'
from there alone.
Bodies Lie Along Roads
Information broueht in by resca.
: parties here tonight indicated tbs;
nearly one hpndred bodies have bes'
found en- roads leading 80 Duluth. Se''
eral turned automobiles flied vlIa
/ bodies We're passed by 'he Tescuer.
Other bodies are beng brought frc,r.
! every village and hamlet stricken D.
ne galedriyen fires.
lhe list OF dead VIII not be oofHite3
complied for days PEI haps weeks. H1,
! dreds OF panic-stricken Neople naS
gathered about the numerous lakes y
ne burned area. and those repoF'e
missing may be among thom. .....
( The town OF Twig, on the MFG
( Trunk Road. was wiped cut
Other towns reported as being eg
! tirely destroyed include Rice Las
Brookstca, Brevator Corona. Adopss
. Thompson, Arnold. Moose Like sa'
Wright.
There is 70 community pithn {
radius of thirty miles which has nv.
sustained more or. less dan age sns
each has its quota o. dead and nlurss
Both fire fighting and relief wo''
are being carried on under the direcn9il
OF the Minnesota Home Guard "s'
State officials.
Big Cities Threatened.
The cities of Duluth and Superlss,
were not 6etiS-----y out OF danger uns,,
n N..N. 7l.th