KFA'IKWS 8^9 



sufficientl}- large organization to tighl a similar "\isiiation of Divine 

 wrath" whenever it may occur in the future, but prefer to await its 

 coming, and then do what they can to repair the damage and succor the 

 stricken after it is passed. 



In the light of the situation created by the State Forester's version, 

 the following passages are especially noteworthy : 



General Conditions. — "Except for the continuation of the dry weather (the sea- 

 son being the driest for 48 years), the general meteorological conditions on the 

 morning of October 12 were not unusual for the season. The weather map, based 

 cm the 8 a. m. observations of that date, showed a low barometric pressure area 

 of moderate strength centered over western Ontario, the inclosing isobar being 

 29.6 inches (corrected to sea-level pressure), and an area of high barometer 

 of 30.2 inches extending from Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada to Washington; so 

 that the air-pressure gradient zvas by no means extraordinary. Fair weather and 

 winds from westerly directions, fresh or moderately strong (about 30-miIe-an- 

 hour rates), were indicated, and in addition a 'small-craft' wind warning was 

 ordered displayed on western Lake Superior at 10:30 a. m. All of this was given 

 the usual publicity." 



Wind Velocities. — "At Duluth the weather was clear until about 12:30 p. m.. 

 when smoke began moving in from westerly sources; but, because of the oc- 

 casional previous occurrence of such a condition, the smoke attracted little at- 

 tention. After 2 :30 p. m. it increased considerably, the sun appearing red or being 

 altogether obscured most of the time thereafter — a manifestation common to fires 

 of unusual character. The wind gradually increased also, reaching 30 to 40 mile 

 rates from the west at times until about 3 .p. m. After that hour there was a 

 steady rise to gale proportions, 50 to 60 mile rates from the west-southwest-north- 

 west occurring between 4:15 p. m. and 9 p. m. After this hour the wind con- 

 tinued at 40-mile velocities until about 2 a. m. of the 13th, subsiding materially 

 thereafter. The highest 5-minute rate was 65 miles an hour from the west at 

 : :52 p. m., while the extreme speed for a less period was 76 miles about that time." 



Cause of High IVind. — "Careful consideration of the available facts seems to 

 warrant the conclusion that the major force of the gale which prevailed during 

 the late afternoon and night of October 12 was fire-created. . . . Reliable 

 reports show that in the immediate vicinity of the big fires the effect was com- 

 parable to a grate fire of enormous proportions ; that there was an accompanying 

 air movement or combustive draft of hurricane force; that the wind velocity was 

 inmicasurably greater in the immediate vicinity of the fires than it was a few 

 miles distant, as in Duluth ; and that there was a very noticeable decrease of wind 

 from the fire zone outward. It has been estimated by some that while the wind 

 at the Weather Bureau Station was blowing at the rate of 60 miles an hour, it 

 must surely have been blowing at a rate of 80 to 90 miles adjoining the fire fronts 

 from two to six miles or more distant from the station. There was an attendant 

 deafening roar of fire and wind combined. In numerous instances people were 

 thrown flat on the ground, and some automobiles were overturned by the wind in 

 the vicinity of the fires. There are no authenticated cases of such accidents as 

 these at the time except near the fire fronts. In many instances the rescue auto- 

 mobile engines and radiators were found to be clogged or covered with quantities 

 of sand and gravel blown upon them in the fire districts. This sort of trouble 

 was not experienced elsewhere during that period." 



