Harney, Hermantown, Kettle River, Lakewood, Lawler, McGregor, Maple Grove, Moose Lake, Munger, Pike Lake, Saginaw, Sturgeon Lake and Tamarack, plus Duluth suburbs Woodland, Calvary Road, Lakeside and Lester Park. More than 2,000 square miles were swept over by the fire; 559 persons lost their lives, thousands were injured; 11,000 families were left homeless, with more than $30,000,000 worth of property burned, before the fire was under control.

The Siirtokansan Kalenteri, even then being prepared for press, noted that 80% of those who suffered loss in the fire, or lost their lives in that holocaust, were Finns.

On the day after the fire the Governor of Minnesota ordered out the National Guard. Emergency assistance was rushed to the area; many organizations gave invaluable assistance to those in need. The Finns joined in this effort, starting an organization of their own, the Finnish Relief Society, for which O. J. Larson became chairman, Carl H. Salminen secretary and, J.S. Saari treasurer. The und drive was nationwide, and the collection brought in $36,000. Of that sum, $15,000 was turned over to the Red Cross, and the rest was distributed directly. In any case, however, it was long before the scars were completely healed. In Cloquet, for example, the loss of every

thing they had possessed, and the delays in receiving compensation for their losses, had a disastrous effect on Finnish organizations and what activities they were able to offer, more vital now than ever. The matter dragged out for years, and it finally took Federal action for adequate results to be achieved: in 1926 Congress passed legislation proposed by O. J. Larson, granting 40% compensation for property losses suffered and in 1935 an additional 35% to those who had suffered injuries.

Finnish Organizations in Cloquet: This was another of those communities in which the temperance movement was the first to appear on the scene: the Ilmarinen society joined the Tem

Cloquet workers' hall. Burned in 1918.

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