MANY DEATHS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 March 1941, Page 5

MANY DEATHS

CAUSED BY SUDDEN COLD WAVE IN U.S.A. MOTORISTS PERISH ON LEAVING CARS. PARTY ADRIFT ON ICE ON LAKE SUPERIOR. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright! NEW YORK, March 16. Twenty-three persons were found dead today in eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota as the result of a sudden cold wave in which the wind reached a velocity of 85 miles an hour. Hundreds of automobiles were stalled or in ditches along the highways. Many victims apparently perished after leaving their cars and attempting to walk in the gale and bitter cold. The authorities are trying to locate a bus which broke down beween Grand Forks and Larimore. It is believed that 10 persons spent the night in it. A message from Lanse, Michigan, states that between 30 and 37 persons, including two women, are in danger of freezing and drowning on an icefloe which broke and was swept into Lake Superior while they were fishing through iceholes. Six were washed ashore on smaller pieces, indicating that the floe is breaking, increasing the peril of those remaining on it. Twenty-flve-foot waves, ice and zero visibility prevented coastguard attempts at a rescue.