Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1856-11-13
From the Detroit Tribune.
The Recent Fires i'm this
State.

No one not IN actuel observer, can imagine
the extent of the recent fires in this State
and the difficulty of going about in the
dense smoke. A private letter from Dr.
Copeland of Lansing TO relative in Roch-
ester and which is furnished to the Demo
Graf, affords the best idea of the true state
of things We have seen. 1t isas follows;
at commenced smoking last Monday,
and Thursday, the wind went down, and
there wasn't breath of air stirring. The
smoke all settled to the ground and almost
suffocating. Thursday, after o'clock you
couldn't see the path under your feet
About 8 o'clock, l started to go to the saw
mill, about one quarter of mile, and COM
ing back got lost twice; and over road
l krow as well as you do to go to G-,s.
81 passed the boarding house within ten
feet oft, and went to the end of the road,
about ten rods, and then knew not where l
was until l heard the boys laugh in the
house. One of our men started from his
house to get a pail of water at our well
the only one near-a distance of about
60 rods, and strait road, there are no fen
ces in this country, he made perfect circle
and got home without the water. The
stage on the plank road came in with man
on each leader; and another ahead with
lantern, and run off the plank and tipped
over twice at that.
"About 10 o'clock man was heard hal
looing; one of our men went out and an
swered him, and then there came up two
men and two women and wanted to know
where they were. They had been to
neighbor's to spend the evening, but couldn't
find their way back. l could mention
hundred that got lost and couldn't find the
way back.
One riding on horseback, the horse stop
ped, the man got off and found he had run
against a log; felt around for the road,
found it, but couldn't find his horse again
until Saturday, when the smoke began to
clear away, and found him just as he left
him. To-day is the first that we could see
any distance. The woods are on fire all
around, and l hear that the big march, about
8, 900 acres, is all burnt up. One man lost
100 tons ofhay. We have lived through |
It, but it did seem as if we couldn't breathe
sometimes"
A correspondent of the Madison IN. w
Observer gives still further accoun IS of the
levastations:
VERNON, (Shiawasse Coz Oct. 17th.-
This county has been visited with one of
he most severe droughts that ever occur
ed in this part of the State, within fifty
niles of where We live, over one hundred
thousand acres of land have heen burnt
,ver, doing immense damage. Now while
write, (about noon) the smoke is so dense
hat person cannot see three rods. Last
Sunday, in the adjoining town of Shiawasse,
over one hundred and fifty tons of hay were
ournt, besides deal in other places. One
# my neighbors had fodder enough to win
er seven head of cattle; but thedevouring
element has swept it all away. The coun-
y fair was held at Comma last week, and
,ne man that went to it Il hear) on re-
urning home, found his house, barn and
winter fodder for his stock all in ashes.-
The fire burns deep, and the trees fall thick
md fast. / understand that the fire has
wept from Saginaw Bay to about seventy
niles West the pine region, doing great
lamage to the timber. Schools are closed
m account of the smoke. The railroad
rains ring their bells continually while run
ling, and eight head of cattle have been
Tiled in the town within two days by the
ars.