Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-10-26
The Fire in the Northwest.

PORT HURON, OcloDcI II. iiiC ''.''iii
err Fessenden arrived last night from
Port Austin, where she had been ordered
by Secretary Boutwell, to relieve the sui
ferers along the lake shore. She TOOK up
a large amount of supplies, which were
distributed under the direction Of the
Hon. O. D. Conger. Along the shore OF
tbe lake from Lexington and Sanilac,
and across the waters Of Saginaw Bay,
hangs low, dense cloud of smoke, rem
doring navigation very difficult. Port
Austin is town of 600 inhabitants, stu
ated on sandy bluff, with staring white
salt works at the waters edge. Ihe town
had been cut off from mail and telegraphic
facilities for nearly week.
Pack from Port Austin so dead bodies
have already been found. Some lie on
their faces suffocated only, in the appa-
rent attempt to crawl under the sitting
smoke for breath Of air. Others arc
crisyied black In the fields nd1woodss
lie also the bodies of sheep, horses, and
cattle. On Il clay road running from Da-
Vile to Pinnepog, and near the town OF
Paris. back of White Rock, q passenger
saw nearly 1000 people sitting by the
road side, still in the condition in which
the fire found them in their beds, with
out clothing, helpless, dying groups OF
men, women, and children.
THE LOSSES.
Besides the loss of timber and lumber,
fine farms have been destroyed. Not
only the grain and stores OF this year
have gone, but the seed for next years
ha a..ycsts. In many places the fire has
actually eaten up the soil.
Mr.. james Miller Of Port Hope, WHO
went over as much Of the burned town.
ships Of Rubicon, Verona, and Sand
Beach as was possible, reported no dwcl-
ling standing for fifteen miles. lie saw
rroups of houseless and half naked ialni-
lies, who have nothing to eat but the half
roasted potatoes remaining in the ground,
and the meat of cattle burned to death.
Unless relief is speedily sent to them
large numbers must perish.
At Port Hope on Monday afternoon,
the people built counter fire i'll the
south part of the town, near Deans tam
merry, in the hope OF saving it. But in
the meantime a fire broke out from Il
field of stumps in the western section,
and swept through the place.
The stage, 81 large load of passengers.
was Lcmmcd in by the fire on the road
between Rock Falls and Elm Creek. The
driver and passengers escaped. Ihc
horses and wagon were burned.
At Port Hope the fire rushed through
the village cutting Il sharp, well-dci!ned
swath, like the course OF cannon ball.
1t cut off the piazza of house and left
the house standing, and moved uown
fences without burning the buildings.
Several women and children ut Center
uorbor found shelter in shanty sur
rounded by the flames. Two or three
mon with them drew shawls over their
heads. plunged through the fire and
smoke to tho lake, dipped mp water by
the pailful at time, poured it upon their
house of refuge and barely succeeded in
saving it.
THE FEARFUL VELOCITY OF THE FIRE
lashed by the gale was marvellous. ~
Mrs, Richards Of Rock Falls, on her way
to neighbor's, was struck down i'll the
rond and burned TO death. Mr.. Corbctt
of White Rock was also burned to death
while walking in the road. Seven chill
dren of Mr.. Mann, living between Rock
Fails and ELM Creek, ran from home
and the fire and have not been heard from
since.
The wife of Mr.. Charles Mcmillan of
Paris was confined to her bed with
child only few hours old. The fire
drove her from the bed with the babe i'll
her arms, q child in one hand, and two
other children followinghcr. Hermother,
a little way behind her, was caught by
the flames whilo passing through the
rate way and perished there.
The captain of the City of Sandusky,
which arrived in Saginaw on Friday,
saws w Tawas and Alabaster arc completely
surrounded by flames, and the lire was
ox,o,.-tii,,cr hpfOrp it.
THE STORY OF WHITE ROCK SUFFERER.
Thompson Bros, of White Rock, gave
the following account of the fire which
swept over that village:
On Sunday about midnight the fires
were first discovered TO emerge from the
woods and come with such fury that the
inhabitants had barely time to escape
with their lives. The wind at this time
was blowing from the south, when all at
once it suddenly changed to the west and
blew a perfect hurricane, carrying tho
licking flames In perfect sheet Tor the
distance of at least one quarter of mile,
fillinr the air with blazing boards, pick
cts. &c. At this crisis the inhabitants
were compelled to plunge into the lake
I'M to their necks to escape from the fiery
elements. The scene was perfectly ter
rific-children screaming, women crying
and praving, while the men were busily
engaged in continually throwing the wa
ter on those around them to prevent
them from being literally scorched and
blistereG, In this condition l5Q persons
were held in suspense for iourlong hours.
TO add to the indcscribable horror.
THE CRIES AND suRIEKs FOR HELP
from others who had taken refuge on the
extreme end of tho pier were continual
ly ringing in our ears. AS soon rs the
domes and smoke had somewhat subsid-
ed we made our way to the beach, and
there, in one huddled mass, remained
until day light, at which time some OF
orr nartv proceeded up the bank to where
our village had but few hours previous.
ly stood. They returned informing us
that the barn of Robert Mumford had