The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1871-11-30
AmARVELOUs RESCUE.

An Escape from Perils Of Fire
and FIOOd-FIOating An an
Open Boat.
A correspondent of the Detroit
Post, writing from Port Huron, of
date October 21st, says The recent
calamitous fires on the shore Of Lake
Huron are developing some things
stranger than fiction itself, and day
by day these marvellous things are
coming to light. One Of the reports
occasioned by the fire !. and which
had an extensive circulation at the
time, and excited a great deal Of
pity on the part of all whe listened
to it, was a rumor that VIM. Mann,
Of Rock Falls, had lost Eve children
Iby fire. It was stated that Mr..
Mann lived back from the shore a
short distance, and seeing the flames
approaching his house, hurried bis
five younger children from the house
and sent them to the shore, while
the parents and older children re-
mained to catch up some clothing,
intending to follow the children and
iovertake them. But when they an.
iri7ed at the lake the children could
tnot be found. Search was at once
made as far as circumstances would
allow, but no discovery was made,
and the frantic parents cane to the
conclusion that the children had
fallen victims to the fire fend. From
that time till to-day the parents
have had no clue to the whereabouts
Of them; but yesterday, Mr.. Par
sons, from Goderich, Ontario, arriv-
ed in this city in charge Of four
of the above named children,
and appeared at the rooms Of the
Ladies' Relief Society, stating that
they reached Kincardine in q sail
boat about a week ago from Rock
Falls. From the children I learned
that when they reached the shore
of Lake Huron a man, wife and four
children, came along with a sail
boat, and seeing the children in a
frightened condition, took them into
the boat in order to protect them
from the fire, intending to sail down
along the shore but a fierce wind
was blowing from the southwest,
and instead Of smuggling" they were
drifted out into the lake, and losing
the rudder, the boat became unman-
ageable, and they were left to drift
on the widest and most dangerous
part of Lake Huron. After three
days they drifted on the Canada shore
near Kineardine, having suffered
from sea sickness, cold and hunger
to an extent that almost beggars
description. One Of the children,
aged three years, died on the pass
age and was buried in Canada. The
wind blew fearfully while on their
passage, the waves often rolling
over them into the boat, compelling
them to constantly bail ont water in
order to keep afoat. The little girl
informs your correspondent that
they saw q large steamer bound
down in hailing distance, in the
daytime, and even exchanged words
with some on board, and pleaded for
help, but the steamer offered no
assistance and passed on, leaving
the little cargo 'Of11 persons to drift
wherever wind and wave might
take them.
When they reached Kincardine,
they were taken charge of by the
citizens Of that place, and sent to
GOderich, and were yesterday con.
yeyed to this city, where the Ladies'
Relief Society now have them in
charge. The Relief Committee at
once sent a communication to the
parents who now reside at Rock
Falls, that their children, save one
who died, were now here, and were
ready to be sent them when proper
instructions were given. The in
telligence will no doubt awaken q
thrill Of joy which parents heart
only can experience. The appear
anee Of the children yesterday after
noon excited the sympathy and pity
of all in attendance at the Relief
Rooms and many gathered round
them to hear their mournful, yet
romantic story. The oldest girl
carried the youngest child, only
eighteen months old, in her arms,
and seemed to care for it with 9
metherly tenderness.