The New York herald., 1871-10-27
Graphic Descriptions Of the Su0erings Of the
Foresters In Michigan.

EAsF SAGlNAw, MICH, Oct. II, l67ls
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
DEAR SlR-ln your paper you say that your
columns will be open to appeals for the relief for the
sufferers by fire in the Northwest. therefore write
this in the hope that may be the means OF giving
some little idea OF the needs OF tins section YOu
who are so far removed from the OF these dis
asrers cannot from anything that has been be
written form anything like an adequate idea OF the
extent OF the suerlng as we can who are IN the midst
OF IT, could III column after column Of your Journal
with the accounts OF destitutlon and suffering that
are coming to our notice day after day. While
would not If could do anything to interfere with
the relief Of Chicago, can say that ! have not q
doubt that the loss Of property In our State,
II it could be arrived az, would exceed that
in Chicago, while the loss of life Is much larger, and
the suffering can hardly be compared, for the fol-
lowing reasons-The news Of The calamity in Chi
cago came first, and oil responded nobly to her call
for aid. Besides, Chicago is accessible by rail from
all points, and the rebuilding OF the city will furnish
employment to most if not all or her laborers ana
mechanics. With us 1t Is different.
The suffering outside Of the villages is among
the pioneers in the wilderness, men who, during
years Of toll, have made their little clearngs built
their small houses and barns IN which were stored
all their goods and their loved ones, isolated en-
trey, their nearest nelghbors from one to ten miles
distant, and no means OF communication except by
very poor woods road Every day brings us news Of
families thus situated where the man and his vile,
after fighting fire 10 keep 1t from their buildings,
surrounded by thick smoke, so as 70 hide every.
thing more tnan few yards Distant
would be startled by The cries OF their children
and rush homeward to find their houses in flames
ana their children beyond hope OF rescue; others
where all are burned but the husband, and he
scorcned and blinded by the fire and smoke runs
fhn n nj m nfnQ
with his clothing burned OF and he Deref cf all that
would make this world desirable. In other In
stances families have as last resort taken refuge
in wells and came out over the ashes OF their entire
worldly possessions, having miles TO travel through
the woods 10 get even lnOrsel OF FOOD.
There are thousands Of families in this State that
have lost every dollar they had in the world and
think themselves blessed III having escaped with
their lives. The Detroit and other papers have
0iven you the accounts or villages on the shores
swept from the earth, inhabitants driven into the
lake. till the fire had passed, and then emerging to re.
clothing until relieved by boats All these people
must be provided with shelter ana clothing imme-
dately and must be fed until spring opens anu
they can care for themselves.
Michigan wants help. Our business men have re-
SpOnded nOby, but nearly all IN this section or the
State are themselves sufferers to greater or less
extent by the fires in their tmbered lands II we
needed the lesson. 1t seems TO me II has been taught
In the strongest manner possible that we are de.
pendent on each other and none OF US know why
we have been exempt unless to give us the means
OF relieving the sutferings OF those who two weeks
ago were better of than we; nor do we know that
In the next weeks we may not be applicants fol
las same aia tthat JIG SRd Or new, az
dressed to II. G. Potter Treasurer OF the East Sagi
nav Relief Committee, Will be properly distributed
Hoping that those whom God has spared tnei
homes, lives and property VIII be able to con
tribute to the relief OF our homeless ones, remalI
yours, SUBSCRIBER.