, 1873-06-26


On Tuesday our mining editor made nprofoB-
aional visit to Miohigammi City md looked over
the mino OF tho Mtohigan>mi Company. At THAT
timo the forest on the north sido ct the location
WAS on fro, the flames taking hold OF al tho
combustiblo material within reach, and they
soomed to be raging in altogether too dangerous
proximity to tho improvements Of the location
to cause tho inhabitants to feel safe OF comforts
nble. ...,
Tho town was built in forest. Streets we're
not GRADED not but little moro than trails woro
used to get from ono house to another, while
tho whole surface Of tho location was covered
with stumpB, intersperBed with trees and qvorY
kind OF forest combnstiblo matter. It would
soon inevitable to the most casual observer that
tho location would hayo to burn over It fro
was fairly started in any part Of tho forest ad-
joining. The saw-mill-though to q great OK
tent separated from tho forest and the village
was surrounded with ahayings, ahiugles, lath,
aud lumber; and looked like 4 strong invitation
to fire: Hence the disaster OF Thursday
It aeoma that quito carly in thoday fire which
beyond Spur, woBt OF Miohigammi, oatno work.
ing down on the railroad, consuming most OF tho
improvements at Spur, aud driving tho 1nhabi-
tauts from tho foW houses thoro located to tho
forest north Of the location. Tho minors fought
1t manfully and succeeded in saving portion Of
the property OF the company. !.
Presently, Ra this fire approached MioAigamLst,
tho ono already burning at thin, place began to
manifest symptoms OF . dangerous sproad. ami
and tho population. At about o'clock lamos
broke out ii, tho village tho south eide ot the
railway, and, being onlivened by strong broeze.
Within fow 1ninutoa they wero kindled to such
m oxtont aa to grasp oyory stump, and root, anl
tree within range, and 1t soon swopt through tho
yillnge, where slight, tinder-box dwellings, and
places OF business woro crootod' amidst the
stumpB and dry timber Of partial clearing
Tho whole surface Of tho locality was but littlo
loBs than a magazine OF combustion, In tho most
oombustiblo form, aud the result 'waB ilamos
spread with such rapidlty that tho occupants Of
dwellings and places OF businesB llad barely time
women and children, and the terror Of tho whole
community cannot bo described. Men rushed
| wildly towara thoir houses to sayc thoir 'Hiyos
| and children = women Bhriekod for aid, and
children Walled for help, which did not Hoo1n
available. Yot, though tho fire ragged through
tho town, taking houses, tho troes. atumps, aud
fenoos, and all oso, with which 1t came in con-
| tact, tho inhabitants were fortunate enough to
| oscapo tho conilagration with thoir lyoA-aomo
with their clothing and somo without
homo with money aud valuabloa and some
wtthout-but tho 1argent proportion with
nothing but What covered thor bodies aa they
OF tho pooplo flod to tho shore of tho lakot and
many Of ttom with plauk, logs, md whasoier
eiao waa available, resortod to tho water for
safety. Some OF thom ut onoo moved out Into
THO lako somo distance, vhtlo othora kept near
| the shore. Many followed tho bush on tho
| south and sayod themselves Meanwhile tho
steam pumps at the saw-nlill wero kept at work
! and that property WAS saved. Everything o!Ao
| WAS swept out OF existence.
As soon IA tho disaster became known at tho
Office Of tho Marquette, Houghtoa 4 ontoaugon