Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-07-24
A ~eMrfnl Experiences.


Fearful Experience.
A Michis IN paper publishes o pri-
yate letter from State Senator Nc
6owan TO his wife, giving an account
Oh the great fire at Michigan on the
18th ult. After describing the spread
OF the flames IN the forests surrounds
Ing the village, he says:
"Wc saw 1t was useless for us to try
to do anything except, if possible,
save our lives. We ran to the lake
and got out on point. But the direc-
ton of the shore was east and west,
and the fire was sweeping right down
upon us. went to the edge Of the
water and looked up and down. The
line Of safety seemed to be in the wa
ter. and in went. I picked up Q
board six or eight feet long and waded
out to get better view Of the situa-
ton. just east of me | saw some
men trying to get hewn stick into
the lake. went to them. but they
had given it up and were looking for
boards. urged them to put in the
timber, and. at my solicitation, they
tried 1t again and we succeeded in
launching it. One of the men had
plank, and had my board. We
laid the board and plank across the
timber, which was probably twenty
five feet long, and with this raft six
of US put to sea in the teeth Of fnri-
GUS wind that sought to drive US into
the fire. After struggling awhile l
told the men to keep the timber from
turning, and I clambered mp astride
Of it, near the "bow' end, aud with
my board for a paddle, ] struck out.
It was terrible work. The winds and
the waves were against ms. The lake
was white with foam. We had made
about four miles from shore, when one
of the tallest men, letting himself
down. said his feet were on q rock.
Our strength was almost exhausted, SO
we told him to hold us. slipped
down from my wooden horse, and on
examination we found the rock large
enough to allow two of us to stand on
it. We took a long breath. and went
into committee OF the whole on the
situation. RI we should undertake
to row our craft further from the fire,
we would soon be overcome, and then
be blown directly into it. The unani-
nous verdict was that we would take
our chances there. The fire was
around US, above us, everywhere. The
water was full of struggling people.
We held to the siick. Two Of us
would stand on the rock at time and
anchor the rest, who floated like sea
weeds from along the sides of the
timber. When the hot air swept
down upon us, we put our faces close
to the water and shut our mouths.
For an hour and a half we were there
in the water, and became terribly
chilled.
By and by the worst of the fire was
over, and couple Of Swedes came
toward us with boat. I was the
worst used up of any of the party,
! thoroughly chilled and exhausted.
My companions called to them to
come aud take me of. They helped
me into the boat, and the Swedes
took me to the little steamer which
was anchored further out into the
lake. gave them 50 to 60 back and
bring of another of the boys who
was also badly chilled. AS soon az ]
got aboard the boat | commenced
wringiug. my clothes as well as !
could aud exercising all ] was able.
The hot air and smoke had made my
lungs so sore that could not breathe
deep, and every breath was painful.
However, the air was still warm from
the fire, and gradually grew warm
er. We cent every boat we could after
the people in the water and on the
points, until at last our little steamer was
loaded. The fire had swept by where
our raft was, and the balance of our
little party had let loose from the rock
and foated ashore. We were all
saved. The mill was still standing,
but not out of danger. After they
had sounded the whistle, the people
commenced gathering there. cannot
describe the scene here. don't want
to try. Tho women and children and
men rushing about and CRYING and
absent ones. You may imagine it,
don't ask me to tell 1t. The whole
village was burned. Out Of l2o
houses, only three were left standing,
and one of those was burned before
we left. 1t was impossible to toll how
many lives were lost"