The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-06-10
Wild Scene Mt q Church Dedication.

The Reading (Pa.) Eagle says: Rumors
were current on the street that a large
woods fire, in Upper Bern Township, had
destroyed barns and burned many horses
and cattle. Subsequently it was learned
from people who were in attendance that
the woods near the new st. Michaels
Church, in that township, were accident
ally set on fire during the dedicatory
services, i'm the afternoon, and that q
number of horses and carriages were
burned. These conveyed people to the
church, and were tied up at railing
near the woods and through the woods.
Mr.. Oliver ID. Shock, the Eagle cores
pondent at Hamburg, was present at the
fire. He writes that the CONSERVATION
and the scene that ensued was terrific
beyond description. 1t was about two
o'clock in the afternoon and the church
was packed. Rev. Il. G. Lienbach of
Womelsdorf, was reading scriptural
lesson, when of sudden the terrible
cry of fire was raised. One of the men,
bers rushed rapidly forward to Rev. Mr..
Iweizig in the pulpit and informed him
that the dry trees and leaves of the ad-
joining grove were on fire, and that all
the horses and carriages therein were in
danger of being burned up. Mr.. Zwei-
zig Immediately announced it, and imme-
diately a wild panic ensued; everybody
rushed to get out, and when the congre-
cation reached the burning woods the
flames shot up, and many of the poor
horses were literally surrounded by fire,
the flames shooting up fully twelve feet.
The people at once set to work to extin-
guish it. The scene was terrible to be-
hold. Horses neighed and whinnied in
their agony; people screamed, men
rushed backward and forward, excited
and anxious to render assistance; brave
men rushed through the flames and cut
the halter straps of the tied-Ip horses;
the animals then, finding themselves
loosened, ran away, dashing the carriages
against the burning trees; men with
rakes and clubs and other articles set to
work vigorously to beat out the fire;
women screamed and stood in terror,
viewing scene that few people are ever
called upon to witness, and above the
noise and din of everything could be
heard the dying shrieks and groans Of
the poor horses and the pistol shots send
ing bullets through the heads of the
animals to kill those that were burned
almost to death. ! shall never forget
the sickening sight, and those that were
present were of the same opinion. All
was hurry and excitement. A high
wind prevailed, and heavy sparks de-
scended hundreds of yards away. At
one time fears were entertained that the
church would be swept away in the fiery
element, bat the work of brave and de-
termined men spared that community
from any further calamity. 1t was a
terrible day for Upper Bern, and ! saw
men stand in tears viewing the suffering
of the dying horses as the flesh quivered
with pain. The scene that followed is
beyond description. After the excite
ment was partially subducd ] learned
that the woods had been accidentally set
on fire by gentleman who was lighting
his cigar. A lighted match fell from his
hands. During the excitement gentle
man named Luckenbill, who was cutting
the horses loose in the woods, accidentally
inflicted serious wound in his cheek,
which was dressed by DR.. Potteiger, Of
Hamburg.