Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-17
Thrilling Account Of the Recent For
est Fires Near Upton, Can.

- ~N-
A Montreal special of September 8
to the Chicago Times gives the follow
ing thrilling account of the terrible
devastation wrought by. bush fires in
the vicinity of Upton, Can:
The people Of Upton, in one of the eastern
counties of this State. are overwhelmed with
a sudden catastrophe. On sunday the farm
ers and their happy wives and children assem-
bled from the country round at the parish
church, looking well and prosperous, contcPs
ed with harvest, better than the average,
carefully slowed away in their barns ON
Monday night many Of these same families
were flying homeless and destitute along the
roads, pursued by relentless fire that had
snatched away their homes and happiness,
and was seeking to involve them, too, in its
fury. Upton has been the center of very
wealthy agricultural class, comprising
many French Canadians, who having got
wealth in the States, returned to pass
the remainder of their days among the
quiet scenes of their native land. To
these the calamity will be double bitterness.
As nearly as can be estimated the fire has
unhoused one hundred and twenty-five fami-
lies, or about eight hundred and fifty souls.
These are at present huddled together In the
small village of Upton aud surrounding
parishes, in barns and sheds, and with their
neighbors who have been fortunate enough to
escape. One man named Mallette, who has
harbOred thirty-six of the refugees on his
premises, says the distress of the women aud
children would draw tears from the most
stolid. The fires have lasted for the last week,
and were caused by the burning of stubble
and trees. On Monday afternoon strong
breeze sprang up and famed the flames into
dimensions beyond human control. This wind
fortunately blew from the village of Upton,
which contained about one thousand inhabi-
tants so that the risk which 1t ran was con-
siderably diminished.
The devastating work of the flames has
been along three principal roads-Ste. Char
lotte, ste. Helene and ste. German. Last
night the Times correspondent drove out on
the Ste. Helene road along the route of the
greatest destruction. ON starting man was
seen, the very picture of despair, leaning
against the side of stable, his hands in his
pockets. He stated that his name was j.
Touhon, and that his two barns, filled with
grain and one thousand bundles of hay, had
been consumed, with his poultry, cattle and
farming implements BY desperate eXertions
he had saved his house, but the future looked
blank enough for him. Driving ahead, we
came to the house where Lewis Cliche, for
merly the wealthiest man in the parish, was
stopping. He appeared with his hair all
scorched, and his ears, nose and hands terribly
burnt. He had one of the finest houses OF the
range, and had stacked the produce OF two
farms into his barns. he had saVeu MS iainlly,
but his cattle, swine, horses, carriage and mousse
were consumed. Further along the road we
met L. Cliche, Jr., and inquired What he mad
saved. Throwing open his coat he exclaimed: j:
That is ALL" When the fire was increasing
he was three miles away, and rushing through
the burning forest, he found his home aban-
doned by all save the cattle, wniGh . were pei pei
of no insurance. A strong north WIND was
blowing, and it was hard to refrain from chat
tering with cold, but we soon experienced a
change as we drove into the burning district.
Pelting ashes, and cinderS, ana not blasts OF
air warmed us up while the startled horse
sped forward with more speed than was pleas
ant over the smoking corduroy roads beneath.
DR.. Gauthier, who 80 narrowly escaped with
several scars from the bush, met us and warned
us not TO go too far, as the wind was rising.
Here and there along the road stood the uten-
sils of household abandoned in the race with
the all conquering fire.
1t was a sad sight TO view the blaclIened ru-
| FMS of so many homes. What maple, poplar,
! hemlock and tamarack adorned the landscape
was nHughU but smoking cinders. The
scorched fields of grain and the burnt crops
| of corn, potatoes and oats could be seen on
| either hand, with cattle, sheep and swine
| roasting in the trenches. The place where
stood the house of Currier was reached. The
! barns and stables had been leveled to- the
ground. The driver pointed out the spot
where the charred remains of the grandfather,
| his son and grandson were discovered. The
| grandfather had lain himself out in a ditch
! but the extreme heat had curled him up sc
! that he stood on his head and feet. Under
him frightened hare had taken refuge and
when the poor old man was moved 1t dartec
| out across the smoking fields, its worthless
| life saved by the death of n human being
Along the road were frequently met dreary
/ cavaicades returning from their hopeless
! search in the ruins. Pierre Cote gave vivid
narrative. Like similar case in the great
fire in Chicago his house stands in the mid
die of the burnt district and is the only one
remaining for miles around. By his exertions
/ he had saved everything. At the first he teC
/ with his family, but had not gone far wher
! he determined to see the last of it. The fire
! had taken hold in several places, and he ther
| wished to make his escape, but saw the impoS
| sibility of so doing; so he set to work witt
| what water he had and with the earth around
| He disconnected his fences and chopped dow1
! the beams of his barn, that had lgnited. The
] heat was most intense. One OF his horses was
/ very badly burnt, and will probably die. Thi:
family did not leave until they could not see
each other in the house, on account or the
| great smoke.
The return TO Upton gave US some idea OF
| the terrible grandeur of some of the scenes IN
q brush fire. Night had fallen, and strong
! wind was blowing, making the SmOlderlna
/ flames shoot up on every hand, illuminating
| the darkness of the night. At dawn We set ou
for the St. Charlotte road, where even the log
/ of the corduroy road are fast consuming. fo
/ miles the drive was unrelieVed by the sight o
a human hnbitation. ditch crossing IN
road is covered with planks, and in this cayit!
thus formed, three human lives were saved
Two men named Roy and Robinette wer
escaping with their families on cart ana SOM
articles Of household furniture. The Vlolen
wind which caused the fire to assume so grea
proportions, blew Roy and two OF the wOmel
on the cart, with feather bed, into the road
The frightened horse could not be stopped
and they were left to the mercy of Providence
and their own wits. The road ditch was thei
only chance, and into il they erawled, an
stuffed the entrance with the feather ped. IN
whole night long, the old man assured us, wa
spent in repeating Ave Marias and pater nos
tiers.
AT small clearing OF tnree or IOur houses
saved by the greatest eXertion, fifteen o
twenty families were found huddled together
Some of the men had gone to st. Liboirt
where a merchant, j, b. LerouxShad ohere
to supply them with bread. Those remainin
behind were in hourly terror of the effects
a strong wind were to arise. On the Ste. Gel
main road, which leads northeast, while ST
| Helene goes to the north and ste Charlotte I
the northwest of Upton, the same dismal tale
were told, whole families hOuseless and sui
sisting on the generosity of a few neighbors.
The fine stretch of woodland from ST
| Dominique to DrummoudYille, about thirt
miles in length, has been laid in ashes. an
but a few farm-houses in a width of hftee
miles have escaped. The damage done
about three hundred thousand dollars, an
Rfteed hundred people are homeless. IN
| loss to the soil is almost irretrieVable. tn
insane policy of burning the bush may
length be understood, Dut right at the bordt
of Upton village, yesterday, an old man name
GarVeau started 10 burn the rubbish an
stubble of his farm, which had luckily es
capped The astonished anger of the villager
however, proved too much for Garyeau an
his little illumination. IL is difficult 10 ~
bread in Upton, so great is the demand. Som
means of assistance must be organized for Il
destitute families who have nothing for u
winter. 1t is probable that great number
will be forced to leave the desolated distri'
and take up their residence in Canadian {
, American cities for the winter.