The Portland daily press., 1881-09-10
MIGHIGAN'S TERRIBLE VlSI-
TATION.
A startling Catalogue of Disasters.

A Starting Catalogue OF DISASTERS.
PoRT HURON, Mich, Sept. 9--The under
signed make this second report, after visiting
the burnt regions and receiving the reports of
a large number of persons familiar with the
facts and in most instances giving us the
names of the victims and sufferers already
ascertained in twenty towns in Sanilac and
Huron counties. We find over 200 persons de-
stroved by the fire, including entire families
lost, We have lists already of more than 1900
families burned out, in most cases losing
houses, barns, cattle, horses, grain, hay
everything of which they. had, in most in
stances. abundant possession few hours be-
fore-without food, shelter clothing, and al
most without hope. They huddle together in
crowds or wander haf-crazed alone till help
comes to them. They must not PERISH they
must not become exies; they must have good
clothing, habitations, winter wheat for SOW
ING. grass seed, hay, thousand things, till
next harvest comes. We will do all we can,
but the calamity is overwhelming and beyond
our utmost means to relieve alone. The gem
erosity of the American people is proverbial.
lions to Hon. E. q. Carlton, mayor of Port
Huron and chairman of the relief committee.
(Signed) o. D. CoNGER,
w. L. BANCROFT.
Aid from Cincinnati.
CrNcrNNArr. o., Sept. 9.-The Chamber of
Commerce has ordered 1.-THE appointment of a
COMMITTEES to solicit aid for the sufferers from
the fire in Michigan.
[sEooND DISPATCH.
Drrpo1r. Sent. "Details continue to come
in relative to the destruction by forest fires
Huron and Sanilac counties have been the
principal theatre of the greatest destruction
and suffering. An eye witness states that
darkness and copper colored SKI preceded
the approach of the fire. Later the sky changed
to deep red and Monday afternoon it became
so dark that lanterns were necessary for people
to find their way This state of affairs lasted
until about s o'clock Wednesday morning.
when the wind shifted from west to north,
cooling the air and bringing slight relief. In
the woods were many scorched and charred
bodies The high winds that prevailed cut off
nearly every avenue of escape, and large burn
ing masses would be lifted up bodily and borne
along for great distance, starting fresh fires
in fresh places. The fleeing people were caught
in fire traps and roasted. Up to "Wednesday
night forty-five bodies had been found within
mile In Paris township many are missing,
most of them Poles The whole settlement,
buildings fences, crops, &c, was swept clean.
In Delaware township all the country south OF
Forestville, from the lake seven miles back,
there is hardly anything left, not one house to
the square mile They were new settlers and
had small clearings, and the fire swept them
away like hurricane. They lose all they had
and owe for the places. Many of them tied to
the lake and the shore line has been crowded
with human beings, cattle and everything that
could get to the water. Eye witnesses from
Forestville say that the utmost confusion pre-
vailed and many could not see. one man,
who had lost his all, was both blind and crazy
and had to be led to the lake. North OF SAM
lac the fire on Monday night was terrible,
sweeping away almost everything, but 1t
seemed to leave the houses. The people mere
did not know any fire was near them until 1t
was on them, and they had to run for the lake.
A large party of men have gone TO Dury the
dead beasts ia Frestir township.
man who has been on the road since Mon
day reports he has seen 116 burned bodies at
one place He saw four wagons bearing eight
coffins, with one man walking behind, all
alone; it was his family. Another man was
following three coffins Wednesday night, the
burningzsdistrct between Deckersviie and
Sand Beach was visited by rain storm, which
put out considerable portion OF the ire, and
there is a clearer atmosphere. The tires now
appear to be abating
A dispatch from Port Austin, at the top OF
the burned peninsular, sums up the general de-
struction as follows: The loss of lives by the
forest fires on Monday and Tuesday, is esti-
mated from 200 to 3O0 and the following villa
ges were burned: Badaxe, Verona, Forest
Bay Richmondville, Charleston, Anderson,
Deckersville Harrisonville, Sandinskie. The
following are partly burned: Port Hope, Min
den and Ubly The great loss in villages is
nothing to that in the country.
Reports from Saginaw, Tuscola and Lapeer
counties, one tier back from the lake, do not
approach the losses in the shore counties, al
though in each of these counties hundreds OF
thousands of dollars worth of property have
been destroyed. The latest reports from all
these counties encourage the belief that rain
has visited many sections, and that the deluge
of flame is largely subsiding.
At large public meeting held here this
evening $4,000 was subscribed for the sufferers.