The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-09-15
HUNDREDS LOST.
Scorched and Charred Bodies in the
Woods Of Michigan.

pal theatre of the greatest destruction
and suffering. An eyewitness states
that darkness and a copper-colored
sky preceded the approach of the Are.
Later the sky changed to a deep red,
and Monday afternoon 1t became 40
dark that lanterns were Necessary for
people to find their way about. This
condition of affairs continued until
8 o'clock Wednesday morning, when
the wind shifted from west to north,
cooling the air and bringing a slight
relief In the woods were many
scorched and charred bodies, which
presented a revolving appearance. The
high winds that prevailed cut off
nearly every avenue of escape, and
large burning masses would be lifted
up bodily and borne along for great
distance. In many instances these
burning masses started fires in fresh
places. The skill and courage of man
seemed impotent to combat with such
flames, and the fleeing people were
caught in the fire-traps and roasted
One farmer who was ploughing with
his oxen few miles from Sand Beach
perceived the approaching darkness
and started for his house. On reach
ing home he found that his wife had
gone to neighbor's. He then took
two of his children, his eldest
daughter taking the others. Before
going many rods they found them
selves cut off by the flames. The
farmer then hurried in another drec-
tion and escaped with the two chill
dren. His daughter and the other
three children were found next day in
a heap charred beyond recognition.
Up to Wednesday night As bodies had
been found within mile. In Paris
township many are missing, most of
them Poles. The whole settlement.
buildings, fences, crops, etc., was
swept clear. In Delaware township.
| all the county 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 like a hurricane
They lose all they had and owe for
their places. Many of them fled to
| the lake. The shore line has been
crowded with human beings, cattle
and everything that could get to the
water. Eye witnesses say that the
utmost confusion prevails. 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 Sanilac the fire on Monday
night was terrible, sweeping away
almost everything, but it seemed to
leave the houses The people here did
them until it was on them. They had
TO run for the lake, and it being but a
short distance away all reached it
safely. John Kerr and family were
asleep when their building caught fire,
and neighbor seeing it ran and sue.
ceeded in saving tie house, but lost
everything else. Mrs. Y Burgess got
| separated from her husband and lay
all night in a ditch. Another person
lay down in a nud-puddle and rolled
over and over all night. a large party
of men have gone to bury the dead
beasts in Forester township. DR.
| Hoyt, who returned for more medi
! cine, reported several badly burnt
Many are SO blind that they had TO be
led and many are without food. A
number of parties have already gone
with food, clothing, shoes and medi.
cine. More help must come quick, Il,
much suffering will ensue. They have
10 flour or provisions. George Fer
gusnn OF White Rock, who has beer
on the road since Monday, reports that
he has seen one handred and sixteen
burned bodies At one place he saw
four wagons bearing eight cotiius
with one man walking behind al
alone. 1t was his family. AnOihel
man was following three coffins
Every farmer lost some crops ant
fences. On Wednesday night til,
burning district between Deckersvili,
and sand Beach was visited by rail-
storm which put out IA considerable por
,ion uf the fires and cleared the atmos
phere.
The latest reports are that the fire
appear 10 he abating. A despaicl
from Port Austin at the top of til,
burned peninsula sums up the genera
destruction as follows: The loss O
lives by the forest fires on Munda,
and Tuesday il estimated at from 20
Ia $40. Tue following villages wcr
burned: Bad Axe, Verona, Fore.
Bay, Richnoniyiiie, Charleston, An
icr-on, Dcckcrsville, Hurrisonvill
and Sandusky. The following wor
partly burned: Pori Huron, Mindel
and Eibiy. The great osS in village
is nothing to that in the country
where the losses are too numerous /
Ire named. Reports from Saginaw
Tuscoia and Lapcer counties, one tie
back rom the lake, while showin
much destruction OF property, do nC
, approach the LOSSES in the shore couI
ties. The losses by fire was much le,
sweeping and general and the loss {