The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-09-14
FOREST, FIRES.
FARMS AND HAMLETs DESTROYED IN
NORTH AND NORTHEASTERN hlCH1-
GAN-mANY LIVES ARE LOST

NORTH AND NORTHEAsTERN MIcHI-
GAN-mANY LIVES ARE LOST
Telegraphic reports from the Nor
thern and Northeastern portions OF
the State of Michigan show terri
BILE condition of affairs. The long
continued drouth has rendered
everything dry as finder, and the
numerous "slashings," or partly
cleared tracts of land, covered with |
brush, decayed timber and other in
fammabIe materials, afford the best |
possible medium for the rapid |
spread of fire, carried by the high
winds which have been prevailing.
Sanilac and Huron counties, lying
on the shore of Lake Huron, between
Port Huron and Saginaw bay, are
the theater of most of the dcstruc-
ton, which is growing positively
appalling in character. Hundreds
Of farms are already reduced to
blackened deserts. Stock, crops,
fences and farm buildings have been
swept away. Absolutely nothing is
tlef. Nor is this all several lives
are known to be lost. Men, women
and children were suffocated by the
sitting heat. 1t is feared that when
full accounts are received the loss of
| life may prove terrible. Little ham
lets of Anderson, Richmondville,
Charleston, Sanilac county, are all
reported wiped out, while Port
Home Verona Mills Bad AK. HUI
ron county, are reported wholly or
partly burned up. The people are
Hooking to the Lake, in Huron
county, from the interior Of these
counties, as the only refuge from the
devouring flames, and sometimes
they arc overtaken by the. spread
ing fire. Not less than twenty
deaths are already reported, but it
is hoped that some Of these state
ments may yet prove Incorrect,
while it is feared that they do not
begin to approximate with so I'M
precedented a condition of things.
In Tuscola county, the next tier Of
counties back from Lake Huron and
south of Saginaw, the fires are also
raging, but with not so great
severity. Still, the losses here are
simply overshadowed by the more
terrible state Of things in the adjoin-
ing counties. The same state Of
facts are true in Laper county, next
south of Tuscola. The whole country
around Saginaw and Bay City is al
so ablaze from the marshes taking
fire, and reports of many losses to
farmers are beginning to reach US.
The weather continues excessively
hot, with no signs Of rain. Where
the present fearful condition of
things will end nobody knows. Ow-
ing the excitement it is difficult to
arrive at the losses.
Later dispatches bring more hor-
rible accounts from the fire swept
regions. There is no such thing as
giving particulars, but it is known
that more than two hundred men,
women and children are burned to
death in Sanilac county alone, and
as many as one hundred in Huron.
Thousands of families are homeless.
The fire came with a hurricane of
wind, and the inhabitants thought
of nothing but to escape with their
lives Within fifteen miles of Min
den over two hundred persons are
known to have burned to death. 1t
is feared that pestilence will breed
from the dead cattle, horses and
sheep. At Lexington, later news is,
that dead bodies are being brought
in from all directions. The list of
the killed in Sanilac county reaches
now over five hundred. Money, ed
ibles and surgical aid are being sent
on from Port Huron, and Detroit is
emptying its stores Of provisions,
loading them on boats and sending
them Forward. In the vicinity of
Richmondville, Western Forester
and Marion townships upwards OF
800 persons persisted in the flames. |
There was no escape for them. The |
woods and grounds were Sc dry that |
no warning Of danger was given. |
Faster than a race horse came the |
fire. A woman and her husband
were found lying against tree dead, |
the woman being partly delivered |
of child. The devastation Of 1871 |
by fire is nothing compared to the
fires Of the last few days. In many
instances men, women and children
were found lying on their faces in
the road where they had fallen
when overcome by the fire; children
lying on logs where they had clam
bered for safety. There was no find
ing each other when separated. 1t
is stated that great many took re-
fuge in wells and root houses, think
ing to escape, but in almost every
instance they were sufocated. tits
believed that when the returns are
in 1000 persons will be found to
have persisted in the flames,