The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-09-17

| time the VIM chdHscu oiA'AhS away
the smoke, dead bodies of men,
women, and children can be seen ly-
ing among the remains of horses,
hogs. COWS and sheep in many in
stances before they can be reached. as
a sudden change in the wind will
turn the fire toward the rescuers and
compel them to retreat.
A survivor from Portsaville says
at least 100 lives were lost at that
place Monday when the hot south
west wind drove the fires with ire
sistible fury through the wooded Sec
ton. destroying everything in its
path that would burn. The smoke
was 80 dense that people were obliged
go about with lanterns. Farmers
placed their movables in plowed
fields where there was nothing to
burn. Many farmers were suffocated
in the roads while fleeing to place
of safety.
Railroad communication with
shore ports has been cut off. Tele-
graph wires are also down. This
morning the fire was within two
miles of Port Huron, the home,
of Senator Conger, and Mayor
Carleton telegraphed to the Detroit
fire department for hose, which was
promptly forwarded. N
Reports from the Saginaw Valley
are still discouraging. Millington
has been attacked by the flares and
will probably have to go. This vii
lage derives its name from the large
number of lumber mills located
there.
On the line of the D.. L.. 81 N. road
everything is burning between Reese
and East Saginaw. The fire is also
approaching that city on the line of
the Flint and Pere Marquette. Be-
tween st. Louis and Saginaw trains
run with great difficulty, everything
being on fire on both side of the track.
Fears are now entertained for the
safety of Flint. Fires are raging in
every township in Genesee county,
and Otesyile and Clio are threat
ened. The fire ran over the great
farm of Congressman Crapo, of Mas
sachusetts, so rapidly that the men
had barely time to remove the valu-
able stock to place of safety. leav-
ing everything else to burn.
DETROIT, MICH, Sept. 9.-The
latest information from forest fires in
Tusculo, Sanilac, and Huron coun-
ties proved that the towns of BaIaXe,
Verona, Forest Bay, Richardsville,
Charleston, Anderson, DeckersviIle,
Aaronsyile, and Sandusky have
been totally destroyed. The loss of
life will fully reach the estimated
500 given in these dispatches yester-
day. Over two hundred persons
have been burned to death near Min
den, Samilac county alone. The
dead bodies for the greater part
are unacceptable, and are Icing
brought in from Sandusky from all
sections and in great numbers.
CINCINNATI, o., Sept. 12.-The
following appeal has been telegraphed
from Port Huron.
PORT HURON, Mich, Sept. IL
TO the american people,: We have
tonight returned from the burnt dis
trict of Huron and Sanilac counties.
We have seen the burnt, disfgured
and writhing bodies of men women
and children. Rough board collins
contained the dead, followed to the
grave by few blinded, despairing
relatives. Crowds of half starved
people at some of the stations asking
bread for their families and neigh
bOrs. We hear of more than 200 vic
Tins already buried, and more char
red and bloated bodies all daily dis
covered. Already more than 800
families are found to oe utterly desti-
tate and houseless. They huddie in
barns, in school houses, and in their
neighbors' houses, scorched, blinded
and hopeless, some still wonder half
crazed around the ruins of their hab-
itations vainly seeking their dead {;
some in speechless agony, wringing
their hands and refusing to be com
forted, More than 10000 people,
who only week ago occupied happy
comfortable homes, are to-day house
less and homeless sufferers. they
are hungry and almost naked when
found, and in such numbers, and in
so widely scattered that our bes. eff.
forts and greatest resources fail
to supply their immediate wants
Without speedy aid many will per-
lsh, and many more will suffer and
become exiles. Our people will
do their utmost for their relief; but
all our resources would fail to meet
their necessities. We appeal to the
charity and generosity of the Amer.
lean people. Send help without de.
lay. The appeal is signed by E. G..
Carleton, Mayor of Port Huron. and
chairman of the relief committee /:
VIM. Hartraff. John P. Sanborn.
Charles A: Ward, Omer d. Conger'
Chas. b. Peck, and Peter B, San