The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-09-23

fall 30 intense was this darkness that
The lamps threw shadows - do the electric
hghts BY the rays OF . lanr standing IN his
store window he could see psople carrying
water forty rods away, and, ~ they passed
through its beams, could recognize their per-
sons. There was now faint breeze, and DIR.
Murray thought ths darkness was caused by
the drifting in Of dead and scentless smoke.
This continued until after o'clock, when
another peculiar phenomenon appeared, IN
the shape of balls Of fire in the air.
The first one observed by Mr.. Murray
was not larger than q hens egg. neighbor
extinguished this one, but moment later
larger one fell near his store, which he extin-
glowing mass appeared to be vegetable sub
stance was light, like charcoal or rotten punk
As he put his foot upon II II fell into frag-
ments. This was but the harbinger OF de-
struction, for, by the time he had extnguished
this one, many other glowing balls were fall
ing all around him looking like meteors as
they flashed through the inky sky. AS they
struck the ground some of them would burst
into countless Fragments while others would
bound and roll along short distance. But, no
matter whether they burst or not, Immediately
tongue Of flames would leap forth from the
parched earth, casting lurid glow over
scene that was terrible to the sight Five min
utes later the village was IN flames at every
point. Mr. Murray and neighbor ran to the
store OF the former and attempted to remove the
safe. They succeeded in dragging it as far az
the door, but were obliged to abandon il and
flee for tier lives, barely escaping the flames
that now surged around them. The heat was
intense, the flames being famed with furious
wind that rushed into the seething vortex from
all sides. AS soon as the balls of fire COM
menced falling the women and children rushed
for the lake, portion taking refuge below
grove Of trees to the north of the
landing, the remainder going to the
waters edge beneath high bank fur
ther down the shore. This last fright
ened band was joined by Mr.. Murray. The
bank was here thirty feet high, and the refu-
gees at this point, by lying down ose to the
waters edge, could breathe with little difficult
ty. Ashes fell in showers, however, covering
the surface OF thewater and creating I've, SO
that 1t was only by wading, out some distance
and going below the surface that drinkable
water could be obtained. The other party Jared
much worse, for the smoke from the grove was
dense and choking, and their sufferings were
intense, but by lying prone on the wet sand
and frequent immersng OF the body, they
managed to avoid smothering.
As soon as the smoke and heat had some-
what abated Mr.. Murray assembled the bank
and found not a vestige of Richmondvile but
an old rookery, long since deserted as a dwell
ling, and frame hotel. Around these nothing
was standing, and the flames had charred
them ON all sides. The flames disappeared
but glowing embers lighted up the scene. The
women and children were then removed
to the hotel, when it was found that only five
or six could see, their eyes being so infiamed
from smoke, cinders and sand, that they were
blinded. Potato and corn fields were found
that had escaped the conflagration and in the
hotel was found about twenty. five pounds OF
flour. The cooks were soon at work. and bread,
potatoes and roasted corn comprised the bill of
fare for breakfast. Atabout IL o'clock Mr.. Murray
and George Allen started for Forester, five
miles away, and here procured provisions for
the 400 homeless people. Mr.. Murray says
the scene beggars description. The
burned tract IL six miles wide on the
lake front, and extends back from four to
six miles. On this tract only fifteen buildings
out OF over 300 escaped the flames. On this
tract there lay, still smoking, the carcasses Of
500 head OF cattle, horses and sheep. The sec
ond day after the fire it was found that the
stencil from these was intolerable, and 30 men
were set TO burying them. Although roasted,
the bodies were in such an advanced stage OF
decomposition that they would fall to pieces,
and a scraper was brought into requisition to
move them to the trenches.
Mr.. Thomas Henson. of Port Huron, who
went TO Port Hope to see if his was safe
and found him all right, relates the following
incidents: A boy named Leamon, Is years of
age, had both of his feet burned to the bone
while fighting the fire near bis home. He crawled
to the house on his hands and knees, where his
father was helplessly ill in bed. The fire
threatened to burn the house and the mother
sent her little daughter to a neighbours
for help. Before she returned the house
took fire. Seeing that help would not
arrive in time, the mother undertook to
save the sick ones With the son clinging TO
her neck the father on her back, and another
child in her arms she started for a place Of
safety She carried them until she fell from
exhaustion. The son then got on his hands
and knees, and, with his father on bis back,
H.. H. ll~r
father fell off and they were burned within six
feet of each other. The little girl over
come with the heat and fell down. She would
have persisted in the flames had not Fred Hen
son and Mary Randall, both under
10 years of age, heroically clasped their
little hands and rushed to where she fell and
picked her up. Another little girl sought ref
uge under the roots Of a tree which had part
ly blown down, but the wind changed and blew
the tree back into its place, burying the child
alive. The fire afterward burned her to crisp.
mother with 2-weeks-old babe got into
n well, but it was too hot for her to rem9in
there. She then started for some other place.
and while on her way one OF her breasts aud
the baby's feet were badly burned.
The following circular has been issued by
committee of the citizens of Port Huron:
To the Farmers of Michigan:
The terrible fires lately raging in Sanilac and
Huron counties have passed over half a mill
Ion acres OF land, causing great loss OF Ire
and property. This loss falls chiefly upon the
farming community, many of whom are entire
ly destitute. Their support during the coming
winter may confidently be expected from
liberal people. But their future support de-
ponds mainly upon their being able to put in
their fall crops. There is yet time to do this
if prompt action is taken. The undersigned
have been appointed committee to secure for
them their seed grain, and now confidently ask
the assistance of their brother farmers. Where
secondhand harnesses can be contributed
they will be very acceptable. The railroad
agent at your nearest station is authorized
to receipt for ali contributions which will be-
transported free of cost. Each contribution
will also be acknowledged by letters from the
committee directly to the donor Upon appli-
cation to the committee bags Of grain may be
had, and we earnestly request you to give OF
your surplus what you can spare.
VIM. HARTsUFF, Chairman.
JNo. p SANBoRN