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

scenes and Incidents Of the Late For
est Firea.

Scenes and Incidents Of the Late For
est Fires.
John McGill and Charles L. Messmore, prom
inent business men of Marlette, Sanilac coun-
ty, and members of the relief committee that
was organized upon the first news of suffering,
went with wagons over the scourged districts
and did what was in their power to mitigate the
misery round about. In Sanilac county they
visited the townships of Elmer, Flynn, Moore,
Lamotte, Argyle, Evergreen and Novesta, and
in Tuscola county the townships of Kingston
and Roylton. In all these sections most woe
full sights met their eyes. Hamlets and isolated
dwellings were destroyed on every hand, and
by actual count 205 families were left without
shelter, and with but meager supply OF
clothing and food. Dead cattle, sheep, poul-
try and game strewed the roads and fields, and
the purifying carcasses effused disease-5reed-
ing germs that made the neighborhood dan
gerous for the surviving farmers. Men were
sent through the country to bury the corpses
and at the same time to burn or otherwise dis
pose of the dead animals. Even the instincts
of the beasts of the forest did not avail them,
and the remains of bears, deer, rabbits and
squirrels were found where they had succumbed
to their fate. Fields of corn, potatoes, onions
and other vegetables that had escaped the fire
were found roasted and unfit for use, while
what little remained was being devoured by the
pigs cattle and sheep that, yet alive, roamed
around at will
In going north from Marlette, on q inc ten
miles through the towns of Moore, Elmer and
Argyle, they counted along the road forty
buildings destroyed and thrty-two lives lost.
The last-named town suffered the most, the
approach of the devouring element being rapid
and overwhelming. In tins town the saddest
case was that CT one family of the name Of
Weitzell, where the mother, five children and
brother, who had fastened to the rescue, were
found dead. Here the committee found the
bereaved father and one only child, bright
little fellow of 9years, mourning over seven
rough board boxes that contained the
charred remains Of what had been once
so dear to them. 1t seemed that the
family, having fought fire as long as there re-
NAMED one ray of hope, endeavored to make
their escape, but found themselves hemmed in
on all sides and persisted there in the road.
The mail carrier was besought not to make the
hazardous trip from Marlette TO Bad AK, but
he persisted, saying 50 have not missed dsy
in three years, aud am not going TO now"
His horse came next day into Germania post
Office, bearing a note fastened on his harness.
which stated that some persons along the road
had found the poor agent burned TO a crisp.
The note closed with I'VE cannot carry the
news, but trust that this old horse following
his route will" The poor equine, which, be-
fore he passed through the fiery ordeal, was
white came out almost blind and scorched to
dingy brown. Along on another road these
gentlemen brought relief to three girls who had
saved themselves by crawling into we'll, while
a few yards therefrom they found the bodies
Of several poor creatures who had failed
TO reach the shelter they had sought.
In the town of Flynn the fire had eaten its
way so close TO the house of Mr.. Leach that he
took his wife and little babe to place Of COM
parative safety and returned to exert himself
to the last moment III an attempt TO save his
property The wife, becoming anxious for her
husband sought him. but before they could
make their escape, persisted in a winding sheet
of flame. The little one was found shortly af-
terward by the relief party where its mother
had left It. nearly dead from fright and smoke.
In Lamotte town Mr.. Wells, his family and
neighbors, saved themselves from horrible
deaths by fleeing to the Cass river and there
covering themselves with saturated blankets.
Despite the horror that is attached to all
the scenes there were occasionally some border
ing on the ludicrous. One old gentlemen be-
ing all alone in the house and finding that
there was great danger OF the place being con-
sumed fastened TO remove all the bedding and
furniture to the cellar. While so doing, en-
bers were blown under the house and he,
dropping everything, made such effective use
OF pans of milk ana cream that were at hand
that the danger was passed in safety and the
house yet remains.
A gentleman who travelled distance OF sixty
miles through Sanilac county and interviewed
hundreds OF people, reports as follows: In one
ride of SIX miles counted the blackened sites
OF nineteen houses swept away. There is no
lumber at hand if all could rebuild. From FL
mer City to Cumber, distance of fifteen
miles, thlrty-nine farmers are homeless. No
man can have an idea of the terrible times seen
by these people. The closest figures get here
and by ride of sixty miles show the following
loss of life: