The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-09-15

chased them at the very heels, leaping at race
horse speed through the tinder-dry woods and
fields, which, from the long drought, were al
most prepared for spontaneous combustion.
In some places the flames spread with aston
isbing tapidity, darting from point to point
with speed hat would, and did, overtake the
swiftest horses.
AN EYEWITNESS
says that darkness and copper-colored sky
preceded the approach of the fire. Later the
sky changed to deep red, and Monday after
noon it became so dark that lanterns were
necessary for the people to find their way
This condition of affairs continued until ABOUT
8 O'clock Wednesday morning. when the Wiha
shifted from west to north, cooling the ar and
bringing slight relief. In the woods were
many scorched and charred bodies, Wnlch
presented a revolving appearance The high
winds that prevailed cut of nearly every ave-
nue. of escape and large burning masses were
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 flying people were
caught in the fire-traps and roasted, One
farmer who was ploughing with his oxen a
few miles from Sand Beach perceived the APP
preaching darkness and started Tor his house
On reaching home he found that his wife had
gone to neighbours. He then look TWO OF
his children his oldest daughter taking three
others. Before going many rods they found
themselves cut off by the flames. The farmer
then turned in another direction and escaped
with the two children. His daughter and the
other three children were found the next day,
all in heap, charred beyond recognition. Up
to Wednesday night forty-t1ye bodies had been
found within a mile. In Paris township many
are missing, most OF them Poles. The whole
settlement, buildings, fences, crops, ETC., was
swept clean. In Delaware township all the
county south of Forrestville 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 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 be-
1ngs, cattle and everything that could get to the
water. Eye-witnesseS from Forrestvie say that the
utmost confusion prevails. Many could not see.
One man who had lost his ALL both blind and
crazy and had to be led to the lake.
MADE BLIND BY FLAMES.
North of saniac the fire on Monday ight was ter
ribe, sweeping almost everything, but 1t seemed to
leave the houses. The people did not know any
fire was near them until 1t was them and had to
for the lake, and it being but short distance
away all reached 1t safely. John Kerr and family
were asleep when their building caught fire and
neighbor seeing 1t ran and awoke them, and they
succeeded in saving the house, but lost everything
else. Mrs N. Burgess got separated from her nus
band and laid all night in ditch. Another person
laid down in mud puddle and rolled over and over
all night. large body of men have gone to bury
the dead beasts in Forester township. DR.. Hoyt,
who returned for more medicine, reported several
badly burned. Many blind they had to be
led and many are without food. number Of per-
sons have already gone with food, clothing, shoes
and medicine. More help must come quickly, as
much suffering will ensue. They have no -four or
provisions Geo. Ferguson, of White Rock, who has
been road since Monday, reports that he has
seen one hundred and sixteen burned bodies. At
one place he had seen four wagons bearing eight
collins, with walking behind, all alone.
1t was his family. Another man was following three
collins. Every farmer lost some crops and fences
THE DELUGE OF FIRE SUBSIDING,
On Wednesday night, the burning district be-
tween Deckersville and sand Beach was visited by
rain storm, which put out considerable portion
Of the fires and cleared the atmosphere.
The latest reports that the fires are abating.
dispatch from Port Austin, at the top of the burn
ed peninsula, sums up the general destruction as
follows: The loss of lives by the forest fires on
Monday and Tuesday is estimated at from two to
three hundred. The following villages were burn
ed: Bad Axe Verona, Forest Bay, Richmondville,
Charleston, Anderson, Deckersvlle, Harrisonville,
and SanduSky The following We're partially burn
ed: Port Hope, Minden and Elbly. The great loss
In villages Is nothing that in The country, where
the losses are too numerous to be named
Reports from Saginaw Tuscoa and Lapeer coun-
ties, one tier back from the lake, while showing
much destruction of property do not approach the
losses In the shore counties The loss by fire was
much less sweeping and general and the loss OF
life small. But in each Of these more favored
counties hundreds Of thousands of dollars worth
property have been destroyed The latest reports
from all these counties encourage tie belief that
rain has visited many sections and that the deluge
Of flame is largely subsiding, The work of imme-
diate relief must now be systematically entered up
on Lumber to build houses, provisions OF all kinds
clothing and seed for future crops must be furnish
ed in large quantities to prevent still greater des
tuition. The benevolent everywhere can send mon |
ey Mr. E. G. Carleton Mayor Of Port Huron, or to
Senator o. D. Conger, in the same place. with the
that the means will be judiciously used
Prompt action is urgently demanded.
Rains have fallen in probably sufficient quantity
TO quench the fires, but not enough to soak the
ground and revive the dropping vegetation. The |
lowest estimates indicate that 2l5 families have been
burned out in the towns of Marlette Flynn, Argyle
Evergreen, Moore, Lamotte and Elmer, in sanilac |
county, and 80 persons are known to be dead. Men
who travelled through the burned district Wednesday
reported that the fires are mostly out and the 1nhab
1tants sitting about the ashes Of their burned |
houses.