The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-09-15
DEVASTATION IN MICHIGAN.
Horrible Scenes Of Death and De-
structi0n.
Loss OF Life Esiimaied Beiween 500 ana
l.ooO-Hundreds or Towns and Villages
I'm Asnes-ProPerty, Crops and
Stocks Swept from s.s.a-
the Earth.

Death ana doeCtutlOn are rampant III mlcnl-
gan. The details of devastation by forest
6res in that State arc sickening. Such wide
spread ruin was, perhaps, never before wit
messed in this or any other country. As. near
as can be ascertained, in Sanilao Comfy alone
five hundred persous have been burned to
death, and at least ten times that number rem
dered homeless. ls..
In Custer Township twenty corpses were
found eloso to each other In many cases
whole families have perished, while those who
are saved have lost their homes and property.
In the village of Minden but one house was
left standing. The towns destroyed in Sanilac
County are Forestville, Moore, Argyle, Custer,
watertown, Richmondville, Carson, Char
lesion, Tyre and Ashley. .sl $50
In Huron County the villages Of bad Az,
Verona, Forest Bay, and Huron City are
nothing but ashes. f.i
The fires began on the 9Th, and progressed
with such fierceness that the roar of the flames
could be heard for miles. y
Paris, q town of nearly {, 200 people, is almost
entirely destroyed. A survivor from that place
says the fire came upon them as suddenly as
thunderstorm in midsummer. The sky assumed
q fiery hue, and at o'clock in the afternoon
the heavens appeared to be q mass Of fine.
commenced blowing gale and then it began to
grow dark and in thirty minutes night seemed
to have cast its mantel over the unhappy citi-
zens of Paris. Then come the thunder OF the
roaring flames and the believing OF the wind,
and the scene became terrific beyond descrip-
ton On came the flames, sweeping everything
in its course, passing two miles northwest Of
Sand Beach and stopping when the shores Of
T d. ha6
Paris. This town was destroyed in 1871. The
present disaster is largely due to the great fire
Of ten years ago, as the timber killed then has
fallen down and been drying until it had be-
come Just like tinder.
The loss of property can not te estimated.
In the Saginaw Valley thousands Of dollars
worth of property has been destroyed, but
there the loss Of life is comparatively small.
In some districts in Tuscalo County, every
thing is swept clean-not q vestige oil property
is left, and it is feared there has been great
loss of life.
East of Cass City, q tract eight miles square
has been laid waste. The country around
Marlette is blackened as far rs the eye cal
reach. Seventeen lives were lost in this sec
tiop. and thousands are homeless and friend
less.
In the vicinity Of Richmondville and West
ern, Forester and Marion Townships, reliable
information says that upward of three hundred
persons perished in the flames. There was no
escape for them. The woods and grounds were
30 dry that no warning Of danger was given
Faster than Q race-horse came the fire. 1t
vould embrace 0 house or barn with its con-
tents, and away to the next. Persons who
have been through the terrible ordeal say that
in ten minutes from the time the fire struck
there would be no vestige of the house left.
In many instances men, women and children
are found lying on their faces in the roads
dead, their position indicating their effort to
escape the horrible fate which overlook them.
A correspondent says: "I believe when the
details are all in 900 persons will be found to
have persisted in the fames.s
In Huron County Rev. W. T. Arlington says
he found sixteen dead bodies in one place. IN
Paris Township John Flytewater's family,
seven children and wife, were all burned, with
fifteen others. The Day family, Norris Cliff
ford. y ife and child. Men women and children
are living dead on the road between Donner's
Mill and Tyre. Fifteen families vera burned in
Moore and Argyle. Five hundred families at
Minlen were burned out.
A correspondent at Port Sanilac says
"Forest fires have destroyed both property
and life Port Hope and Huron City, Huron
County, are totally DESTROYED, the inhabitants
leaving everything and fleeing to tbs lake
for their lives, leaving their property to be
consumed. Many were burned to death
while trying to escape the fires. t It is stated ed
| more people perished in the flames in
the vicinity Of Port Hope and in Huron
| City. Verona Mills, Charleston, and
Bad Ak are all lying in ashes. Reports are
| coming in every hour about persons being
found dead. Richmondville, seven miles
north of this place, was all swept away. In
Forestertown two bodies were identified as
those of Abel Thornton and wife. Christ.
Thornton, John Mahall, Sarah Varkey, and
o boy, name unknown, were burned to death.
Several more are reported lost"
The people of Michigan have issued ar
appeal to the people of the United States fol
aid. It states that 90, 600 people, mostly recent
settlers, and poor at best, are rendered home
less and penniless. The names Of over 20(
dead are recorded, and the country is strewr
with dead Of whom there is yet no account
Ruin is on every hand, and this call for aid, il
is to be hoped, will be promptly and LIBERAL,
responded to.