Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-09-17
THE FOREST FIRES IN MICHIGAN.
pErnolr, september |

"iu llulOh NOuHtlcs, Oh lHe NllOics VI AAahO
Huron, are deepening every hour
The distress is unparalleled. II is be-
lieYed that 300 people have peTishcd, and It
is feared many more, while thousands
are stripped of everything shelter,
crops, stock-all swept clean from the face
Of the earth. The people need most every
thing necessary to sustain life and clcthe
themselves.
Accounts continue to come in Of the most
narrowing description. A special to the
Post aud Tribune says:
George Macdonald, of Minden, SanilQc
County, tells narrowing tale; over 200
families are homeless in that section, and
suffering from want OF food and clothing.
John Ballentine, of Verona Mills. says
that fifty-threc lives were knownto be lost
in the neighborhood of Sand Beach. The
fire suddenly reached Verona Mills ON Mon
day, and the town was soon wiped out
The wind was so strong tlIat BGlIeutine and
wife were picked UP and blown fifteen or
twenty yards.
"In the vicinity of Richmondsville and
Western Forester and Marion Townships,
reliable information leads me to say that
upward of 800 persons perlshed in the
flames There was no escape for them. The
woods and the ground were so dry that no
warning of danger was given. Faster than
n race horse came the fire. 1t would en-
brace house or barn with its contents, 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 yestige of house left. i have
| just returned from trip through the
burned district, and the description If the
sights would make the readers blood turn
cold. In many instances men, women and
children were found lying on their faces in
the road where they had fallen when over
taken by fire. Children were found lying
on logs where they had clambered for safe
ty. There was no finding each other when
once separated. Many took refuge in wells
and root houses, thinking TO escape, but in
almost every instance were soffocated."
The Post Tribune correspondent telc-
graphs;
"The details Of the disaster in HUI
ron County are as bad as in Sanilac
County. / believe that when the returns are
in | 900 persons will be found to have per-
ished in the flames.
"The Rev. w. f. Arlington found six
teen dead bodies near Dcckeryille. Only
five buildings are left between that place
and Mindcn.
"JOhn Flytewager's family OF seven chill
dren and wife were all burnt together in
Paris Township, with seventeen Others.
The Day family were burned, with Morris
Clifford, wife and child. A man and wom-
an are lying dead in the road between Dom
ner's Mill and Tyre.
"Fifteen families were burned in Moore
and Argyle. Five hundred families are re-
ported at Mindcn as having been burned
UuU. ~ UvrndIT UuTuvu -r5sTIiJlT-s gIHI,
half mile from Tyre.
'Whereyer a house is left the people
flock to it like sheep to fold, in some places
as many rs six families being in a log shanty.
They must have relief from below, or great
suffering will be the result. ] saw many
families to-day who hadn't had one meal
since Monday, and d djn't know when they
will get one. Their teams are all gone, and
cows and other stock burned. Desolalion
stares them in the face. They talk about
their misfOrtunes, and many say, bad rs il
is, it might be a great deal worse. They arc
glad to get away with their lives. Many oI
them are Canadians, who had been over but
a short time, and had just begun to gel
matters in comfortable shape. Many need
medicine and medical assistance.
The farm OF The widow OF John KlOpi,
living mile east of Danel's, was totally cut
off from all communication with the neigh
borhood, and what the fate OF herself and
family of three daughters will be cannot al
this writing be determined.
A party seen at the Indian school house,
who came in from the east, reported The
woods and fences all on fire, and the people
fighting to save their property. People art
nearly blinded by smoke. Water is scarcel!
to be had, and stock is suffering. For tht
past three days Tuscola has seemed TO bt
literally on fire.
Reports from every direction indicate ter
rible loss and suffering. Nearly 100 families
between Caro- and Cass City are burned out
A number Of buildings in Cass City burned
and for miles around the people are flockin'
into the town, scorched and destitute
many Of them having lost everything.
Reports are crowding in thick and fast
and from these are learned enough to know
that the suffering in Huron, Sanilac ant
Tuscola Counties will exceed that Of 1871
Wednesday, at Cass City, a number Of per
sons were brought in MANNED for life fror
the effects Of burns, and 1t was reported o.
good authority last night that several dea
bodies had been found.
In the towns of Wells, Novesta and Day
ton undoubtedly many lives have been LOST
The following appeal for aid has bee
issued by the Committee of Citizens Of Poi
Huron, headed by Senator Conger, Mayo
Carleton, and others:
To the People of the United States:
A most appalling disaster has fallen upon
J, large portion of the Counties of Huron an
Sanilac, with some adjacent territory, a SC,
ton of country recently covered with fores
and now occupied by nearly 5000 people
largely recently settled, and either poor or
= very moderate circumstances. In the Who'll
, of this section there has been but little raj
during the past two months, and everythIn
!, was dry when, on Monday, September },
u hurricane swept over it, carrying with
. a sheet OF flame that hardly an
c thing could Withstand. We hay
advices OF 200 persons burned to death man
Of them by the roadside or in the fields Will
seeking places of safety, and it is probab
: that twice this number have pcrishe1 "
: have reports from twenty or more TOWNSHIP
e in which scarcely a house harm, or supplies
e any kind are left, and thou sands OF people a
!. destitute and helpless. All of these people r
IL quire immediate assistance, and most of the
. must depend on charity for months TO com