American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-09-17
THE FIRE HORRORS IN MICHIGAN.

The FlkE HOKKOkS IN MlCHIGAN.
A Tornado of Fire-Over Forty Town.
ships DeVnstated-Terrlb suffer.
inys and Great Loss or Life-Im m O.
Ginte Assistance Called For In Behalf
of SurvIvin. Sufferers.
DETROIT, September 8.
The horrors of the situation in Sanilac
and Huron Counties, on. the shores ofLake
Huron, are deepening every hour. Il
The distress is unparalleled. 1t is be-
lieved that 800 people ,haye persisted, and it
is feared many more, while thousands
are stripped of everything-food, shelter,
crops, stock-all swept clean from the face
of the earth. The people need most every
thing necessary to sustain Tie and clothe
themselves. -
Accounts continue to come in of the most
narrowing description. "A special to the
Post and Tribune says:
''Gcorge Macdonald, of Minden, Sanilac
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 three lives were known to be lost
ingtlie eiShhorheod of Sand Beach. The
fire suddenly reached Verona Mills on Mon
day, and the town was soon wiped out
The wind was so strong that Ballentine and
wife were picked up and blown fifteen or
twenty yards. A woman and her husband
we're found lying against a tree, the dead
woman being partly delivered of a child.
The devastation caused by fires of 1871 are
nothing in comparison to The fires Of the
pastfew days. - 80
''In the vicinity of Richmondsville and
western Forester aud Marion Townships,
reliable Information leads me to say that
upward OF 800 persons persisted In the
flames. There was no escape for them. Tho
woods ,Rpd the ground We're so dry that no
warming a danger.was given Faster than
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'terriblc ordeal say that in ten
minutes from the time the fire struck there
would be no yestige Of a house left. l have
just returned from "a "trip through the
burned district, and the description of the
sights would make the readers blood turn
cold. In many instances men, women and
children We're found lying on their faces In
the road where they had fallen when over
taken by fire. GhfIdren were found lying
on logs where they had clambcrcd FOR safe
ty. There was no finding each other when
once separated. Many took refuge in wells
and root houses, thfnitineto escape, but in
almost every instance were soff3c.,ed.''
The Post 7rfb.Sre correspondent tele-
graphs:
"The details or the disaster in HUI
ron County are Is bade MS in Sanilac
County. believe that when the returns are
in !, 900 persons will be found to have per-
ished in the flames. Forester Township
will turn out Thursday to bury the dead cat
To- ha
which is unbcarable.
'.The Rev. w. f. Arlington found six
teen dead bodies near Deckerville. Only
five buildings are left between that place
and Minden.
"John Flytewager's family Of seyen chill
dren and wife were ailburnt together in
Paris Township, with seventeen others.
The pay family were burned, with Morris
Clifford, wife and child. A man and WON.
an are lying dead in the road between Dom
ncr's Mill and Tyre.
60 Fifteen families were burned in Moore
and Argyle. Five hundred families are re-
ported at Minden as having been burned
out. A woman was burned at Smiths Mill,
half a mile from Tyre.
''Wherever house is left the people
flock to it like sheep to a fold, in some places
as many As 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 don't know. when they
will get one. Their teams are all gone, and
cows and other stock burned. Desolation
stares them i'll the face. They talk about
their mi>fortunes, AMI many say, bad us it
is, it might be great deal worse. They are
glad to get away with their lhes. Many of
nv .'u Deeu over oo'
d snoI' ''"ie' anu n'o J"'' oes,'n 70 &c.
"",'eis III co'iioii"pie shape. MANY hceo
iheuicine anu ,heoicai assistance.
MI. oosep,i Deia, living near, also iost
quai'''y VI nay anu ienei"s' anu i"ahy rous
OF Daner renee were burned up.
Inc iarni oi inc Mioow Oh 'ohh hiopr'
., -, a., ;o.,;n Lei,
,..u,ad a,,d -. ~ 49, =, -,
s...,i,,, - ',n'',,,,,oua wi, H. ant
-: .r,,;,.,I ~ da,ar,;.o,
rt,, ., =, t,,a Iii, ,.oo, hoso
49, - -. 80. -.., ~
""o So =" o'', '"' .'''' i.Poi'o" 'no
Woous anu icuces III Oh hre, anu the people
fighting to save their property. People are
nearly blinded by smoke. Water is scarcely
to be had and stock is suffering. For the
mast tbree DAYS Tuscola has seemed to be
1;,..II on a.
; -, a;,..,,o,, ,,a;,,,, .o
- r. NJ, 100 r.,,,n;o.
'o'o ios' anu SUM :, us ..' wv i"'i.e'
between caro- anu LASS oi'y "ro puih out'
A number OF buildings Ill Cass CITY burned,
and for miles around the people are ilOckino
into the town. scorched and destitute.
-, - ,ho,,, h,v:n, Iost exervtbiny
no,,or,s .re ,.roIydir,, In tLieL aud ,,st
-. -, ... al ,a,,a,L o. -.
u o -. s.n,
lha' INC suhelHS III ii"io"' "a"i'ao ahu
Iuscola Counties Will exceed that OF 1871.