Smyrna times., 1881-09-14
The Great Forest Eires.

DETROIT, Mich, Sept. "Details con- I
tinue to come in relative to the destruc-
ton by forest fires. Huron and Sanilac
counties have been the principal theatre
of the greatest destruction and suffering
An eyewitness states that darkness and
copper-colOFed sky preceded the ap-
proach of the fire. Later the sky changed
to a deep red, and Monday afternoon it
became so dark that lanterns were neces-
sary for the people to find their way.
This condition of affairs continued until
about o'clock Wednesday morning, when
the wind shifted from west to north, cool
ing the air and bringing slight relief.
In the woods were many scOrched and
eharred bodies which presented revolt
ing appearance. The high winds that
prevailed cut off nearly every avenue of
escape, and large burning masses would
be Lifted up bodily and borne along for a
great distance. In many instances these
burning masses started fires in fresh pla-
ees. The skill and courage of man seemed
lmpOtent to combat with such flames, and
the fleeing people were caught i'll the fire
traps and roasted. One farmer who was
plOughing with his oxen a few miles from
Sand Beach, perceived the approaching
darkness and started for his house, On
reaching home he found that his wife had
gone to a neighbor's. He then took two
OF his children, his eldest daughter taking
tnree others. Before going many rods
tley found themselves cut off by the
lames. The farmer then turned in another
direction and escaped with the two child
rem. His daughter and the other three
cnildren were found next day, all in a
Aeap. eharred beyond recognition, Up to
Wednesday night, forty-fve bodies had
Deen found within mile. In Paris town
snip many are missing, most of them
sOles The whole settlement, buildings,
FENCES and crops was swept clean. In
Delaware township, all the country south
o. Forestville from the lake seven miles
iaek there is hardly anything left, not one
house to the square mile. They were
new settlers and had small clearings, and
the IRE swept oyer the clearings like a
hurricane. They lose all they had and
owe tor their places. Many of them fled
10 the lake. The shore line has been
crowded with human beings, cattle and
everything that could get to the water.
FLEEING TO SAVE LIFE.
Eye-witnesses say that the utmost con.
IlsOh prevailed. Many could not see
onnd and crazy, and had to bc led to the
lake. North Of SaDilac the fire on Mon
Day night was terrible, sweeping ava,
almost everything; but it seemed to leayt,
ihe houses. The people here did no
Know any fire was near them until it wa
On them, and bad to run for the lake. an,
being but short distance away al
reached it safely, John Kerr and famiE
were asleep when their building caugh
IRE, and a neighbor seeing it ran an
woke them and they succeeded in savn
9ehOuse, but lost everything else. Mr.
Z. burgess got separated from her hui
and and hid all night in a ditch
Srge party of men have gone to bury tn
gead beasts in the Forester TOWNSHIP
~ hoyt, who returned for more med
elhe, reported several badly burned pc
So1s. Many are so blind they had to b
leu, and many are without food. A nun
er Oh parties have already gone wit
vu, clothing, shoes and medicine, Nor
ilp must come quickly, or much suffer
nro, VIII ensue. They have no -four O
THE BURNED VILLAGES.
george Ferguson, of White Rock. VIII
nos mas Deen on the road since Monday. rt
rEvis Al that he has seen 116 burned bodie,
e;sS! ;pne place he saw four wagons bearin
n eofins, with one man walking behinC
no IN was "a his family. Another man was fo
erenl snree collins. Every farmer lost som
tbsI and fences. On Wednesday Mol
ana oSSrning district between DecEersviIl
storrs sand Beach was visited by a raj
tion ;, which put out considerable DO
bhe,sOi ~ sne IN fires and cleared the atmo
latr
\ nv ssss appear to be aFatine 'sA Hsn.tu H -
pennrt % rost Austin, at the top of the b1,e b,i,m,e
ton = s,, sums up the general destrn
ManS.i aas loss of lives by the forest fires =
L 200 4 Soa and Tuesday is estimated at fro
II burned The following villages WEI
VI hehmonaD.'a: Dad Axe, Verana, Forest Ba
Anderson ne, Charleston, Harrisonvill