The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-09-28
DAILY INfELLIGENCER.
Wednesday, Sept. 2S. 1881.
THE MICHIGAN TIMBER FIRES.

CHICAGO, Sept. 9.-The forest fires in
north eastern Michigan have probably
spent their force for the time being
The woods are full of smouidering en-
bers. which the high winds may fan
into dame ct sny moment, bat the
respite nov afforded has rendered it
possible 20 make something ike 90 &C
CITRATE estimate Of the desola.
ton already wrought. The burned dis
trict comprises the townships Of Titta-
bawsssie. Rockville, Frsnkenluth. Sag
inAw. Buena Vista. Blumfeld. Bridge
port, Birch Run. aud plymouth, in
Saginaw county. and from a point
about three miles west OF Saginaw CITY
TO within ten miles of st Louis. on The
Saginaw Valley and st. Louis Railroad
a strip one mile wide on both sides of
the road. Ia Tuscoia county, the
townships Of Millington. Novesta. Day.
ton. Tuscola. Denmark. Vassar. Fairs
grove. Newberg. Arbela, Clifford, and
Wells have been swept clean. Huron
county has been burned over from one
end to the other. and presents the ap-
pearance of blackened desert. Scarce.
Iva green thing 10 visible, ard the
grouua ia plentifully strewn with the
dead bodies OF human beings and do
mestic animals. For miles the trees
are destitute Of branches, the trunks
black % coal. and burned off to a sharp
point like q lead pencil. The north
half of Ssnilsc county has also SINH
lar visitation. As far as known at the
present time the FIRE was confined to
the limits above described, although
there have been smaller fires ct other
points. one being reported today at st.
Mary's Lake. about four miles north of
Battle Greek. The loss of life is ur>
precedented. but actual facts are diff
cult TO obtain. II 10 certain that not
less than three hundred persons have
persisted, and it may be; as some say,
that Eve hundred were lost Fifteen
hundred families have been burned out
aud more than ssven thousand persons
are not only homeless but entirely des-
titute.
The fire seems to have been most de-
structive from Bad Axe to Sand Beach,
and along the shore to Huron City and
Port Austin. but 1t has spread and is
still spreading 10 an alarming extent
toward the north and west parts of
Huron county. Travelling through the
woods is extremely perilous. and the
occupants Of small clearings surround
ed with woods are in positions of great
danger. A family of five, three chill.
dren with their parents. burned to
death near Port Austin. were brought
into that place today for burial, A
young woman who started from Port
Austin to 90 home short distance from
the town persisted in the flames. She
IVES found within sight of her fathers
house covered with fallen tree and all
the clothing burned from her body. A
girl named Miunie Lee, the occupant of
q house which stood 10 q small clearing
near Mead's Corners, was burned to
death. The fire in the woods was fast
surrounding the clearing when the rest
of the family went to help their neigh
bors to fight the fire. During their alb
sence the fire surrounded the clearing
and ignited the building. The girl ran
out into the fed and persisted there in
the flames. DR.. Richards of Port Aus
tin had narrow escape between that
place and Bad Axe. When returning
home with his horse and buggy at right
angles in tho road he was suddenly sur
rounded by the fire. TSe flames came
upon him with such velocity that he
only had time to cut his horse loose
from the buggy, and jumping on the
back of the animal. rode at gallop in
10 ia plowed field, which was already
occupied by many other refugees.
AS soon as the news of the Bad Axe
disaster reached Port Austin two wag.
ons were loaded with provisions to
send TO the sufferers. Word was also
sent to Cassville and the call for help
vas promptly answered in like manner
The party with the wagons from Port
Austin did not succeed in getting
through. but that from Cassville fought
its way through and returned home to-
day. Another load Of clothing will be
sent through at once. the sufferers be
ing in great need OF il. There 10 no fire
to speak Of in the vicinity Of Cassville.
and the high winds from the north and
west. which have prevailed for three
days. seem to have held back the fire
from that place. Port Austin and Port
Crescent have both been in great dan
ger OF burning, and nothing but favor.
able winds have saved them.
The conditions which made the FIRE
so disastrous were these: Fully two.
thirds Of the timber Of the entire burn.
ed tract was destroyed by the great fire
OF 1871. and was piled up for miles. or .
If standing, was mere kindling wood.
The settlers preferred burned lands. be-
cause they were more easily cleared.
and hundreds Of new homes were sur-
rounded BY great tracts of fallen tim>
Der. The roads were lined on either
SIDE by it. and many who perished were
caught on these roads and hemmed in
by burning hemlock, black ash and
pine. There had been no heavy rains
over this region since spring. Even
the swa,nps, which were usually cover
ed with two or three feet of water, had
become dry.
Monday morning opened with q
cloudless sky. The mercury gradual
ross to 100 and over. The Wind was
south. then veered to the southwest,
and soon increased to forty mile gale
By noon the whole country was shroud-
I'd in dnrknes2 and n sausa of1srncarA