Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-07
RAVGES OF FIRE.
Large Sections of Country in Mich
gan Burned.
A settlement Surrounded by q
Wall of Fire.
Whole Counties Devastated and
Hamlets Consumed.
The Flames Eat Up Everything
Many Lives Lost.
RAVGES OF FIRE.

EAST SAGINAW, MICH. September g.
Reports of rayages of fire continue to come
in. Along the Saginaw Valley and st.
Louis road twenty-one miles has been
burned oyer on each side of the track and
thirty or forty buildings burned, includ-
ing household goods. Grain and stock in
Tuscala county have been damaged to the
extent of $4,000, and the fires are still
sweeping over large areas. Owing to the
excitement it is difficult to arrive at the
losses in this county. East of this city
great damage has been done, hundreds Of
acres having been burned over and many
buildings burned. The village Of Clio
narrowly escaped destruction to-day and
Is not yet out Of danger. An Indian set
Element seven miles below this city is sur
rounded by fire and will probably be
wiped out before tomorrow night.
DETROIT, September 7.-Reports are
beginning to arrive from the northern and
northeastern parts Of the State, showing
the terrible condition Of affairs. The long
continued drought has rendered every
thing as dry as finder, and the numerous
'~'slashings," or partly cleared tracts Of
land, covered with brush, decayed timber
and other inflammable materials, afford
the best possible medium. The rapid spread
of the flames, carried by high winds, which
have been prevailing in Sanilac and
Huron. The counties lying on the shore
Of Lake Huron, between Port Huron and
Saginaw Bay, are the theater of the most
destruction, which is growing positively
appalling in character. Hundreds Of
farms are already reduced to a black
ened desert Stock, crops, fences,
and all the farm buildings were
swept away, absolutely nothing left.
Nor was this all, as several lives are
known to have been lost. Men, women
and children were overtaken by the
flames and suffocated by the sitting heat,
II is feared that when the full accounts
are received the loss of life may prove
terrible. The little hamlets of Anderson,
Richmondyille and Charleston in Sanilac
county are all reported wiped out; while
Port Hope, Verona Mills and Bad AK in
Huron county are reported wholly or
partly burned up. People are locking TO
the shores of Lake Huron from the interior
Of these counties as the only refuge from
the devouring flames. and some times are
overtaken by the spreading fire. Not
less than tWonty deaths are already re-
ported, but il is hoped that some Of these
statements may yet prove incorrect while
il is feared that they do not begin 10 APP
proximate with 50 unprecedented a con-
dition Of things. In Tuscola county, next
in the tier Of counties back from Lake
Huron and south Of Saginaw, fires are
also raging, but with not ogreat severity.
Still the losses there are simply over
Swallowed by the more terrible state OF
things In the adjoining counties. The
same state Of facts are in Laper, next 10
Tuscola. The whole country around
Saginaw and Bay City is also ablaze from
the marshes taking fire, and reports Of
many losses TO farmers are beginning to
roach US. The weather continues Excess
sively hot; no sign Of rain. Where the
present fearful condition Of things will
end. nobody can foretell.