The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-09-14
TERRIBLE FOREST FIRES.
Michigan Threatened with De.
Observation-Disclosures of Lives
Lost.

q llUAIs
We CLEAN the following account of
the grea. fires now raging in Michi.
gan from Detroit dispatches to the
Cincinnati papers:
The horror which seemed impend.
ing yesterday, has already been more
than realized, and at this writing the
disaster Of 1871 seems but bonfire
when compared with the flaming
swath which has already been cut
through the great woods Of Northern
Michigan, along the shores Of Lake
Huron, laying waste towns and vii
lagos, aud deSolating the homes If
farmers who have by years Of cease.
less toll, given this State much fits
wealth. Reports of destruction and
death are coming in from many parts
Of the State, many Of the de tails be.
ing too terrible to be true.
AT Port Sanilac, on Lake Huron, a
fierce northeast wind sprung up this
morning and the farmhouses which
escaped the fury Of the flames yester-
day we're soon licked up. All bust
ness is suspended and the whole pop
ulace are, fighting the fires. In For,
ester Township many entire families
are missing, and ten persons are
known to have persisted.
The village Of Cato was burned
Monday, and Richmondyille and ev.
cry house two miles north are burned.
Carson, town on the Port Huron
d Northwestern Railway, was burned
last night and forty lives are report
ed lost. Nothing is left at Badaxe
but the Court House and one hotel.
Verona Mills has also been destroy
ed. Huron City, Harwood Vale, aud
the entire town Of Port Hope have
been reduced to ashes.
A dispatch has been received from
Sand Beach Station that ten bodies
had been brought there and that
searching parties were out and every
time the wind changed driving away
the smoke, dead bodies of men, wo.
men and children can be seen lying
among the remains of horses, hogs,
cows, and sheep in many instances
before they can be reached, as sud,
den change in the wind will turn the
fire toward the rescurers and compel
them to retreat.
A survivor from Portsaville says at
least 100 lives were lost at that place
Monday when the hot southwest
wind drove the fires with irresistible
fury through the wooden section, de.
stroying everything in its path that
would burn. The smoke was so dense
that people were obliged to go about
with lanterns. Farmers placed their
movables in plowed fields where
there was nothing to burn. Many
farmers were suffocated in the roads
while fleeing to place Of safety.
Railroad communication with
shore parts has been cut of. Tel
egraph wires are also down. This
morning the fire was within two
miles Of Port Huron, the homo Of.
Senator Conger, and Mayor Carleton
telegraphed to the Detroit Fire De.
partment for hose, which was prompt
ly forwarded.
Reports from the Saginaw Valley
are still discouraging. Wilmington
has been attacked by the flames and
will probably have to go. This vii,
lage derives its name from the large
numbered lumber mills located there.
On the line Of the d., l.. IL N. road
everything is burning between Reese
and East Saginaw. The fire is also
approaching that city on the line of
the Flint and Pere Marquette. Be-
tween 81. Louis and Saginaw trains
run with difficulty, everything being
on fire on both sides of the track
Fears are now entertained for the
safety of Flint. Fires are raging in
every township ia Genesee county,
and Otesville and Clio are threaten.
ed. The fire ran over the great farm
Of Congressman Grape, OF Massachu.
sets, so rapidly that the men had
barely time to remove the valuable
stock to a place of safety, leaving
everything else to burn.
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