The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-15
Fierce FOREST F|REsl
TERRIBLE DESTRUCTION /!

lluGl lUnLOl IInlO!
TERRIBLE DESTRUCTION.
Entire Villages Swept Away
Fearful Destruction of Life and
Property!
The telegraph dispatches of last
week furnished the horrible details of
the havoc caused by the terrible forest
fires which prevailed in the counties
OF Huron, Sanilac aud Tuscola, State
of Michigan, during three or four days
of last week. Our space will not ad-
init of the publication of these dis
patches in full, but the following tele-
gram from Detroit, dated the 9th
inst, will furnish some ides of the
extent of the terrible calamity:
Details continue to come in relative
to the destruction by the forest fires
in Huron and Ssnilac counties, the
principal theatre Of the greatest de-
struction and suffering. An eye wit.
ness states that preceding the approach
of the fire there was darkness aud
copper colored appearance of the sky.
Later it changed 10 deep red, and by
the middle of the afternoon on Mon
day it became so dark that lanterns
were a necessity, in order that people
might find their way out of doors.
This condition of affairs continued
until about 8 o'clock on Wednesday
morning, when the wind shifted from
west to north, which cooled the air
and brought slight relief. In. the
woods were many dead of every age,
presenting a reyolting appearance Of
the bodies which are scorched and
charred by the fro. The high winds
that prevailed cut off nearly avenue
of escape, and large. burning masses
would be bodily lifted up and borne
great distances, and in many instances
start fires in fresh places. The skill
and courage of man seemed impOtent
to combat with such flames. and the
fleeing people were caught in fire traps
aud roasted, as were their live stock.
One farmer who was plowing with
his oxen few miles frsm Sand Beach,
perceiying the approaching darkness,
started for his home. Reaching there
he found his wife had gone to one of
the neighbor's. Ho took two children,
and gave three others in charge of his
eldest daughter. Before travelling
many rods they found themselves cut
of by the flames. He turned in an
ether direction and escaped with two
children. The three children and
daughter were found next day, all in
. heap, charred beyond recognition.
TERRIBLE SUFFERING.
In Delaware township all the coun.
try south of Forestville, from the lake
seven miles back, there is hardly any
thing left, not one house to the square
mile. They were new settlers, and
had email clearings, ,and the fires swept
them like q hurricane. They lose all
they had, and owe for their places.
Many of them aed to the lake. The
shore has been crowded with hum
ming bees, cattle, and everything that
could get to the waters edge. Wit
nesses from Forestville say that the
utmost confusion prevailed. Many
could not see. One man who had lost
his all was both blind and crazy, and
had to be led to the lake. North Of
Sanilac the fire On Monday night was
terrible, sweeping almost verything,
but seemed to leave the houses. The
people here did not know any fire was
near them until it was on them, aud
all had to run for the lake, and being
but a short distance, ,all reached it safe
| ly. One woman, while they were
running for their lives, saw her oxen
run into the siashing. and spite of the
efforts and cries of others, rushed into
it and succeeded in driving them out
before her TO the lake. DR.. HOyt re-
turned from Forester county after
more medicine. He reported that sey-
eral were badly burned. Many are so
blind that they have to be led. Many
are without food. Numbers of parties
haye gone with food, clothing, shoes
and medicine.
THE DISTRICT BURNED.
A dispatch from Port Austin, at the
top of the burned peninsula, sums up
the general destruction as follows:
The loss Of lives by the forest fires
on Monday and Tuesday, is estimated
at from 200 to 300. The following vii.
lagos are burned: Bad AK, Verona,
Forest Bay, RichmondviIle, Charles
ton, Anderson, Deckersville, Harris
Vile and Sandusky. The following
are partly burned: Port Hope, Min
den and Abbey. The great loss in the
villages is nothing TO that in the coa1
ry,where the losers are too numerous
to be named. Reports from Tuscola
and Lapper counties, one tier back
from the lake, while showing much
destruction to property, do not ap-
preach those from the port counties.
The losses by fire are much less sweep
ing and the loss of life small, but in
each Of these more favored counties
hundreds of thousands of dollars
worth of property have been destroy
ed. The latest reports from all these
counties encourages the belief that
rain visited many sections, and that
the deluge of flames is largely sub
siding.
THE FIRES sUBSIDING.
The point has been now reached
where it may reasonably be hoped we
shall have no fresh disasters TO the
afflicted people of the burned district.
Rains have fallen probably sufficient
to Quench the fires, but not enough to
soak the ground to revive the droop-
ing vegetation. Men who travelled
through the burned district yesterday
report the fires mostly out, and the
inhabitants sitting about the ashes OF
their burned houses. Many are burn
ed and otherwise injured. They are
disconsolate and almost bereft Of their
reason. In many Instances these poor
people must be carried through the
winter, and supplied with every nec-
essary of life.