The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1881-09-16
THE GREAT DISASTER.

The week following the 9Th inst will
never forgotten in Michigan. The
Widespread destruction caused by the
flames in 1871 were entirely discounted
by the conhagation that has just
swept over Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola,
and parts of Genesee, Saginaw and
Montcalm Countis AS nearly as can be
learned the fire originated in the mis-
taken method adopted by farmers to
clear their lands. For weeks no
rain had fallen and the foli-
age and vegetation was
in parched state, and when the match
was once applied the flames spread be-
fore driving wind and were soon be-
yond control. Thousands of acres were
soon involved, and the lurid flames in
their fury overleaped all bounds, carry
ing death and desolatiOn everywhere.
Every effort was made to save isolated
dwellings and collected settlements,
but one and all were rapidly swept
away. Thousands of people were sep
arated from relief by miles of burning
trunks and heated ash fields. AS the
flames subsided bodies of human be-
ings and domestic animals were found
lying by the roadside and scattered
through the blackened fields, where
they had been overtaken by the fire or
suffocated by the super-heated atmos-
phere. In the denser forest districts
the wall of flame arose until it seemed
to lap the very heavens. AS the flames
became spread, dense veil Of smoke
overhung the earth, obscuring the sun
and making the midday as dark as
night. The roar of the approaching
confagration was heard for miles and
was like the sound of terrific and rapid
ly nearing thunder and deep feeling
Of terror fell upon those who were su-
perstitiously disposed. 1t is impossible
to depict the scenes Of horror and suf-
fering that were upon every hand. A
few instances must suffice.
In the town Of Argyle the saddest
was that Of one family of the name of
Weitzell, where the mother, five child.
rem and brother, who had FASTENED
to the rescue, were found dead. Here
the committee found the bereaved faith.
er and one only child, bright little
fellow of 8 years, mourning over seven
rough board boxes that contained the
charred remains Of what had been
once so dear to them. II seemed that
the family, having fought fire as long
rs there remained one ray Of hope, ELL
deavored to make their escape, but
found themselves hemmed in on all
sides and perished there in the road.
At FOrestville women locked up
her house with two children inside and
went for help, but when she returned
both house and children were burn
ed.
A man went into burning house
and took two children from the bed,
carried them two or three miles, and
through exhaustion had to leave them.
Some one carried them two miles
further though smoke and flame, wear
led out, and left them by the roadside.
where they perished.
A farmer who was plowlng with his
oxen a few miles from Sand Beach,
perceiving the approaching darkness,
started for his house. Reaching there
he found that his wife had gone to q
neighboI's. He took two children and
gave three ethers in charge Of his
eldest daughter. Before travelling
many rods they found themselves cut
Off by the flames. He turned in anoth-
or direction and escaped with two chill
dren; the three children and the daugh-
ter were found the next day all in a
heap and charred beyond recognition.
At Richmondville, a family OF seven
persons named Thornton sought shelter
in well, and were suffocated by the
smoke. When found they lay in
heap in the water, their hair scalded off
and part of their bodies scorched and
apparently cooked.
At Verona Mills the wind was so
strong that Mr.. Ballentine and wife
were picked up and blown Is or 20
yards. A women and her husband
were found lying against tree dead,
the woman being partly delivered of
child.
William Humphrey q mail carrier
between Argyle and Elmer, started on
his route Monday. Midway he was
stopped by the flames, and unhitched
his horse from the wagon. Mounting
his horse with the mail bags he turned
hastily back. The horse found its way
back to Argyle without mailbag or
rider. A tag was tied to his name and
he was arged back over his usual route.
He reached Elmer, but Humphreys
body was found burned in the woods
in one place and the half consumed
mail bag in another.
A poor woman in Austin township
endeavore dto save herself and children
by digging hole and covering as best
she could with her hands. They were
all subsequently found dead. The little
ones had their heads burned of to the
shoulders.
A man driving through Huron coun-
ty directly after the spread Of the lire,
reported that he met five woman en-
tirely naked, each carrying a child.
One party from White Rock saw
two little children leading an old man
who had been blinded by smoke and
fire who had under his arm the burned
remains of a little child quite naked.
At Cato widow and five children
got down a well, where they died from
suffocation.
The following graphic description of
of the situation In Huron
county was received by Detroit
firm:
WHITE Rock, Huron Co., Mich,
Sept. 7.--As wish to let the people of