Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-09-17
Bully &ernebte Journal.
Augusta. Saturday nsrning, Sept. H.
The Michigan Fire.

rible suffering q well large loss Of life
and great destruction of property. The
area Of the burned district il 100 miles
square. The number Of lives lost is not
yet known. A letter recently published
says: "The suffering and devastation are
Undesirable. In many places, az far as
the eye can see along the land once occu-
pied By comfortable houses and pros
porous people. scarcely anything is visible
bat what seems boundless sea Of ashes,
from which arises sitting odor Of burnt
flesh and bones. The blinded and fire.
crazed abound. Transportation is diff
cult and supplies come too slowly. espec-
tally at distance from the lake shore
and railways. A man is asked the where
abouts Of his wife and children; he stares
wildly, leaps at loaf Of bread and leaps
away like wild beast. Almost hourly
the names Of additional victims are added
10 the burnt-to-death list. The blinded.
scorched, crippled and deranged are very,
very many"
An article in the Detroit Post and Trib-
une SAYS at would seem that the flames.
after consuming the forest trees and IN
dergrowth, would pause at the edge Of
clearings, especially large ones, and that
II IL swept on, it must sweep around and
avoid these. But such proves not to have
been the fact. The swift wind at times,
exceeding 80 miles an hour, bore huge
Goals. burning branches of trees. clusters
OF fame and glowing ashes in clouds I'M
ill they fell upon farm-houscs, barns.
grain stacks, until they too were igDited
and added to the intensity of the furnace
in which the entire region was glowing.
So thick was this falling cloud Of coal and
burning debris. and 80 intense was the
heat which accompanied it that it is said
that during the fire person would soon
acre cleared and vacant field during the
connagration.
Subscriptions are being made in all the
principal cities for the relief Of the sut-
ferers. Mrs Eugene Hale, sent her check
Tor $3.50, and her mother, the widow OF the
late Senator Chandler, subscribed $500.
The death eft Senator Burnside says the
Philadelphia Press will give the Demo
Gratis majoritypf three on the opening
from Rhode Island and the two New York
Senators are sworn in. Should all the
Democratic Senators be present and Mr..
Arthur then be President OF the United
States. there would be nothing to pre-
vent the Democrats electing President
pro tempore OF their own faith before al
lowing the now Republican Senators to
be admitted Once installed. Demo
cratic President pro tempore could not be
unseated. rs in u full Senate. the Repub-
lican and Democrat vote would be tie.
Senator Davis OF Illinois. who might vote
for Republican for President pro tenn
pore. would hardly vote to unseat a Dem
ocrat once chosen Fortunately Prcsi-
dent Gariield's growing strength promis-
es to defeat any such scheme, We can
probably look forward now with reasona-
bic confidence to seeing the Senate at its
next session presided over as before by
Vice President Arthur. The Governor of
Rhode Island is Republican, and will.
Of course. appoint Republican successor
TO the late General burnside The uni
form vote of Rhode Island for many
wears past indicates that the Legislature
to be chosen this fall will be largely Re
publican. General Burnside was reflect
ed last year by majority of - in total
Of iol for the full term ending March,
1887.