The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-06-16

the smoke fell upon Sand Beach, about
o'clock, his friends became alarmed for
his safety, but could do nothing to aid
him. All night long they searched for them
among the consta ntly-arriving fugitves from
the country, but they never came. So soon as
il wan light, the brother OF Mrs. Wade hast
ened to their house, and found them dead
few feet from the ruins OF their home. The
body OF Wade lay fat on the back, and that OF
Mrs. Wade across his breast with his arms
about her waist. One OF the children lay near
by, the others being burned up with the house.
The suppostion is that Wade stayed out to
fight the fire, and when the house seemed
doomed he went TO bring out his family, and
found them suffocated or helpless. Bringing
out the child first, he went back, and was car
rying out his wife, when overcome by the
heat, he fell backward, and persisted where he
fell.
A man In Evergreen township vent to
logging bee in the morning. The fire came up
and he could not get home. When the route
became passable he returned. Finding in the
deep darkness the place wi ere the fence stood,
| he CROPPED toward the house, ignorant OF It's
fate. Suddenly his foot caught and he fell
over something. Reaching backward, he passed
his trembling fingers over the charred face OF
his dead wife. Then with a burning stick he
found his children. all dead, and sat down in
the darkness with Lis dead waiting for day.
Another case was that of an old man who,
them. He saved their lives, put lost his own.
Such experiences numerous, and serve to
show in every instance heroic bravery on the
part OF the men and unfiinching fortitude OF
the women. il'"I A.
An Irish couple had lively experience.
Mary, the wife, tells the story. much to Pats
dlscomtture She says: "Pat was scared,
and when it began to get dark they commenced
10 carry ont and bury the things. Purity soon
it got dark, and could see the bow, and called
ha mot nd II lnnt
rying out thinking would the things first
and the house last. and let Pat take care Of
himself. 1t was dark mind We, and purity soon
l stumbled over something, and it was Pat on
his knees a-praying, 30 jerked him up and
told him that it was no use praying so long as
the house standin', and for him to get to
work and save the house first, and would
pray after 1t burned down :" and they saved
the house, and Pat il always across the next
field by the end Of the story.
Some men were burying dead stock near Bad
Axe, and saw two bears come out OF the woods,
smell about as IL in search Of something, pick
up an object, carry it short distance, dig
hole end bury it. Curious to know what it was,
they unearthed it, and found it to be cub that
had been killed by the heat.
great many animals and birds were killed,
and at Marette bears, it was said, passed
through the town, going south, all winter IN
search Of food
Thousands Of persons being rendered not
food, and many without clothing, except such
as they were scantily attired in during the ex-
cesslvely- hot weather, were worse than help
less. Added to this was the fact that many
were totally and all partially blinded by the
smoke; others frightfully burned; some deliri-
GUS and raving, others again PROSTATE and
idiotic from their misfortunes. These unhappy
people divided themselves into two classes
Those who remained at near their former
homes, and those who crowded into the towns.
or the first few found shelter IN the houses Of
neighbors that had escaped destruction, bat
the majority-and they nearly all Foreigners
erected shelters by rolling two logs together
and covering them with smaller timbers and
matching it with rubbish and earth. Under
this they crawed, and i'll the dismal chill
ing rain that followed waited for help,
without even straw for bedding, with
no covering save their scanty attire, and
In some cases with their clothing burned so
as to leave them naked In these holes lives
went ont and new lives came in for in this hour
of unnatural anguish was precipiated the trav-
all OF motherhood. In this emergency men
forgot the natural aversions, and. IT is said. ate
the boned flesh OF animals killed by the fire.
and waited. hoping, despairing, praying, ours
ing. Others who were at the houses OF neigh
bors were but little better of as TO food and
clothing as it must be remembered the people
OF this part OF the world rule were misera-
bly, poor, with thor crops ungathered at the
time Of the fire, all their possessions III single
room, perhaps, with no surplus PROVISIONS Tor
their own family a week ahead. and of clothing
little or none. But 80 much the more TO their
credit was the universal charity they extend'
to their suffering neighbors, often inviting
want upon themselves.
Those who went to the towns perhaps Jared
better at the time, as they were more accessible
to the sources of relief. and therefore received
earlier attention. though many lived in tents.
churches and scboo-houses while the sick and
injured were lodged in mproyised hospitals
and given medical attendance.
During the evening and night following the
day of fire nearly three-fourths OF the popula-
ton fled to the towns, and many learned that
their lives were safe, but crops and stock gone,
or perhaps only partially lost These at once
returned gratlied at their good fortune. but in
many cases requiring aid during the winter.
How all these people-and 1t must be re-
membered they numbered many Thousands
survived the first few weeks is mystery. Each
man has his story. Some had relatives in Other
parts and were partially relieved by them
others were sent for and taken OF by
friends, and many emigrated to Eastern States.
But by far the largest portion depended en-
tirey on relief societies, and subsisted
very small allowance, for 1t must be remem
bered that it was weeks Before money could be
collected and goods sent and delivered to those
who needed them, however expeditiousy il
might be done.
The first news OF the calamity did not reach
the outside world until Wednesday morning,
when refugees from the lake towns reach ed
Port Huron in the boats, which by the smoke
had, until last Tuesday, been unable to make
the ports of the burned district. The one rail-
way and telegraph line was badly injured, and
communication, except by water, cut off by the
burning Of bridges. Promptly on these devel-
opments, the citizens Of Port Huron set about
organizing measures for relief, and appeals
were telegraphed over the country. On Thurs
day evening meeting was held at Detroit fol
the same purpose. BY Saturday the PORT
Huron committee had received $4,000 and by
the next week $4,000. The work OF relief
went rapidly forward, and emigration from the
burned district was checked. Seed wheat
for fall sowing was provided to the dest-
tute farmers, and at the same time, lumber
for shanties, and food and clothing During
the months which. followed the relief may be
said to have been AMPLE but diff ;ult Of equita-
BILE distribution, so that is usual in such
, cases, some got rather more than their share
while others got less The amount Of clothing
. and other supplies sent was enormous. Toe
, Port Huron committee shipped between sept
, and Feb. Is an average OF six and one-half
carloads, and Detroit perhaps as much more,
, per day. These goods embraced clothing
, flour, agricultural implements, crockery, and IL
, fact everything The clothing was remarkably
GOOD nearly all being of better goods than eyel