The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-06-16
That Part of Michigan Thus Designated
Recovering from Last Falls
Forest Fires.
Supplies Of Food, Clothing and
Shelter Have Sustained the
Destitute During the en
Winter.
Returning PrOsperity-Incidents Of the
Fire-A Trip Through the
Burnt District.

God seemed to have forgotten a part Of His
own creation during the fervid July and Au-
gust days that preceded the terrible fires Of
last September on this unfortunate peninsula.
But if He was dnmndful, the elements Of
destruction failed not to remember it with fire
and desolation, death and indescribable suffer-
ing. Though for a time death and disaster
were sovereign, nature has again asserted her
sway and the fields OF the country, so recently
devastated, are clothed in green and are preg-
nant with bountiful harvest. Though to
those who suffered the loss Of friends there can
be no adequate compensation, other sufferings
have been not only alleviated by the lavish
hand OF great public llberality, but, in many
cases, losses have been wholly made up.
An examination OF the map OF Michigan will
show that it has the shape OF hand, or nit
ten; on the eastern side projects what is known
rs the "thumb peninsula" On the eastern
side of this thumb are the historic waters OF
Lake Huron, and on the west an arm OF the
lake-Saginaw bay. About where the nail
should be delineated on this imaginary thumb
lies the burnt district, and about the center,
near the top. is where, after an extended ex-
ploration through the most-unfortunate district,
the Times explorer sits down to relate the con-
ditons antecedent, and history OF the fire; the
events of the long winter just ended; the future
prospect of those who were rendered destitute;
and the measures, methods and extent OF relief
originated and pushed forward by the aid OF a
liberal public 10 remarkably satisfactory con-
cluson. The territory devastated has been
settled for about thirty years. Originally pine
lands, it had to be cleared before it became
available for agriculture. This operation was
performed in part by the removal OF the valu-
able timber for lumber, bat leaving much that
was worthless standing. This in time, by fire,
wind and other causes, was Frustrated.
Through it the underground slowly reached
upward to the sun.
Fire swept it at intervals, killing the small
brush and standing trees, until the mass be-
came an impenetrable "windfall' or "slash-
ing" In this condition the extraordinary
drought OF 1881 found it, and the two months
without rain rendered it highly innammable.
In this condition 1t il not surprising that the
small fires kindled by individuals for the pur-
pose OF clearing small patches of land got be-
yond control, AMI swept with fury over the
peninsula. The population OF the peninsula is
largely foreign born, but generally long resi-
dent in this locality They embrace Germans,
Poles and Canadians and, while thrifty aud
industrious, are not equal in intelligence to the
rural population of Illinois and Iowa The soil
is clayey and white, and not productive
the black soil of the Mississippi valley. 1t re-
spends generously to proper tlllage with ample
crops of corn. wheat and other cereals. Natu-
raj pasturage is not good, and stock raising but
incidental TO grain raising. Most OF the land
is, or was, under fence, and the population was
surprisingly numerous, farmers owning very
small farms which were valued at So TO $50 per
acre. Nevertheless, half or more than half OF
these forty or sxty-acre patches were vindfalls
such described, and, while the settler built
his house, he cherished about his home the ell
sments OF its own destruction.
In this condition, happy and contented, the
people of this unvexed peninsula we're on the
9Th of September when the events which have
not only tragic but scientific bearing took
place.
INCIDENTS OF THE FIRE.
Fires for the burning off OF the "sashing,"
rs il is known, had been started near Mellow
ellis farm, one and half miles southwest OF
this place. During Sunday the fires became so
extensive that help was sent from Bad Axe to
fight the fire. which by this time had reached
McDowell's farm and was hourly increasing in
fury and beginning to assume O. threatening as
pect
Whatever success was attained in fighting it
on Sunday night was quickly overcome by the
spread OF the flames during the forenoon OF
Monday. A sharp wind which was blowing at
the time from the southwest increased in vio-
lence and sent the fire forward with augment
ed fury. AT this place, which is a town Of
nearly 500 inhabitants the first intlmation OF
the fire the rapid rising OF the wind and
the roar OF the fames
In all hour all the inhabitants of the place,
with whatever security they could give their
property and valuables, ran to the brick Court
House, and at 1:30 the fire broke upon the
town, sweeping path from the vest to the
northeast. The character Of the fire here was
not so marked in its speed, the intensity OF the
heat and density OF the smoke at other
places, though all were remarkable except by
comparison. At Bad Axe no lives were lost,
and nearly all the town destroyed.
From Bad Axe the fire swept eastward to-
ward Verona Mills. six miles distant. which it
reached in few minutes, and it was here that
1t exhibited its most peculiar freaks. The first
intimaton that the inhabitants OF the village
had Of the fire was a sudden darkness settling
down. as il night had fallen before its time.
Lamps were lighted and people CROPPED about
from house to house with pale faces women
wept and spoke in tremulous tones, and chil-
dren chung to their parents in terror Domes-
tic animals seemed lost, and looked at their
owners asking an explanation from lips as
dumb as their own. During this time prepare
tions TO meet the fire were in progress. Goods
we're buried and valuables taken on the persons
OF the owners, or, where possible, hidden.
Some OF the people went into field or nigh,
green corn near bv. and others went into large
frame hotel, which singularly escaped. The
story of John BilIentine, Who Is man OF good
education. New Yorker bv birth, well of, the
owner OF grist and saw mill and OF farm prop
erty here. is OF great interest and was related
TO the Times explorer amid the ruins OF hii
mill
CT went to Bad Axe that morning." said Mr.
Pallentine. "and beyond il several miles. Or
coming home / saw no signs Of great fire anc
apprehended none. When / reached Veroni
Mills went to the mill. II was then about 1.
O'clock I STAYED there some time, when no
ticed tbe smoke to the westward and the increas
inc force OF the wind. went into the engine
room and told the engineer to throw on thu
driving belt and attach the hose, OF which vi
had 200 feet. to the pump, and to begin to we
down By this time the fire was upon us
mass OF rolling flame and smoke. stayed a
the mill and fought it until | found 1t useless
"a the Are fell in round balls Ike eleciri
LIGHTS. which, when the stream OF waite
struck them, appeared to jump on 70 ano,he
mart OF the mill or lumber pile went at ono
70 INV house down there (about block away
and took nv family and boy over into cor
Ssld over there (about two blocks of). BY tn
time we got there my house was on hre i, and !
a fow minutes gone While we were in the cor
ala . swamp near by afforded water, and, see
inc a little and feeling the rest, got a bucket
fnI Pretty soon great pieces OF blazing board