The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-09-22

homeless. About one year AGO il became nv
duty To visit this region found in travers-
ing over this then desolate district nearly
800 families, OF which number 400 were
rendered destitute by the fire. ! also found
that 900 houses and nearly az many barns
with their precious contents had been con
sumed, beside fences and stock and what
was still more appalling than all, that
between 200 and 800 people had persisted
IN the flames: On that trip spoke at your
own little village of Minden and sorrowep
with the unfortunate in their calamity, yea,
wept tears, manly tears, over the scenes
Witnessed starvation was imminent Food
and labor had been DESTROYED, the remedy
was TO let the people of the world know OF
the calamity. The result was that train and
boat loads came az fast as their speed would
allow. The telegraph and the press told the
world OF the never before instanced calamity.
and the good Christian people responded with
relief. While our gathering to-day reminds
us OF the woful days OF the past, yet we feel
grateful toward our fellows for their al
most unbounded generosity, and thankful
and encouraged by the present aspects. To
give you some idea of the relief donated
would say that some s6OO,OOO i'm
cash was received and $4,000 worth of
goods These, of course, could not appease
for your losses, az they reached s., 10, 600,
but they furnished you with seed and pro
lection, which enabled you and your families
Co remain on your lands, ana make your
homes in measure comfortable and happy.
You all have disposition TO labor, and you
VIII soon be back in the prosperous condition
you were once in. The contributions enabled
you to live, but it soon became evident that
they were not sufficient to carry you over TO
the time when you could help yourselves
ana there came request to call the Legis-
lature together. This was done, and, after
looking the matter over, they promptly APP
proprlated sum sufficient, which was dis
tributed among you. Where is there coun-
try with such people as ours? / see before
me many sons of other lands but where is
one who is not glad he came to such a land
1t now becomes your duty to encourage and
teach such generosity to your children, and
stand by the institutions which have stood
by you Judging from appearance l can but
think there now is plenty, and hope you have
an abundant harvest although your wheat
has been wet a little. / enjoy witnessing the
prosperity about you, and hope you feel
thankful and show your kind appreciation TO
the committees of distribution who labored
so hard and earnestly TO get you relief and
TO restore to you the happiness and comfort
of your homes.
The following resolution was then
adopted:
Resoived, That we, the fire sufferers of San
lac, Huron and Tuscola counties, take this
opportunity TO express our gratitude on this
the anniversary of the great fire of Sept. ;,
1881, to those noble souls who so generously
and promptly came to our help in the day of
our distress God bless the noble souls.
At the conclusion of the addresses
the people were invited to sit down at
the two long tables, which were bounti
fully spread, where they appeased their
hunger, while the Governor and his
party We're shaking hands and visiting
with the people. Having cleared the
tables the procession again formed and
marched down to the village, where the
company disbanded to return to their
homes.