Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-05-08

FOREST FIRES.
Destructive Fires in Western and North
ern Michigan.

Destructive Fires in Western and North
ern Michigan.
Den:zens of the lumber districts in
Western and Northern Michigan have
been reminded of the fearful ires which
visited the Huron peninsula a few years
ago. :,
On the 27th and 2Sth ult., wind
storm ragged in and around Big Rapids.
Many buildings were injured or demol-
isred in various places, including the
dry kilns on the tnb and pail factory in
that city. There has been no rain in
two weeks. and the forest fires, which
have been burning more or less for
some days, were famed by the wind.
The sky was illuminated in different
directions. Reports had been re-
ceived that four farm houses
on clearing near Hungerford
were destroyed and all hands were
fighting the FIRE all night 10 save the
mills and lumber piles. Henry Ben
nett's farm house. furniture and every
thing he possessed were destroyed, five
miles S. w. of t he, city as was also a
neighbours house and its contents. The
fires are spreading rapidly and there
are no signs of rain. Telegraph wires
are down in some places. and it has
been reported that two railroad bridges
were blown down.
Three barns and all the contents, in
GLIDING feed ard agricultural imple-
ments, four miles east of Big Rapids,
have been consumed. John Chaplin,
farmer, six miles southwest, lost his
house and most of its contents. Two
farm houses in the same vicinity were
totally destroyed A large new dwell.
ing, owned by Mr.. Peterson, was burned
to the ground while the owner was help
ing his neighbors half mile distant to
save their homes, Six or eight houses
near Hungerford were swept off and the
occupants fed for their lives. Hendrix
and Beaumont's mills were saved by
the use of force pumps. A false report
came in about Woodvil!e village burn
ing. The fires were some distance. at
McI.anes and Park station. The fires
in the woods are raging fiercely. There
is no rain or prospect of rain and the
danger is very great in several localities.
Edmore mas peen scorched again.
Sunday and Sunday night was one of
the most anxious periods that the peo-
pie of Edmore have yet seen-walled in
by sheet of flame on all sides by forest
fires, the beat and smoke making the
air almost sitting, and all fearing that
every CRY was an alarm of fire in the
village. The whole fire department
was detailed as special police and was
on duty day and night. BY the united
efforts of all the citizens the flames
were kept back, and we have only to
record the burning of the single mill
sheds, shingles, and about 1000 cords
of wood belonging to ID. o. Long, and
several small barns and houses. A mill
east of Edmore belonging to Burge and
Price, with all its buildings, were burned.
Two brothers in trying to escape from
the flames were badly burned. One
was so exhausted that he fell into the
fire several times, but by the heroic of.
forts of the other was dragged TO a
place of safety. The mill losses are
covered by insurance.
The Touring mills of Fairbanks &
Lowing, at Fillmore Center. six miles
southeast of Holland, caught fire and
were destroyed. The flames, famed
by the high wind prevailing, spread
rapidly, consuming four houses and
several barns. Miss Stegeda, aged 10,
burned while trying to save her family,
died. The property loss is about 49,
900. The village is on the west Mich
igan road, and has about 200 inhabit-
ants.
About o'clock Sunday night fire was
discovered in the lumber yards at Ce-
dar springs. The wind was blowing a
perfect gale and all efforts of the local
fire department to stay the progress of
the fire were futile. Assistance was
telegraphed for to Grand Rapids and
steamer and nose cart responded.
When the train reached there the fire
had spread over several acres of ground
and destroyed nearly $4,000 worth of
lumber and shingles.
Forest fires are raging in the woods
near Howard City. Joseph Stearns'
single mill, eight miles east of that
place was burned. Loss 80, 900.
Fire started in the vast stretch of
pine north of Grand Haven and has
spread rapidly since, enveloping the
whole neighborhood in smoke. Great
fears are entertained for the safety of
not only the lumber but mills, farm
buildings and railroads.
A heavy gale blew ct Reed City and
spread the fires that were burning in
the woods in all directions and reports
OF heavy damages are constantly coming
in. At Toman's mill, south of Reed
City, the fire got in the logs, which were
with difficulty saved. At Ashton the
whole population were out fighting fire
which came near destroying the town.
Everything was moved from the Grand
Rapids and Indiana depot, Thorne's
hotel and other buildings, but fortunate
ly the FIRE was stopped Just as it reached
the Thorne house barn. Two miles
west of Tustin the house, barn and team
Of Addison Randolph were destroyed
by fire. Randolph was out fighting fire
in his fences when the barn caught fire.
His wife in an unsuccessful endeavor to
save the horses ust escaped with her
own life. Randolph lost everything, no
insurance. Loss $1,000. 1t is rumored
that several barns and houses north of
Chase were burned. 1t is expected that
more losses will be repoit ted