Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-08-13
ATHRILLING EXPERIENCE.
The Largest Island in the Great Lakes Burn.
ed Over.

The Largest Island in the Great Lakes Burn.
ed Over.
The Canadian steamer Isaac May reached
Chicago at a late hour July Goth without
fuel and almost destitute of provisions.
Capt. Muer, her master, relates n strange
experience. The May left Chicago three
weeks before towing three barges. After
run of five days they arrived at Manitou-
lin Island, on the Canadian side of Lake
Huron. IL is the largest island in the
great lakes and is covered with cedar trees
When the vessels arrived there the in
habitants were badly frightened. For
weeks not drop ORA had fallen. Short
" after the steamer and her tow began to
take on their cargoe, of post, AMI ties the
woods suddenly burst into a great blaze
and no sooner had the fire started than
severe wind storm swept over the island,
driving the flames in every direction. The
people fled in terror to the
beach and sought shelter on
board of the vessel-, which pulled out
into the lake. Scores of bears, roaring
with pain, ran out OF the woods with the
hair singed srom their hides and plunged
into the lake. The flame, ragged for five
days burning over acres OF valuable tim
Der and destroying vast amount OF stool;
that had been piled ON the beach for hip
ment Then the drenching rain storm set
in and continued until the fire was put out
IL was ten days from the time the vessels
reached there before they were ready 20
leave and their stock OF provisions was
almost exhausted in caring for the people
who took refuge on them. Still Capt
Muir thought he could make the pro-
visions hold out until they reached Chi
cago. But he did not count on having
head winds all Of the way. The vessel left
the island Saturday morning, and as
the dense clouds OF smoke from the burn
ing timber had settled down over the
water the vessels had 10 pick their way
slowly through the darkness. The steamer
passed through the straits Monday even
ing, but had hardly entered Lake Michigan
when they ran into another bank OF smoke
that shut out everything from view So
thick was the atmosphere that the first
barge Of the tow could not be seen from
the decks of the steamer Capt. Muir was
momentarily expecting collision with
could be heard the fog signals of passing
steamers, but by moving slowly and
sounding the whistles at frequent inter.
walls the steamer made her way through
the smoke in $ fety. Her progress. had
been 20 greatly impeded, however. that
when about 100 mile, north of Chicago the
engineer reported thrt the coal -bunkcrs
were empty and about the same time the
steward informed the captain that there
was nothing left 20 eat but salt pork Con
sequently the crew were put under short
rations and the deck load of posts was
drawn on TO feed the furnace But the
cedar was so green that the boilers could
hardly be kept warm, and finally the
steamer had to cut her consorts adrift
and come 10 Chicago without them She
made her way to Chicago
under sail, and tugs were sent out TO
search for the barges which were found of
Racine.
The experience Of the steamer at the
Manitoulin islands during the fire was
thrilling. The scene from the vessels as
told by spectator was grand beyond
description. The flames shot iato the air
for hundreds of feet and turned night in
TO day, while the heat was so intense that
the vessels were obliged to leave their
moorings and push out into the lake The
noise was deafening and amid all the din
and confusion thousands of birds huttered
around their late homes until, tired with
their constant flight, they dropped into
the lake or fell into the flames. Deer and
haors rushed from tho woods tOrothor n nd
threw themselve~ into the cooling waters
o. the lake. For five days thu hames held
their sway before the lumberhen could
return To- th" island aud finish loading the
vessels.