The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-07-31
FULFILLING EXpERIENoE
OF tho Residents of n Hurnlng Island In tho
LIkeG-ThD Rescue,

VI Fhe Residents OF NWrnlHg Island IN thI
Lakes-ThO Rescue,
CHICAGO, I'LL, July SO,-The Canadian
steamer Isaac May staggered into the hsr
Dor at late hour last night without fuel
and almost destitute Of provisions. Gap.
tain Muir, her master, relates a strange
experience, The May left Chicago three
weeks ago yesterday, towing three bnrges.
Alter q run Of Ave days they arrived at
Manitoulln Island, on the Canadian side
OF Lake Huron. II ia the largest island In
the great lakes, and Is covered with cedar
trees, When the vessel arrived there the
inhabitants were badly frightened. For
weeks not q drop Of rain had fallen,
Shortly after the steamer and her tow be,
gan to take on their cargo oil posts and
ties, the woods suddenly burst into q great
blaZs, and no sooner had the fire started
than a severe wind storm swept over the
Island, driving the flames In every direC,
ton. The people fled in terror to the
beach and sought shelter on board OF the
vessels, which pulled out into the lake.
Scores Of bears, roaring with pain, ran out
Of the woods with the hair singed from
their hides and plunged into the lake.
The flames ragged Tor two days, burning
over acres Of valuable timber and destroy.
ing Q vast amount Of stock that had bsen
piled on the beach for shipment, Then
drenching rain storm set In and continued
until the fire was put out.
1t was ten days from the time tho yes-
sells reached there before they were ready
to leave, and their stock ol provisions was
almost exhausted In caring for tho people
who took refuge on them. Still Captain
Muir thought he could make the proyi.
slons hold out until they reached Chicago,
but he did mot count on having head
winds all the way. The vessel left the is.
land last Saturday morning, and as the
dense clouds OF smoke from the burning
timbsr and had settled down over the
water, the vessels had TO pick their way
slowly through the darkness. The steamer
passed through the straits Monday even.
ing, but had hardly entered Lake Michi.
gan when they ran into another bank OF
smoke that shut out everything from view,
80 thick was the atmosphere that the first
barge OF the tow could not bO seen from,
the decks Of the steamer.
Captain Muir was momentaflly expect.
ing q collision with some approaching
vessel. On all sides could be heard the
fog signals Of passing steamers, but by
moving slowly and sounding the whistles
at frequent intervals the steamer made
her way through the smoke III safety,
Her progress had boGn 80 greatly impeded,
however, that when about 100 miles north
Of Chicago, the engineer reported that the
coal-bunkorB were empty, and about the
same time the steward Informed the cap.
tain that there was nothing left 10 eat but
salt pork. Consequently the crew were
put under abort rationS aud the deck load
OF posts was drawn upon to feed the fur.
mace. But the cedar was so grosn that
the boilers could hardly bs kept warm,
and finally the steamer had to cut her
consorts adriit and come to Chicago with.
out them. She made her way here under
sail, and tugs were sent out 10 search for
the barges.