St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-13
GODS BLESSED Rain
Is the Only Thing That Can
Stop the Raging Forest
Fires.
Miles of Bush Now Burning in
Michigan and Pennsyl-
vania.
Peaceful Villages Raced and
Their Inhabitants
Ruined.
Many Said to Have Perished,
But the Particulars Are
Lacking.


curity from the recent rain did not ma
terialiZe for the panic-stricken inhabit-
ants of the burned district in this
state. Some idea of the vastness of the
fire district can be gained from the fact
that almost any two of the dozen coun-
ties now filled with fire is as large as the
whole state of Rhode Island. The To
ledo, Ann Arbor IL Northern Michigan
railroad has been obliged to aba ndon
all attempts to run cars north of the
Clare county line. A freight train and
crew had narrow escape from crema-
tion yesterday. The ties in many places
were so badly burned that the rails
spread when the train went over. When
near Nodes Siding one of the cars
i'll the center of the train was
derailed, and the train crew were
obliged to abandon the rear part
of the train after working until the cars
began to smoke. Before they reache
Farwell there was another derailment,
and all but three of the train of eight
cars were left to their fate. Three of
the trainmep were badly blistered. The
wind shifted and drove the fire to the
southwest and into Newaygo, Mecosta
and Oceana counties. Coots station and
Barton, both on the line of the fire, have
not been heard from and are supposed
to have been destroyed. West Troy, a
few miles north of Otia, has been
EnvirOned by Fire
since early yesterday morning. and is
supposed to be i'll ashes. Reports from
Cadillac. Wexford sounty, state that the
inhabitants of all the villages in the
county have been out fighting fire for
three days, and many of the smaller
places are wiped off the face of the
earth. Where Nirvarna and Fremont,
on the Flint x Perre Marqu cite road
once stood there is nothing now but
piles of ashes. The village of Lake has
not been heard from since its last appeal
for help. The fire is weeping through
the woods near Red Cloud, Newaygo
county. Whil9more than 100 miles away.
SIS the state, the little hamlet of
Taft is in gulf of flame. Monton, in
Wexford county. above Cadillac, is cut
Off from communication with the cut
side world. The latest news from Ira
verse City is to the effect that the en-
tire population is out fighting fire.
Millions upon millions of logs are burn
ing all over the county and the state.
WHITE CLOUD, Mich, May 12-The
five upper townships in this county
have been Surging sea of fire ever
since Saturday, and it is believed that
not single one of the small hamlets is
left. Fields Station, with its four saw
mills and general store, is no more, and
the 800 people who lived there Sunday
are to-day without homes or roof to
cover their heads. Otia, or Dingman,
as it is known TO the postal authorities,
is but collection of smoking ruins,
with the 200 people who called the place
home standing around in despair. Park
City, in Lincoln township, went out in
fire and smoke yesterday morning.
Nothing is left of the cluster of small
houses that marked the place. Lilly
Station is hardly worth the nam of
station, as only the small hotel and
smaller railroad stations are left to
mark the town site. Freight cars with
out number were burned, and logging
trains melted away into ashes on the
tracks where they stood awaiting their
loads of lumber.
SHEBoYGAN, Mich, May 12-Forest
fires are doing considerable damage in
the interior of the county. Unless rain
soon comes the damage will be great.
The city is wrapped in a dense smoke,
and the straits of Mackinac are so
densely overhung with smoke as to Sc
rlously impede the progress of all boats.
The fires burn fiercely, and the smoke
is so dense that lamps must be lighted
at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. The
towns of Indian River and Rondo are
much in danger, aud last night dozens
of men, looking like so many demons,
were to be seen fighting the fiery mon
ster. Reports from all parts of the
northern half of the lower peninsula
show the fires are still raging.
Only Their Clothes Left.
LUDINGToN, Mich, May 12.-Some of
the people who lived in Walkeryille be-
fore the fire struck that town arrived
here yesterday in a deplorable state.
They had nothing to call their own but
the clothes they wore, and are eX-
hausted with hard work in trying to
save their village. They say that it is
impossible to tell how many of the in
habitants escaped alive, but they fear
that many died in the woods, where
they fled for safety. The village had
800 inhabitants, and no one knows
where more than half this number is at
present. The loss at this point will
reach $4,000. Vague rumors of large
loss of life in other points come in, but
verifcatiOn is impossible. This entire
county will be swept unless rain comes
to-day.