The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-22
DEATH IN A WELL.
Miserable Fate of Eight
Men.
SOUGHT REFUGE FROM FIRE.
A Michigan Lumbering Camp Sur
rounded by Burning Forests.
Efforts to Escape.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

fire destroyed Louis Sands lumber camp,
near here yesterday afternoon. Out of the
total crew of sixty men, forty-nino es-
capped uninjured. One. Edward Sullivan.
was seriously burned, and ten are dead.
Of these. eight took refuge in we'll and
were cremated there by burning timber
falling in on them. Two tried to run the
gauntlet and were burned to crisp.
The dead are: Michael G. Pagen,
Charles G. Taylor, James Hugh. Edward
(foremaD), John Hill, Fred Sager, Hans
Mike Mulholland.
The property loss consists of three
horses. forty hogs, camp tools, etc.. also
eleven cars loaded with logs, owned by
the Thsyer Lumber Company.
Fuller particulars of the burning of the
men at Sands lumber camp state that the
mon were assembled at dinner when the
alarm was given. But the forest fires,
which were burning all round, entirely cut
off escape.
Realizing their danger. the men rushed
out of the building, but the smoke so
blinded them that they broke down bewil-
dered. They ran hither and thither, un-
able to find any means of escape, and the
horses stampeded owing to the confusion.
Eight of the men jumped into a well to
escape the flames, aDd there died OF suffo-
cation. The bodies were brought to the
surface to-day. Others rushed to the woods
and some thus escaped. but the bodies OF
TWO were afterward found burned 10
crisp. One man reached Lake City ter
ribly burned and there died in fearful
agony. Eight teams of horses were
cremated.
The bodies of the burned were brought
to Lake City, where they await burial.
Most of the unfortunates were strangers
here and the bodies will be shipped to
their friends, where known.
The fire in the timber near the camp of
Biodgett. GUNNER & Diggins is under
control. and no further danger is feared
there.
SAGINAW, Mich, May 2l.-The fire of
Yesterday, as described in these dispatches
last night, caused scene of indescribable
excitement, people becoming frenZied in
their desire to remove their nousefiod If
fects from the devuuring path of the ele-
ment. which rushed madly on its journey
of destruction, burning everything in its
way. Strong hands and willing hearts ral-
lied to the aid of those whose homes were
in danger. Drays. delivery. wood, ice and
coal wagons. buggies. handcarts and every
thing in the shape OF vehicle was pressed
into service to move household goods be-
yond the reach of the fire.
The vehicles were loaded with household
goods and the horses driven az frantic
pace in all directions. In many instances
property. after being removed TO supposed
places of safety, was found by the fire ana
destroyed.
The body of the man who perished, sup
posed to be John Clarke. was identified
this morning as Robert Turner, aged SO
years. Clarke is still unaccounted for.
There will be some destitution, but the
majority OF the losses were sustained by
people in comfortable circumstances. The
people Of Saginaw will take care OF the
needy ones, aud no appeal will be made
for outside aid. Close estimates place the
number Of buildings destroyed at 275, and
the total loss sustained at $1,000 The
total insurance will aggregate about
100000.
BUFFALO. n. Y. May 21.-A cottage
occupied by John Downey. wife and five
children was burned to the ground this
morning. Three children-John. aged 7:
Annie, aged 6. ana Frank, aged 4-perjsbed
in the flames.
ST. LOUIS. May 21.-A fire at midnight
destroyed 100000 in property and caused
loss of life. The fire, which was of an in
cendiary character, completely destroyed
the three-story brick block occu-
pied by c. NJ. GRIMM & Co. A
hundred and fifty horses we're burned
to a crisp and the entire lot of bug
gies, phaetons and other vehicles, harness
in the building. ETC., were destroyed. On
the second floor. James Quinn, the fore
man. his wife and eight, children were
asleep. All had narrow escape except
Eddie. the seven-year-old SOD. who was
fatally burned. The insurance is $4,000.
PROVIDENCE. r. l., May PA fire this
evening burned the Slater Mill and Power
Company's building. The losses, so far
as ascertained, are: Waterman Machine
and Tool Company. $4,000. partially in
sured; Diamond Machine Company,
$4,000, partially insured; American
Tubing and Webbing Company, $4,000,
fully insured; Reynolds Manufacturing
Jewelry Company. $4,000. fully Insured
Tie losses of the Rhode Island Electric
Company and other small concerns aggre-
gate about $4,000.