The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-05-25

Worth of Property-Nine Villages Par
TALLY Destroyed.
EsCANABA, Mich, May 19.-Four known
dead, score or more persons missing, hun
dreds of families homeless, several millions of
dollars of property burned, four towns wiped
out entirely aud dozen more partially, tive
counties devastated and 100 square miles of
territory fireswept-this is the dreadful picture
that the Northern Michigan Peninsula pre-
scented today, after the worst fire since the
Peshtigo disaster has spent its fury. General
Superintendent Wells, of the Escanaba and
Lake Superior Road, along which right of way
the greatest loss occurred, returned tonight
from a trip of inspection over the hre-stricken
area, and says that the flames have gone down
and for the time being the danger is over,
unless a new gale arises to again fan the
smoldering flames into another wall OF hre.
The following summary briefly tells the story:
The dead: Peter La Fond, a cook, smoth-
cred in lumber camp near katos, body found
| tonight three unknown children dead at
Quinuessec, Mich, separated from their par
ents while the village was burning aud per.
ished. Scores ofhomesteaders and woodsmen
are missing and many probably persisted IN
the flames.
Territory devastated Five counties-Mar
quette, Menominee, Delta, Alger aud Dickin-
sou. The territory 6reswept is 100 miles
square. Towns totslly burned : Talbot, Mich,
800 population, only few houses left standing;
Quinnessec, 400 population, only one house
remains; Saunders $50 population, all wiped
out; Niagara, Wis, 800 population, all wiped
out Towns partially destroyed: Northland,
Cornell, Antoine, Spring Valley, Kingsley,
Woodlawn, Foster City, Saliva, Metropolitan.
The burned area extends from point 10
miles out of Escanaba to Talbot on the south,
to Chanting and Quinnesec on the west TO
Sands on the north and back to near Escanaba.
While this territory has not been swept clear,
great tracts have been laid waste, especially
toward the north.
In this region u thousand small fires have
been smoldering for weeks. Nothing was
thought of these fires, because they were not
dangerous; but 1t only needed wind, which
came Friday, TO fan them into sheet OF flame.
Toward noon the wind began to blow trcm
the west so miles an hour. BY o clock the
velocity WAS 40 miles, and 10y O'Clock the
small fires seemed to have united into large
one that extended over 50-mile stretch aud
swept along with fury.
The country swept by the flames varies from
pine timber land TO barrens. Part IS iron
mining country, aud the district includes im
mSHsc ifdCle bt uAElNbDu hhatA AANt AN'Ns
been touched 10y the AK.
Throughout the affected territory hundreds
of woodsmen we're put to work to save prop
erty. 1t WAS only by diverting the path OF the
FIRE that some towns were saved, Hundreds
of small and prosperous farms were burned
ever, driving The occupants 70 the nearest
towns tor shelter. Cattle aud stock and houses
aud barns aud their contents we're left for the
flames. Farmers loaded wagons hurriedly
with personal effects and ran before the flames.
In some instances families became sepa.
rated, causing much anxiety TO relatives who
have reached towns.
Quinnesec was a prosperous mining town
on the Wisconsin aud Michigan aud the
Northwestern Railways, situated between
Norway and Iron Mountain. II was almost
completely wiped out. The FIRE started ia the
outskirts Of the town and the hose Of the ere
department would not reach il. The flames
thus secured a big start. Among the build
iugs destroyed we're the Catholic Church and
the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Sta.
tluu. Six box cars were harmed on the siding
near the Station. The Wisconsin aud Michi-
gan station IS believed TO be safe.
POrierfield. small town in Marinetie couu.
", - miles from Menominee, Mich. reports
that the forest fires we're rsgiug IN all directions
close to that village. Soon afterward telegraph
connexions we're toSl, ana toe 1ate OF TIE town
is unknown.
Refugees are arriving hourly in the city on
foot, on horseback and 90 relief trains. All
tell stories Of the fesrfully rapid progress q
the FIRE and express The belief that settlers and
lumbermen at points remote from the railroad
have persisted
FROM one of the camps Of the l. Stephenson
Company the mes, mounted on 50 DRAFT
horses, raced ahead Of ihc ere fer y miles.
finally reaching Cornell, barely ahead Of The
line 90 flames They leaped aboard relief
train, on which the last Of the citizens Of the
place had taken refuge, and as the train drew
oct they could see The wall Of FIRE sweeping
over the houses. while the horses which hsd
brought them to safety fed wildly through the
forest ahead of the blaze.
PerronyiIie in MeaomiHee county, was
surrounded by flames last night. but was saved.
At LOOMS, Wis, schOolhuuse was wiped
out aud the teacher aud pupils had narrow
escape.