The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1906-05-24
HUNDRED MILES
SWEPT BY FIRE
Four Towns Gone in Michigan and
Wisconsin.
FOUR DEAD AND MANY MISSING.
Forest Fires Devastste Five Counties, Leav.
Ing Hundreds of Families Homeless and
Burning Millions OF Dellsrs' Worth Of Prop.
eriy-Nine Villages Partially Destroyed
Refugees Flee on Traius.

Milwaukee, Wis, (Specia) A special
dispatch to the Milwaukee Sentinel from
Escanaba, Mich, says:
-Four known dead, a score or more
persons missing, hundreds of families
homeless, several million dollars worth
OF property burned, four towns wiped
out and dozen more partly burned,
hve counties partly devastated and 100
square miles of territory fire swept
This is the result in the Northern Niichi-
gan peninsula OF the forest fire that
ragged Friday and Saturday
= neral Superintendent w L. Wells,
ol<~Escanaba and Lake Superior road
along which the greatest loss occurred,
returned from a trip Of inspection over
the hrc-StriclSen area and said that the
hrcs ha gone down. For the time be
ing tn danger is over. unless n new gale
arises TO fan the embers into flames.
he following summary tells the story
The dead,
Peter Lafond, cook, smothered in
a lumber camp. near Katos.
Three children at Quinescc. Mich.
separated from parents while the village
was burning, and pcrishcd.
Scores OF homeStcadcrs and wood
men are missing and some may have
perished in the flames.
Territory Devastated-Five Counties,
Marquette, McnOmince, Delta, Alzer. and
Dickinson
TOWNS DESTROYED.
Talbot Mich. 800 population; few
houses escaped
"Quiunesec, Mich. 400 poDulation only
one house left.
Saunders, $50 population; wiped out.
Niagara, Wis, 800 population; all
burned
The towns damaged are Northland,
Cornell, Antoine, Spring Valley. Kings
ley Woodlawn, Foster City, Sala and
Metropolitan.
All day long refugees and trainmen
have been coming telling tales of misery
and suffering, as well as heroism and
brave deeds, that we're enacted while
the FIRE was at it, height
/ he burned area extends from point
10 miles out Of ESca.aba, 10 Talbot on
the south, TO Claiming and Quinncscc on
the west, 10 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 1000 small fires have
been smoldering for weeks. Nothing
was thought of these fires because they
were not dangerous but it only needed
a wind which came on Friday 10 fan them
into a sheet of flame
Toward noon the wind began to blow
from the west 80 miles an hour. Bv
T. NJ. the velocity was 30 miles. and
by ! p. NJ. the small fires seemed to have
united into large one that extended over
5o-mile stretch and swept along with
fury.
Throughout the affected territory hun
dreds of woodSmen were put to work &c
save property. 1t was only by divert
ing the path of the fire that some towns
were saved Hundreds of small and
prosperous farms were burned over driv-
ing the occupants 10 the nearest towns
for shelter Cattle and stock and houses
and barns and their contents were left
Tor the flames. Farmers loaded wagons
hurriedly with personal effects and ran
before the flames.
in some instances families became
separated, causing much anxiety to rela-
uveS who have reached towns.
There was little that human effort
could do to check the flames. The heat
was intense and the smoke sitting. The
wind from the west and north blew the
smoke into ESCanaba. AT P. NJ. Fri
day EsCanaba seemed in darkness. 4
heavy veil of smoke Overhung the en-
tire surrounding country Everything
was OF greenish hue The sitting
smoke threw women and children into
panic.
Gradually the wind died down dur
ing the night and in the morning the
flames began to lose their fury The
fires still SmOlder, and while they are not
spreading it will only need a fresh wind
20 start them again. AS far as the eve
can see there is smoke"