Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-17
PASSENGER CRASHES INTO
BURNED OUT cuLvERT WITH
LOAD OF PEOPLE RUSHING TO
AID OR FIRE VICTIMS.
FIFTEEN SKELETONS
FOUND IN COACH
TANNED BY STRONG WINDS, FOR
EST FIRES ARE AGAIN RAGING
4 IN MICHIGAN AND HEAVY
LOSS OF LIFE Is REPORTED.

Detroit, Mich, Oct l6.-Hastan-
ing to the aid of the stricken cit
tzens in the town of Metz, par
TALLY destroyed by forest fire,
scores of persons lost their lives
early this morning wren the re-
left train bearing them on their
errand Of mercy ran through
burned out culvert and was wreck
ed. The coaches caught fire and
many of the passengers lost their
lives. The repors Of the num-
Der of dead vary from seventeen
to 200, but the latter reports are
believed to be exaggerated. The
train was sent from Hawks, Mich.
Detroit. Oct. 16.--A dispatch to the
Journal from Millersburs, about twen-
ty miles north of Me,n states that
seventeen people were burned to death
In the Metz relief train and that
fifteen skeletons have been found in
the burned wreck of the Gondola car.
which made up part of the relief
train. The dispatch says the train
ran into burned out, culvert, causing
a derailment. Among those who p.s. 4
ished are Mrs. Cicero snd her three
children.
A despatch to the News from the
Millersburg correspondent, who re-
turned this afternoon from the scene
Of the wreck, says that fifteen men.
women and children were burned to
death. Three mothers and nine small
children stayed in the gondola car,
the sides of which soon were hedhot.
They were cremated. Arthur Lee, the
fireman sought safety in the water
tank on his engine and was literally
boiled to death.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Nowicki, living
beside the railroad where the wreck
occurred, were burned to death when
their home was destroyed.
Survivor Says Twenty nerished.
Alpena, Mich, Oct. 16.-George
Preston Of Bay City, who was on the
derailed rescue train, arrived at
Posen badly burned He says one
car was filed with men, women and
children and that probably about TWEEN
ty must have perished In the fire.
Wind Fans Flames.
Calumet, Mich. Oct. 16. - Famed
into flames by high wind the smoul-
dering ruins of the forest fires which
weeks ago did enormous damage In
upper Michigan are again threatening
the destruction Of valuable property.
Town of BrimIey Threatened.
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich, Oct 16.-
Forest fires have again broken out in
Chippewa county and are threatening
in the extreme Bimely, fifteen
miles west. is in serious danger of
destruction. The flames reached the
city limits here last night threatening
the dynamite storehouSes.
Heavy Loss of Life.
Alpena, Mich, Oct. 16.-According
from the north there has been a
heavy loss of life in the forest fires
which yesterday and last night swept
over Presque Isle county.
4 Wisconsin Town Destroyed.
Marinette, Wis. Oct IS. Forest
fires are once more raging in Mari
nette county and last night serious
destruction resulted in several towns,
Half Of the town Of Pound was burned
and the little town Of Packard was to-
tally destroyed. Holmes Junction
Wagner, Keoo, Coll and several other
small towns were threatened.
Report Fires Are Spreading,
Specials to the Free Press from
many points through northern Mich
|igan show that forest Ires Lave brok
en- out again with renewed fury. From
Millersburg, in Pressure Isle county
comes word that the town Of Metz
was wiped ou. by fire yesterday after
J noon, with losses ;.ggregating nearly
sac, 1000 Telegraphic communication
with Millersburg was broken In the
middle OF the Free Press dispatch.
Near Gladwin the home of the Rev
Henry Wickle was burned yesterday
and severLl farm buildings were de
stroyed. From Standish comes re
port that the village Of La ROGUE, IL
Presque Isle county, is burning.
From Escanaba, in the upper PENN
| sula, it is reported hat Foster City Il
again threatened with destruction, ant
2 a special train with fire fighting ap
i paratus has been sent from Escanaba
3 Near Menominee several villages ar
7 threatened and trains are running
from two to three hours late.