The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-17

MRS. GEO. CICERO.
MARGARET CICERO, aged 2.
GEO. CICERO, aged 8.
ATHEN CICERO, aged 8.
MRS EMMA HARDIES.
PAULINE HARDIES, aged 9.
MARY HARDIES. aged 3.
MINNIE HARDIES, aged 7 months.
Alpena, Mich, Oct. 17-With 27
people known to have perished yes
terday in Presque Isle county and with
forest fires still raging uncontrolled
through the counties of Sheboygan.
Presque Isle. Alpena and Altoona, as
well as other scattered districts
through northern Michigan diligent
search has began today to determine
the full extent Of holocaust.
1t may take many days to reveal
tragedies that are likely to have oc-
Cured on Isolated farms with
families fighting bravely to the last to
save their lives and their modest
homesteads. The death list may not
be fully known for a week. But 1t
needs no elaborated details to deter
mine that the property loss will run
into millions.
Whole villages have been blotted
off the map and logging camps by the
dozen have been destroyed with their
entire seasons output. Near Turner
In Arenac county, flock of nearly
100 sheep were burned. In the
Immediate vicinity Of Millersburg in
Pressure Isle county alone the losses
are estimated at half million dol
lars.
Other districts where bad forest
fres are reported are in the neigh
borhood of Elmyra, Gaylord and
johannesburg in Otzego county,
Cadiallic in wexford county; Calling
In Crawford county, where 100000
trees planted by the state forestry
commission were destroyed, Grawn in
Grand Traverse county and Caseville
and Bad Axe in Huron county in the
Thumb" district.
In the upper peninsula threatening
forest fires are reported around Sauit
st. Marie. Menominee, Escanaba and
Calumet and Houghton. At Koss,
near Menominee, Is homes are re-
ported destroyed with as many more
threatened.
Navigation has been practically
suspended at the 500 owing to the
dense smoke and the Presque Isle fog
station signal on Lake Huron was
abandoned yesterday by Patrick II.
his life. Alpena. Long Rapids and
Rogers city were last night reported
In grave danger.
At Alpena last night the common
council at special meeting author
lied Mayor Knight to issue what tenn
porary relief he thought best for the
hre sufferers. Provisions and Clothing
Will be sent from Alpena to the scene
of the Metz disaster and also to needy
victims in Alpena county. Alpena
citizens Will hold a mass meeting
sunday noon to adopt further meas
ure of relief
r. S. Richards, Bay City travelling
salesman, when he arrived at Posen
said: S'i'
LAS the train left the track the heart
THn01nR of ND oI,f
chill over my body I did NOT wait
to see the outcome. as 1 knew 1t would
be of no avail and every minute was
precious. George Boston, also of Bay
CITY, mysef and another man started
together. We walked down the track
toward PoSen. In some places the
flames forced us to run and Mr. Boston
was burned about the face before he
reached safety. Several other men left
the scene about the same time we did
but when we reached Posen they were
not to be seen. They may have per-
ished in the flames.
There was absolutely no chance to
save the women and children from the
gondola car. The time was too short
1t will probably be a week before a.
is known definitely how many people
perished in the village of Metz. The
fire had gained a foothold in the town
before the train left and in all proba-
bility many of the citizens We're Gre
Others stated that when the relief
train left Metz 1t carried all the inhab-
itants of the village except George
Cicero. the station agent, who STAYED
to handle the railroad wire and es-
capped through the plowed fields when
the fire reached the station, only to find
his wife and three children cremated in
the wreck Of the relief train A fourth
boy, about IL years old. had Jumped
from the burning car and escaped with
slight injuries. The first relief train
from here reached the crossing this
afternoon and brought back the bodies
and those of the refugees who wished
to come here. Some of them were so
hysterlcal from fright that they refused
to ride on the train, fearing another
accident.
Situation Is Improving.
First reports today from the fire
swept district did not materially in
crease the sum total of damage, de-
spite the fact that high winds swept
over the burning section all night. The
villages of Posen and Laroque are
now regarded out of danger. Rogers
City is in the most danger today of
anv Of the settlements in Presque Isle
county. A large force of men are
working to save the town. Both Long
Lake and Wilson township also es-
capped with few losses. Reports are
constantly coming in of loss from the
~ e.