Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-10-17

D5tr0it, Mich, OF. l7.-Ine forest
fires are still raging in ObebOyesn. Pr'i-
que Isle and Alpena counties, aceo dirg
TO sdvices today from FIRE swept nj rtheiH
Michigan.
Alpens city is again in great danger
Snd Oheboygsn is entirely surrounded oy
FIRE W the three land sides The flames
are sweeping over great areas hourly,
and railroad communication Ia the burned
counties has been practically suspende'.
A relief train attempted to make Its
way out of Cheboygsn lsst night, but
was forced 10 turn back. Many small
towns are cut of from communication
and may have suffered the fate Of Metz.
The survivors Of the Metz horror tel
attending stories Of their experience.
When the train pulled out OF Metz, the
the greedy flames were then licking up
the town, and in every direction great
masses OF smoke were rolling up from
the burning buildings. The women
and children had been loaded in an open
steel goudola, so that If the box cars
caught fire they would not be confined
inside. But two miles out OF Metz
there was crunching roar and the en-.
CINE slipped from the rails at q burned
out culvert.
All around the people the flames we're
rolling up, and before the people could
get out the cars the pillows OF lire swept
down on the train and cremated
the defenseless women and child
rem lying in the open car. Mothers
turned to corpses with their babies eli sp'
ed in their arms. Ole woman with
child in each arm lesped from the car
and ran shrieking up the track, a NOV
ing pillsr Of FIRE.
The charred bodies we're picked up q
hundred feet away from the train when
rescuers finally reached the scene OF the
tragedy.
Ssuit Ste. Marie. Mich, Oct. H.
A telephone message early today from
Pickford says 6res are sweeping the
country for g distance of 20 miles
between there and Detour, gangs OF
men making futile efforts to check
their p ogress. Within Eve miles south
of the city the flames are rosring through
the tree tops. Reports from up river.
are not satisfactory. Great clouds OF
smoke arising all along the lakes indi-
cate the fires will be worse today than
yesterday.
Detroit, Mich, Oct. l7.-Bishop
Charles d. Williams, of Detroit, who
is In the FIRE district Of Presque Isle
county, is safe at Oheboygon after
being fre-bound two days In Hagens-
vslle. The bishop escaped from Metz
in q buggy shortly before the fire destroy
ed the town. He had number of mar
row escaped before reaching Chsboygsn
which Is today surrounded on three
sides by fires.
Detroit, Mich, Oct. 17.-Reports
coming from fire districts this afternoon
place the total number OF known dead al
forty one. In the back county districts,
which are now burDijg, are many
people without communication with the
railroad and the actual number may be
increased far beyond this number. The
injured will probably run over 100 and
go to 300.
Alpena, Mich, Oct. 17.-Itis learned
today that in addition 10 Metz, the town
of Bolton and South Rogers are wiped
off the map, leaving several hundred
families destitute.
OnsWsy, Mich, Oct. l7.-At mid,
night the telegraph operators at LeGraDt
reported: "The town is doomed. AL
are mosiug out and this Is the last you
will hear from us until we reach place
of safety"