Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-10-19
GOVERNOR APP = FOR AID
Clothing, Food, Bed, ter and
Forage for Amin. Il 1.
STATE TAKES HAND
Bishop Williams Tours D.strict and
T:lls Of Pitiful Conditions.
FIRE SITUATION IMPROVES
SO Far re- Known Now Only One
Tern, ossineke, Now Threatened
--TeleRrnphic Communication
Hus Dccn Restored.

DETROIT Oct. 19-Ileports from the for
oat fires In northern Michigan were frag-
mentary today, but there were indications
Of Improvement in the genarl situation as
far as Imminent danger to life and prop
erty was concerned. But as to the victims
who survived the destruction Of their
homes and villages conditions are pitiful
In the extreme. with the likelihood OF
greater distress and many deaths from ex-
posUre in the event OF a sudden drop of
temperature falling upon the half-clothed
refugees camped In boxcars and open fields
Governor Fred NJ. Warner today issued
an appeal to the people or Michigan for
contributions and Mayor w. 3. Thompson
OF Detroit has called a special meeting of
the common council for tomorrow to con-
slider the matter OF contributing relief
Bishop Charles D. Williams OF the Eps-
copal diocese Of Michigan. who has just re-
turned from the fire district will be asked
to describe conditions as he witnessed them
The Detroit Board of Commerce held a
meeting at the Detroit club tonight to ar
range tho details OF shipping a preliminary
carload OF provisions and bedding north to-
morrow, and Governor Warner has directed
Adjutant General McGurren Of the state
troops to take the Initiative in similar meas
ures at Grand Rapids The Detroit q Mack
mac Railroad company has already sent
dozen carloads Of provisions, lumber and
hay into the burned district from Bay City
Town of Ossineke Threatened.
President ]. d. Hawks Of the Detroit &
Mackinac railroad received word today
that forest fires were seriously threaten
ing the town of Ossineke south of Alpena
on Thunder bay. Mr.. Hawks said that he
had recRiVed M reporte from AInona and
Rogers City. and he was confident he would
have heard something II the situation at
those points had not improved
The Western Union Telegraph company
had uninterrupted communication with Al
pena today and was able to do business
twice with Onaway on the far side of the
burned district. The Western Union was
also able to establish communication VITA
Posen in the fire district this afternoon.
Long dIstanee- ee--teiephone- communication
is good as far north as East Tawas
Quartermaster General w. ]. Rogers of
the state troops. who was sent into the
burned district to investigate conditions,
telegrsphed Governor Warner today that
there was no need of troops, as the fire
situation was improved temporarily at
least, The immediate need, General Rog-
ers reported, was for bedding and food tor
cattle. Governor Warner has already d.
rected the sending OF several hundred
blankets into the burned district, and all
the blankets on hand in the armory Of the
state troops at Alpena have been forwarded
there.
Appeal for Aid.
Following is the governors appeal to the
people of Michigan for contributions;
To the People Of Michigan: The do
structtve forest fires which have ragged
over the norther part OF the state during
the last week and which have been at
tended with such fearful loss of life and
property, have alreaCy rendered about $40
OK our people homeless and dependent upon
immediate public charity. Tho prompt re-
lief furnished by the officials Of tho De
troit Mackinac railroad and others is
most commendablc, but the loss and suffer-
ing are so great and the need for further
assistance is so crying that there should be
prompt action on tho part Of the public
The men. women and children who have
narrowly escaped death are shelterless and
destitute. Food, clothing, bedding, furni-
ture, money and building materials and
forage for animals should be donated at
once so that the sufferings of these people
should he lessened and that none may
perish from hunger and exposure l. there
fore, urge upon the charitable people OF
this great state so bountifully blessed
with comfort and wealth. to Immediately
como to the relief OF these stricken people
Alpen& Will be the distributing point. All
donations may be sent In care OF j. H.
Hawks, president of the Detroit & Mack
mac railroad, who is giving his personal
attention TO the relief of the sufferers.
am already assured that the Detroit &
Mackinac, the Michigan Central and the
Pere MSrduettc railroads will transport
everything free OF charge, and undoubtedly
ell the other railroads. whose officials
have not yet been able to see will dc
likewise. FREDERICK NJ. WARNER,
Governor.
Mayor William r. Thompson, in his
proclamation to tho people of the city OF
Detroir, says:
Tne northern part Of the state Of Mich.
igan is being swept by forest fires an.
palling In their magnitude.
Scores Of lives have already heen lost
thousands have been rendered homeless
the loss IN property Is beyond estimation
ard the end Is not vet come
The condition OF the survivors is pitifu
iu the extreme. They have been stripped
of el their worldly possessio and the
northern winter Is ready to sweep down
unrp them They need money they neet
clothes, they need food. thcv need shelter
That we NAV systematically arrange for
the relief Of the stricken districts, l cal
upon all citizens to meet with me I'm the
executive office on Monday. the 18th inst.
a: 70 o'clock noon. In order to discuss II
what form our relief shall be and I'm order
20 select proper committees to accept con
, tributions.
Verdict Against City.
pAWNEE Neb Oct Ig-(Special Tele,