The Washington times., 1908-10-16

still IA question this afternoon Hs TO
the safety of Bishop Charles ID. Will
Jams, of Detroit, md Rev. w. II. Bulk
ley, of AIpena. They were Mt HaKeBs-
VILE, eight miles from Metz, TO con-
firm n class yesterday afternoon, and
were due TO 20 10 Metz for an evening
train north. No communication is yet
established with the North, and the
relief train is not expected back be-
fore evening. A report from ShebOy-
gan, via Bay city says the known
dead number nineteen.
DETROIT, Mich. Oct. 16.-FOrest fires
are again carrying death and destruc-
tion through northern Michigan
Four towns are already reported wiped
out by flames, with heavy loss OF life,
while scores OF other towns and cities
are menaced.
A dispatch from Millersburg says;
Seventeen men, women. and children
were burned 10 death, when the train
which left Metz, Wednesday afternoon.
TO take people out OF the fire which de-
stroyed the town, ran into a burned-out
Culvert, and was unable 10 proceed It
was trapped on all sides by raging
flames and cremated. Fifteen burned
skulls were found IN a steel gondOla.
a woman by the name OF Cicero. with
three children. was among the dead.
Fireman Art Lee and Brakeman VIII
liam Barrett also perished in the
flames. Engineer William Foster and
Conductor John Kinsville were with
these men when the dash for liberty
was made. The latter two succeeded IN
getting through fire districts into the
open. but their comrades were overcome
| by smoke and flames and fell exhausted
on the railroad track. Their dead bod
les have been recovered Engineer FOs-
ter is terribly burned and may not live.
Z KinsviIls Is blinded
According to n message received by
Detroit and Mackinac railroad officials
at Bay City, the train left Elpena,
/ reached Metz. took the people and
household goods IN board, and started
north, toward CheboyEan- When the
| train reached Hawks Station It found
| fire on both sides Of the track and was
| unable TO proceed.
Ran OFF the Track.
tt then started back, intending TO 20
/ 10 Alpena with the sufferers After
passing Metz. the train ran or the track
near Polaski. where the fire had burn
/ ed the ties and spread the rails The
| forests on both sides Of the track were
/ ablaze, and the train soon caught IRE.
/ There was no escape for the passengers
and they were burned 10 death.
| A second RELIEF train has been sent
/ out to the scene to the fires, with food
! and medical assistance. II Is feared
| that many other lives were lost at Metz.
| when the town burned. as all avenues
| OF escape were cut of before midnight.
All communication with POsena is cut
| OF, and details can not be obtained u:.-
| til the relief train returns 10 Alpena.
/ Nj and Mrs. Nowiski. an aged couple
| who live in the village OF that name.
| were roasted alive I'm their little house
| near the railroad track The fires were
] derlng embers Of the September fires
| Unless rain comes soon, property devaS-
! tatiOn threatens TO be almost as great
| as that wrought by the September fires.
/ Scores Of homes in Alpena, Pressure
/ Isle OtZgO, and MontmOrencl counties
! are reported to be I'm danger. Both
| CherbOvgan and Alpena are menaced-
| In the latter city the flames have got
| ten within the city limits The loss IS
! already in the hundreds Of thousands
4 Of dollars
/ From GAYLORD comes the report that
| the flames are running wild and have
/ apDrOaC he'd So close TO the town or
! Vanderbilt that large gang Of watch
| men are kept on guard duty The fire
/ department and hundreds OF volunteers
| are engaged IN fighting the fame9
| which are burning In the brush inside
/ the city limits. Fires were started in
! the downtown district, but were eXtin-
| guished A huge pile of sawdust with
| In the city limits at Cheyboygan caught
| fire yesterday afternoon endangering
| the whole city. The forest fires around
1 the city are said 10 be the worst Of the
| year.