Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-16
TWENTY LOSE LIVES
ABOARD BLAz|hGC CARS
Relief Train Wrecked Amid
Fierce Forest Fire.
REFUGEES CAUGHT IN TRAP
Men, Women and Children Unable to
Escape Flames.
FLEEING FROM METZ, MICH.
Train Turned Back by Flames, Then
Plunged Into Burned Culvert.
Stories of Survivors.
REFUGEES CAUGHT IN TRAP
FLEEING FROM METZ, MICH.

Twenty or more persons, most
ly women and children, are known
to have lost their lives by the
burning OF relief train sent to
carry them away from the town
of Metz, Mich, which was threat
ened by forest fires. Wires are
down to the scene and but meager
reports of the disaster have been
received, and it is thought later
details may largely increase the
number of dead.
DETROIT Mich, October 16.-Twenty
or more lives were lost last night by the
burning of relief train that was bring
ing refugees from the town of Metz
which was threatened with destruction by
forest fires. The accident occurred be-
tween Metz and the village of Posen and
was caused by the train catching fire af-
ter plunging into a culvert that had been
burned out. The victims are mostly
women and children. A dispatch from
Millersburg, twenty miles north of Metz
says that fifteen skeletons have been
found in the ruins of gondola car which
made up part of the relief train.
Among those who perished are Mrs.
Cicero and her three children. Engineer
John Kinville of Alpena and another
member of the train crew escaped with
their lives. but terribly burned. by creep
ing along the track on their hands and
knees to Posen. 1t Is reported from there
that Kinville is blind from his burns and
will die The other man will live.
Reports of greater loss of life than
twenty are current at Alpena, but 1t is
impossible as yet to definitely confirm
them. Some of the reports place the
number Of dead as high as 15O.
Reports at Alpena.
A dispatch from Alpena says:
The reports received here say that after
the relief train had been loaded with peo-
Die and goods at Metz it started north.
but was unable to get farther than
Hawks. Then the train was headed south
for Aipena. The report says that at No
wicli station the fire had burned through
q number of railroad ties, weakening the
track. and that the rails spread, derai-
ing the relief train, which was then de-
stroyed by fire. 1t Is not yet positively
known what became of the people re-
ported to be on the train, but the re-
ports which have filtered in here say that
they are believed TO have burned to
death.
Engineer Foster and Fireman Lee took
refuge In the water tank, where they
stayed until the water became so hot
that they had to leave the tank and run
for their lives. They are reported badly
but not seriously burned.
a train left here early this morning
carrying physicians bound for the north.
Says Twenty Perished.
George Boston, travelling salesman
of Bay City, was on the derailed rescue
train, but succeeded in walking into
Posen, where he arrived badly burned.
He says that one of the train was
filled with men. women and children and
that probably twenty must have perished
In the fire. Three other persons, whose
names are not yet known here accom-
panied Boston on the walk through the
flames from the dcrailed train to Posen.
dispatch from Bay City says:
According to the meager information
available here today at the Office of the
Detroit and Macknaw railroad, there were
sixteen people burned to death in the
Metz relief train last night which was
destroyed by the forest fires. The wires
north OF Alpena are down and the Off
Gals of the Detroit and Mackinaw road
here are powerless to secure details OF
even confirmation of the trains destruc-
tion..
The reports which have reached the
roads Office here say that after loading
the people OF Metz in the train with their
household goods a start was made tor
Cheyboysan.
Forests Blazing Mass.
Flames made 1t impossible TO proceed
further than Hawks station. Then the
train was headed south toward Alpena
After passing Metz 1t is understood here
that the train left the rails near Pulaski
and was destroyed. The forest on both
sides of the track was blazing mass The
engineer and fireman are reported TO have
Jumped into the water tank of the engine
Only to be forced out as the water grew
hot and burned TO death.
y message from AIpena states that six.
teen collins have been ordered sent north
Number on Board Unknown.
The forest fires above Alpena ir
Pressure Isle county suddenly became
threatening again yesterday, after il was
thought that the heavy rains early ir
the month had extinguished them They
spread rapidly and were soon menacina
a number of towns along the line of The
Detroit and Mackinac railroad. The little
village of Metz. with about 100 inhabit-
ants. was one of them. Its situation be.
came acutely dangerous last night. The
Detroit and Mackinac railroad sent a re-
lief train of box cars. Household goods
and store stocks were loaded on some
Of the cars and people filled the others
How many were taken aboard is not
known, nor Is 1t known whether any o!
the farmers from outlying points had
come into Metz seeking refuge from the
names If this Is the case. there may
have been more people on the wrecked
relief train than the inhabitants Of the