Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-18
Many Victims of Forest Fires
in Northern Michigan.
HUNDREDS ARE HOMELESS
Measures for Relief Of the Stricken
Under Way.
SUN oBscURED BY SMOKE
Fire-Swept District Takes in an Area
Of About 100 Miles-Bishop
Tells Of Situation.

DETROIT, Mich. October 17-Specials
to the Free Press and the Detroit News
from Alpena, Mich, indicate tonight that
the number Of deaths in the forest fires
OF Pressure Isle and Alpena counties will
surely exceed fifty and may run we'll up
toward one hundred. In the vicinity of
Metz. Bolten and Posen the fires have
burned sufficiently to leave several hum
dred women and children camping with
comparative safety In the open fields.
but near the city Of Alpena tonight the
fires were so threatening that Mayor
Mcknight called out a volunteer force
Of several hundred men with shovels
to form a patrol and construct trenches
to stem the progress Of the flames in the
direction of the city. The same south
west wind that swept the fires through
the village Of Metz is still blowing to-
night, with consequent great danger to
villages and farms.
The latest report of additional fatalities
committee had news of the death of an
old couple named Pachinski. who were
burned to death in their home near Posen.
ruins of their house today. And the badly
burned body of an unknown man was
found on the railroad track between
Posen and Metz today.
rs Die on Ill-Fated Train.
It is now estimated that twenty-three
people lost their lives in the destruction
of the Inflated Metz relief train Thurs
day evening. The reports were that fiji
teen were killed. 1t is doubtful. however,
II the names Of the additional eight will
ever be known.
With the certainty that a sudden drop
IN, hA tny ofi,rn hiring nnfOlG
distress upon the half-clothed victims
huddled in temporary shelter In the open
fields every effort is being made to or
ganize a comprehensive system of reilef
measures. Today the Detroit and Mack
mac railroad sent out three cars of pro-
visions to be distributed among the
stricken villages One car was left at
Metz. one at Bolton and one at Posen
Several carpenters and a supply of lum-
Der arrived at Metz today from Cheboy-
gan and Chief Engineer Waterman Of the
Detroit and Mackinac railroad took
charge of the work of erecting tempo
rary cabins for the homeless. 1t is esti-
mated that at least 500 people are utter
ly dependent upon assistance contributed
from outside the burned district.
Many Houses Insured.
Most of the houses in the village of
Metz and also those on neighboring farms
were insured in a mutual fire association
organized by the farmers of the district.
Losses have been paid through system
Of assessments. Now, however. with the
WIDESPREAD destruction of the property of
most of the associations members there
Is scant prospect of any payment OF In
surance. The merchants of the district
are more fortunate. many of them hold
ing insurance in companies OF national
scope.
Practically the stricken residents Of
Metz have formed what practically
amounts to a commune. All property
will be held in common for the general
welfare until the receipt OF outside as
sistance and the payment of what insur-
ance can be collected will permit the re-
sumption Of normal conditions of living.
Early Afternoon Death Estimate.
Reports of the loss Of life from the
northern counties Of the state. which are
being swept by forest fires. were incom-
plete this afternoon, and the estimates of
the total death list range from twenty
eight to forty-two. Possible duplication Of
names in altered form from different
sources may account for the difference in
estimates. The Journal received reports
this afternoon of the death of ten per-
sons not reported from any other source
A dispatch to that paper from Rogers
City told of the cremation OF four mem
O--
their farm near Rogers City. Sezerski
and his two hired men escaped and have
arrived here. From Cheboygan to the
Journal comes a report OF the hnding OF
Metz. Alpena this afternoon reports
Mrs. Seibert burned to death in her
farmers lumber camp at Wolf creek.
Measures of relief for the stricken peo-
pie in Pressure Isle and Cheboygan coun-
ties are already under way. Hundreds
are homeless and many have not sufti-
cient clothing. A drop In temperature
will cause great suffering. A theater at
Alpena has been thrown open to receive
contributions for the refugees. and al
ready gifts of clothing are beginning to
come.
It is expected Gov. Warner. who has
been away from Lansing. will this aft
ernoon institute some measures of relief
district takes in an area, according to
estimates made today. of about 10O
square miles.
Stretch Of Country Ablaze.
The fires in the neighborhood Of Sault
Ste Marie. in the upper peninsula. are
growing worse this afternoon. The clouds
of smoke there are so dense that the sun
is obscured All of the country between
the South Shore railway and Lake Su
perior. in Chippewa county, Is ablaze.
Posen. where many of the homeless
burned and suffering refugees from Metz
and Bolton have sought shelter. Anguish
over the death of relatives and friends
is in many cases more keen than the
physical suffering.
Last night several hundred refugees
had to sleep in the open air. Three car
loads of provisions were sent to Posen
last night from Alpena and more will go
forward today.
Relief Contributions.
Relief contributions are being sent from
many cities to Mayor Mcknight of AL
pena who has organized committees to
take charge of the funds and stores.
Alpena citizens will hold a mass meet
ing tomorrow to adopt measures of re-
lief and all the theaters of Alpena have
volunteered to give benefit performances.
All that remained today of the viii
lage of Metz were the stone steps of the
village church. Charles Brinny. who had
charge Of a lumber camp in the burned
district. was driven out OF his camp
last night with his wife and nine chill
dren. all in their night clothing Brinny