The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-10-23
Strong Winds Start Much Ter
ritory to Blazing.
SUGAR ISLAND IN FLAMES
Much Concern Felt For Its Inhabi-
tants-ReIief Being Rapidly Given
to Sufferers at Metz and Posen
Plenty of Clothing; Money the
Thing Most Needed Now-No More
Bodies Being Found.

Sault Ste. Marie, Mich, Oct. 21.-A
gale so stiff that the largest lake
boats are unable to leave port have
| famed lne forest flames to a fury.
Over 1000 men in different sections
Of Chippewa country worked like mad
to save their homes from destruction.
Fire. has gained considerable head
way on Sugar island, one of the
largest on the Great Lakes. Reports
have reached the 500 that the whole
is ablaze. The island comprises
township in Chippewa county and is
| said to have about 500 inhabitants, all
of whom are probably engaged In
fighting fire.
Not a person from the island has
crossed to the mainland in two days.
The telephone operator at Detour,
when questioned, said the fires, now
four miles from town, had burned
over about sixteen square miles. The
whole country between there and
Gainesville and Raber is afire.
BrImley Saved.
Brimley was again threatened, but
| fire was checked after a two-story
building, occupied by Thomas Nc
Crea's saloon, burned to the ground.
Gladys, nearby settlement, is re-
ported In danger, but efforts to reach
there by wire were unsuccessful. 1t
Is believed that the wires are down.
Within five miles of the 500 fires
threaten destruction of many farm
buildings. Persons arriving here from
Desbarats say several farm houses
and barns have been destroyed.
Drastic measures will be taken in
northern Michigan to prevent a recur-
renee of the forest fires which have
been sweeping all before them for the
past week. Representatives of the
| state forestry department are busy Sc
curing evidence that will lead to the
conviction of persons responsible for
the trouble, and prosecutions are
promised as soon as sufficient infor-
nation to convict is secured. 1t is
estimated that the loss to lumbermen
and farmers in October will reach ST.
100000.
In addition to the loss inflicted by
fires to the owners of property de-
stroyed, the state will be called upon
to pay the men summoned by officials
TO combat the flames. Unless greater
restrictions are placed around those
who use fire to clear land it is feared
greater damage will be done in the fu.
ture.
More Stringent Laws Needed.
A concerted movement will be made
at the next session OF the legislature
by Representatives from the upper Pc
ninsula to have more stringent laws
enacted governing the setting of fires
in periods of dry weather. Most of
the fires are started by settlers clear
ing land.
Millersburg, Mich. Oct. 21.-A sad
feature Of the death of the Erke fam
lily was related by Coroner Arscott,
who removed the bodies. The babies
were found in the road, says the cor
oner, first the mother and baby then
two children, q few feet further one
of the men, and then the body Of the
three-year-old boy. A little red cart
was found few feet away and by HE
charred hand toy bank containing
q few pennies. He tried to save his
cherished possessions. Then the body
Of the other man was found. 1t was
truly pathetic.
A coroner's inquest Is being held
today by Coroner Arscott at Rogers
City on the Metz relief train disaster.
Relief Work Systematlzed.
Relief is being methodically distrib.
uted. Everything has been system
affixed. A sufferer comes to Captain
Merrill. He Is identified by Father
Kaplanowski and Rev. Theme, the
local pastors, gets an order calling
for his necessities, goes to the vari-
Gus cars and gets what he wants
clothing, lumber stove, provisions,
horse feed, etc. The man on the car
enters his name and goods taken, so
that no one gets more than his share
and yet every one gets his actual
wants.
Next to provisions. carload of
stoves was as acceptable as anything
given out. Feed for stock Is needed
as badly as anything. OF clothing
there seems TO be plenty. A perma-
nent relief depot will be established
at Metz, as 1000 people will have
to be cared for all winter. At present,
relief is distributed both at Metz and
Posen. All the homeless ones find
shelter with friends or relatives. The
ID e. M. placed box cars with bedding
in at their disposal, but not one was
used.
Alpena, Mica, Oct. 21.-Metz village
Is rapidly rising from its ashes. Three
houses are finished, three others are
almost completed, and two more have
been begun.
A list Of the families in Presque Isle
county is being prepared and will prob
yv1~ E~