The San Francisco call., 1908-10-17

ceSSf0n OF refugees from the WiSCheo
train 1t was fearful march over the
hot ties; with the flames from the burn
ing woods on either side of the track
roaring and swapping in their faces
Engineer Foster was terribly burned
about the head and face, but ii is
thought that he will recover Con-
ductor Kinville was badly scorched
James White was totally blinded by
burns. John Nowicki Sr. and his wife
and Mrs. Albert Hardies and her young
son were also seriously burned.
Many more of the refugees are suf-
fering from painful burns. The sur
vivors of the frightful experience
seemed dazed by their peril and suffer
.ngs. They seemed 10 realize nothing
except the necessity for running 70 es-
cspe the intense heat and menacing
aames II was difficult TO get any CO.
herent statement from them as TO loss
Of life In the wreck or as TO whether
there had been any people left behind
IN Metz.
WALKED DOWN TRACK
r. S. Richards, a Bay City travelling
salesman. when he arrived at Posen
said:
AS the train left the track the heart
rending cries of women and children
sent a chill over my body. 1 did not
wait TO see the outcome, as / knew il
would be of no avail. and every minute
was precious. George Boston, also of
Bay City, myself and another man
started together. We walked down the
track toward Posen. In some places
the flames forced US to run and Mr..
Boston was burned about the face be-
fore he reached safety. Several other
men left the scene about the same time
we did, but when I reached Posen they
We're not 10 be seen. They may have
perished in the flames.
There was absolutely no chance TO
save the women and children from the
gondola car. The time was too short.
1t viii probably be a week or more
before il is known definitely how many
people perished in the village of Metz.
The fire had gained a foothold in the
town before the train left and in all
probability many Of the citizens were
cremated"
STATION AGENT REMAINED
Others stated that when the relief
train left Metz il carried all the in
habitants of tire village except George
Cicero. the station agent, who stayed
10 handle the railroad wire and es-
capped through the plowed fields when
the fire reached the station, only to
ind his wife and three children Gre
, mated in the wreck Of the relief train.
fourth child, a boy of about II years
of age, had jumped from the burning
car and escaped with but slight in
juries.
The first relief train from here
reached the crossing this forenoon and
brought back the bodies and those of
the refugees who wished to come here.
Some Of them We're so hysterical from
fright that they refused to ride on the
train, fearing another accident.
COUNTIES IN FLAMES
Presque Isle and Cheboygan coun-
ties are all afiame and 75 miles be-
tween this city and the city of Che
boygan are reported TO be almost a
solid mass of fire Alpena, county is
ablaze in every direction. Reports
Of fatalities are coming in from many
places. but it has been impossible as
yet 10 compile anything like an au-
thentic list of the fire victims in the
burned district. From Metz township
tonight the cremation is reported of
Henry Kemps, his wife and two chill
dren in their farmhouse. with third
child missing and probably burned TO
death in the fields. Bolton, South Rog-
ers and Metz are among the destroyed
villages La Rogue is threatened to-
night and it is expected that it will be
destroyed before morning Only one
church is left at Cathro, and it is
crowded with refugees. report
brought in tonight from Altoona says a
strip 20 miles wide from Hubbard lake
10 the Au Sable river is burning. More
than 80 farms are reported tonight to
have been swept by fires today and
their buildings destroyed.
At Presque Isle, on Lake Huron
Keeper Garrity was compelled today to
abandon the government fog signal sta
tion and fee for his life.
TRAIN HELD BY FLAMES
Sixty passengers on a south bound
Detroit and Mackinac railway train
which left Cheboygan last night for
this city spent a night of horror at La
Rogue. Flames surrounded the train
and it was impossible to proceed or re-
treat from them. Huddled in their cars
the terrified passengers spent the night
IN momentary expectation that the train
would be consumed. 1t was saved, how
ever, by hard work and the passengers
came on to Alpena this afternoon.
1t was at first reported today that
Bishop Charles ID. Williams of the
Protestant Episcopal diocese of Michi-
gan was either on the i'll fated Metz
relief train or in the danger zone about
Metz. Later it became known, how
ever that he went on TO Onaway with
out stopping at Metz.
Both the Cadillac and Traverse City
reports say that the fires in the north
eastern part Of the state have started
again with great force and are threat
ening those cities. The fire is only a
quarter Of a mile away from Traverse
City on the southwest
From the upper peninsula come re-
ports that the fires in Chippewa and
HOughton counties are very dangerous
and spreading rapidly.
Late tonight it was reported that in
stead of two fatalities IN the NowIcki
family there were six, namely:
Fred Nowicki Jr. and his wife and
Mary Nowicl0i, Fred's niece, and Mary's
three children.
Mary Nowicki and her three children
are reported TO have been cremated in
the I'll fated Metz relief train.