The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-10-21
FIRES CAUSE DISASTER.
SICKENING SCENE ENACTED IN
A MICHIGAN FOREST.
Relief Train Carrying Terrified In-
habitants Of Little Village At.
tempts to Run Gauntlet OF Flames
Only to be Ditched, Fifteen People
Losing Their Lves-Brakcman
Boiled to Death.

Alpena, Mich, Oct. 16.-Fifteen
people lost their lives last night in
the burning of the Detroit and Macki-
nae Railway relief train, which was
carrying the inhabitants Of the little
village of Metz, % miles north of
here, to safety from the forest fires
which were sweeping away their
homes.
The Inflated train was ditched by
spreading rails at Nowicki siding,
South of Metz, and the terrified refu-
gees were forced to abandon the cars
and rush for safety either down the
track with burning forests on either
side or into the ploughed fields near
the siding.
Eleven Of the victims were women
and children, who were unable to
escape quickly enough from gondola
car. Their charred bodies were found
here today when rescuers reached the
scene. Two of the men victims were
members Of the train crew. Four ad-
ditional fatalities occurred in the
neighborhood last night. Mr.. and
Mrs. Fred Wagner died from heat
and exhaustion on their farm near the
scene, apd Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Nowicki
lost their lives in their burning house
near the siding.
When the forest hres closed in yes
terday about the little village a special
train Of three empty box cars and two
coal gondolas was rushed to Metz, and
as rapidly as possible people and their
goods were loaded into the cars. Some
refused to abandon their goods. or the
train would have left earlier. When
the train finally started there were
about 100 frightened people aboard
The fiames were already sweeping
through the village. NesyfGg No
ytckt crossing Engineer Foster. saw
blazing piles Of cedar ties on both
sides Of the track. Opening the thtot.
tie he tried to dash through at full
speed. but the heat caused the rails
to spread and the train left the. track.
Blazing piles Of ties surrounded It and
in an instant the cars caught fire. The
terror-stricken people jumped from
the cars and rushed down the track.
Three mothers and their little ones
were not quick enough. They were
cremated in the car. Brakeman Bar
rett sprank into the water tank be-
hind the engine. only to be literally
boiled to death as the flames swept
over 1t. Engineer Foster and Con-
ductor Kinville fled town the track
through the fire and smoke. and were
the first to reach the village Of Posen
and report the wreck and ask for as
sistance. Behind them struggled o
burned and wounded procession OF
refugees. 1t was a fearful march over
the hot ties with the flames and burn
ing woods on either side Of the tract,
roaring and swapping in their faces
Engineer Foster was terribly burned
about the head and face. but it is
thought that he will survive. Many OF
the refugees are suffering painful
burns.
The survivors Of the frightful ex-
perience semed dazed by their peril
and sufferings and were unable to give
any coherent statement as to whethe,
anybody was left behind in Metz. II
Will probably be a week or more be.
fore 1t Is known definitely how many