The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-22
RUIN IN wake OF
FOREST FIRES
Hungry Flames Licking Up
Everything in Sight in Wis
c0nsin and Michigan.
PEOPLE PRAYING FOR RAIN
ONE SMALL TOWN DESTROYED
OTHERS IN DANGER.

milwaukee,, Wis, Sept. PA dis
patch from Oshkosh, Wis, says:
Foster City. Mich. has not been de-
stroyed by fire: is still untouched by the
names. That Is the authoritative state
ment of j. Earl Morgan of the Morgan
Lumber company. after the situation
had been thoroughly investigated by
him and after direct advices had been
received by him from the city men,
toned. There are forest fires south of
Foster City. Mr. Morgan admits, but
says that his plant and other property
of the Morgan Lumber company at that
point are protected by a wide clearing,
and ii Is regarded as impossible that
the flames will jump across this clear
ing except in case of a hurricane.
Neither does Mr.. Morgan believe the re-
port that six persons lost their lives.
Small Town Destroyed.
North Forks, small town on the 500
railway, was completely destroyed.
The people had to flee for their lives.
A special dispatch from Menominee,
Mich, says:
- $50 close are the fires to Niagara, on
the Menominee river, Faithorn juno
ton and Ingalls, that everything is be-
ing packed and trains ready to carry
the people away as soon as a high wind
arises. The railroad buildings of the
500 line at Faithorn were on fire sew
eral times last night, but the flames
We're subdued by section men.
Calumet, Mich, reports fires assum-
ing threatening aspects all over north
ern Michigan and several towns in dan
ger of destruction. LaBelle, north of
Calumet. is in very grave danger of
being surrounded, except on the water
side. by flames. At Betecie Criss, north
of Calumet, a large force is battling
to save the lighthouse and other build
ings of the United States ship canal
Several towns in Iron county are in
danger, and residents are fleeing with
goods to larger centers.
Surrounded by Fire.
Ashland. Wis, reports the smoke so
dense from forest fires that the sun has
been hidden all day and that Lake SUI
perior is practically surrounded by fire
for many miles. Vessels are compelled
constantly to sound their fog signals.
A dispatch from Escanaba, Mich,
says:
Forest fires, though checked by ligh:
rains Friday, broke out anew last
night, and four villages north of Escan-
aba are now surrounded by fiames-Ni-
agara, Quinnessec, Forest City and
Hermansville. At all those places tel
ephone and telegraph communication is
cut off and relief trains are carrying
the people out of the territory
At Iron Mountain today the families
of twelve farmers were driven from
their homes.
At Quinnessec many people have been
taken from the city on relief trains.
Hermansville, where a big wooden
ware plant is located. has been sur
rounded by fire for the last twelve
hours. but unless the wind develops it
is believed that it will be possible to
save the town.
Ready to Take Flight.
At Niagara. where one of the largest
paper mills in the northwest is located,
the fire reached the limits of the viii
lage last night. Relief trains have been
sent through the fire line, and a num-
Der of families taken out. The danger
point is not yet passed, and all people
remaining in the town are constantly
on guard.
Most Rev. Sebastian G. Messmer.
archbishop of Milwaukee, has sent a
letter to the clergy of his diocese order
ing prayers for rain. The letter in part
is as follows:
81 take this opportunity TO inform the
reverend clergy that in public calam-
tiles like the present terrible drouth,
they need not wait for orders from me
to arrange public devotions and pray
ers, but may use their own good judg-
ment as the needs in their districts may
require.
However. 1t is hereby ordered that
public prayers be offered in every
church for rain until the Lord deigns to
hear our prayers"