The state herald., 1908-10-23
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY CAUSED BY
FOREST FIRES IN NORTH.
ERN MICHIGAN.
Fifteen Die IN FLAMES
RELIEF TRAIN DITcHED IN BURN.
ING WOODS AND HELPLESS
REFUGEES MEET DEATH.

Alpena, Mch.-Fifteen people lost
their lives Thursday night in the burn
ing of the Detroit & Mackinaw railway
relief train, which was carrying the in
habitants Of the little village of Metz,
twenty-three miles north of here, to
safety from the forest fires, which
were sweeping away their homes.
The ill-fated train was ditched by
spreading rails at Nowicki siding, a
few miles south of Metz, and the terri.
fled refugees were forced to abandon
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 es-
cape quickly enough from the gondola
car which they were occupying. Their
charred bodies were found there next
day when rescuers reached the scene.
Two of the men victims were members
of the train crew.
Four additional fatalities occurred in
the neighborhood of the wreck Thurs
day night. Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Wagner
died from heat and exhaustion on their
farm near the scene of the wreck and
Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Nowicki. Jr. lost
their lives in their burning house near
the siding where the wreck occurred.
When the forest fires closed in
Thursday about the little village
special train of three empty box cars
and two coal gondolas were rushed to
Metz in charge of John +. Kinville. con.
ductor; William Foster, engineer; Ar
thur Lee. fireman, and William Bart
lett, brakeman.
As rapidly as possible the people aud
their goods were loaded into the cars.
Some refused to abandon their goods or
the train might have left earlier and
have reached Alpena In safety. When
the train finally started there were
about 100 frightened people aboard.
The flames were already sweeping
through the village. Engineer Foster
started his train for Alpena. Nearing
Nowicki siding he saw blazing piles OF
cedar ties on both sides of the track
Opening wide the throttle. he trieo 20
dash through Mt full speed. but the
heat had loosened the rails and they
have spread and the train left the
tracks. Blazing piles OF ties surrounded
II and in an instant the ears caught
are.
The terror stricken people caught by
the peril from which they were flee.
Ing. jumped from the cars and rushed
down the track. Three mothers and
their little ones were not quick enough.
They were cremated In the gondola car
where they were caught,
Brakeman William Bartlett sprang
Into the water tank behind the engine
only to be literally boiled to death as
tho flames swept over H. Engineer
Foster and Conductor Kinville fled
down the track through the fire and
smoke and were the first to reach the
vlIiage Of Posen. report the wreck and
ask for assistance from here.
Behind them struggled burned and
wounded procession Of refugees from
the wrecked train. II was a fearful
march over the hot ties with the
flames from the burning woods on
either side Of the track ronring and
swapping In their faces, Engineer fos.
ter was terribly burned about the head
and face, but Il is thought that he will
survive. Conductor klnyille was badly
Ecorcnod. James White was totally
blinded by burns. John Nowich, ST..
and his wife and Mrs. Albert HardIes
and her young son were also seriously
burned, Many more Of the refugees
are suffering from painful burns,