The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-12
FIRE W|P ES OUT
MICHIGAN Cities;
Loss IS HEAVY
Au Sable and oscoda, Thriv-
ing Little Towns, in
Ruins as Result of
Blaze.
RESIDENTS SAVE
BUT FEW EFFECTS
Alpena Suffers a Property
Loss Estimated at Four
Hundred Thousand
Dollars.

H ETROIT. Mich, July 1l.-With
hardly moro than half a dozen
y houses left standing in An Sable
- and Oscoda, with AIpena fight
ing a disastrous fire. and with
forest fires raging along the line
OF the Detroit & Alackinac railroad from
Au Sable To Cheboygan, and at other
points in the northern part Of the lower
to prevent possible heavy loss of life.
Today's fires at Alpena and Oscoda
were not due TO forest fires. but original
ed in slab yards that were dry as tinder
from the long drought.
AT Cheboygan. mountain OF sawdust
caught fire and the flames threatened to
spread through the city.
The smaller towns OF Metz, Millersburg
and Tower along the Detroit & Macinac
railroad. were reported burning today
and Lewistown. in Montmorency county.
and Aeer and Turner In Arenac coun-
ty. were said to be seriously threatened
by forest fires,
Wire service from Au Sable north TO
Cheboygan was interrupted this after
Oscoda and Au Sable was forwarded Ia
the Associated Press by train to East
Tswas. where wires were available for
transmission 10 Detroit
City Mass of Flames.
c. a. Little. manager for the Western
Union Telegraph company at Alpcna. who
got out of Alpena on train at I p. m
and arrived at East Tawas late this even
ing. said the train passed through no
fires untIl IL was approaching Au Sable
That city was mass of flames.
he said. II don't believe there are half
dozen houses left standing. Many
refugees were taken from Au Sable on
Ing freight. Others Gockcd- TO the shores
of Lake Huron and were driven into the
water by The intense neat;
MANY found refuge In the fields along
tho railroad right of way, standing guard
over little piles Of personal effects they
were able TO snatch from their homes
flames. Women and children were cry
ing from terror and hunger they
viewed the burning village In the dis
lance.
10 carry the homeless women and chill
dren TO East Tawas
There are rumors that some lives were
lost In the fire at Oscoda and Au Sable,
but 1t was Impossible tonight TO obtain
any confirmation.
4 telegram from Bay City describing
today's fire at Oscoda and Au Sable
says:
1.-The low bushes and jack pine which
surround Oscoda and Au Sable on three
sides. leaving only the water side clear.
which had been buring in spots for sew
cral DAYS. burst Into flames before Il htty-
mile gale this afternoon and swept down
over the TWO places.
Hundreds OF men fought desperately
to save their homes. but little by nt,le
were driven back.
Livestock was turned loose from the
fields and stables and left to seek the
lake and save themselves Trains of
freight cars were loaded with women and
children and sent 10 East Tawas.
II is estimated that the wind today In
the fire swept region reached velocity
of sixty five miles an hour.
Many OF the smaller lumber woods set
Elements are nestled in the heart OF the
forest with fallen timber and clumps of
brush wood around tho edges. The dan :
ger 10 these settlements Is great. but
still moro pcrilous Is the situation OF
families living in isloated huts In the
timber.
Tho disastrous fire al Alpena was re-
ported TO be under control this evening,
the wind having died down
The loss OF II. NJ. Loud Sons company
at Au Sable. propr1etors OF many Of the
Industries OF the adjoining villages OF An
Sable and Oscoda. is estimated At half a
al