The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-07-12
Inhabitants Of Towns Of Oscoda
and AuSable, Lower Mich
igap, are Homeless, Los
Ing Their All
NUMBER OF LIytS ARE LOST
Fire Which Breaks Out in Oseods
Spreads Rapidly and Soon Wipes
Out Both Towns. Forest
Fires Are Raging.

Bay City, Mich. July 1.-THE twin
towns of Oscoda and Au Sable. opposite
each other at the mouth df the AuSabIe
river. and having a combined popula-
tion of 1,S00 people. are In ashes, while
such of It's inhabitants as have not
escaped on board the steamer Kongo
or relief trains are shelterless In the
swamps about the still burning towns
At midnight last night "a carload Of
food was hastily collected here by
Mayor Woodruff and volunteer COM
mittee dispatched to the two cities, as
1900 persons remained around the ash
heaps of what were once their homes
having nothing to eat since yesterday
noon.
People Loose All.
No loss of life is reported, although
the fire. under the influence of a fifty-
mile wind, spread with such rapidity
that men and women dashed from
their houses, dropping such bundles of
valuables and clothing as they had
started to pack. Many people living
on the shore side of the town started
for safety along the beach, but within
ten minutes the heat was so intense
they were driven into the water, and.
shore.
Losses Are Heavy.
The heaviest loser Is the H. nj. Loud's
Sons Co.. of which Congressman Geo.
a. Loud of the Tenth Michigan district
is the head
The company's loss is nearly three
quarters of a million dollars. Its prop
erty consisted of lumber yard. sew
eraI mills stores and residences. The
total losses probably will exceed one
and one-half million dollars.
The fire originated In slab yard
In Oscoda. and i'm half an hour the en-
tire town was i'm flames The fire
quickly jumped the AuSable river and
soon AuSable also was In the grip of
the blaze that reached the town limits
on every side.
AIpena in Danger.
special train carrying fire appar-
atus from BAY City to Alpena. I'm re-
",
jumped the track in trying to pass
around 1the two towns and was held
until nearly midnight before the track
was repaired. II then proceeded as
the fire at Alpena was said to be still
dangerous.
High wind was general through
northern Michigan last night and from
all over the district came reports of
heavy fires. famed to huge proportions
by forty to fifty-mile breeze.
Other Towns Threatened.
The town of Lewiston has a fire on
its borders and the population is fight
ing IT, Alger, on the Michigan Cen
trail and Turner, on the Detroit & |
Mackinac, also are I'm danger.
Reports have been receiv,d at Alpe- |
ma that Bolton and Metz. which a few |
years ago were wiped out, are again |
threatened, as IL also Milersburg a |
town of about 800. At Cheboygan n |
mound of sawdust has been burning |
for week and the railroad officials re-
port there Is danger from the burning |
sawdust being carried through the air |
by the high wind.
Forest Fires Numerous.
There is much anxiety in Bay City |
regarding the fire conditions north of
here. The last reports from Grayling. |
West Branch. Roscommon. Wolverine
and Gaylord by telephone are to the
effect that forest fires are burning in
every direction. but none of these
towns are In Immediate danger. -.
MANY Towns Damaoed