The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-14
MILL OWNER COULD
HAVE SAVED TOWNS
now IN RUINS
Appealed To For Aid of His Men in
Fighting Flames, Turned Deaf
Ear and Fire Was Soon
Beyond Control.
Secretary Sawyer, Returned From
Fire District, Tells Relief Commit
tee Little More Relief Is Needed.

That the people rendered homeless
by the fire at Oscoda and Au Sable,
the twin towns destroyed by fire this
week. are being temporarily well cared
for, and that there Is no immediate
need Of general call for further help.
was the message brought bacck by
Charles b. Sawyer. delegated by the
Detroit Citizens committee to visit the
burned district and give out. assistance
from a fund furnished by the commit
tee He returned to Detroit, Friday
morning. and made his report to the
committee In special meeting In the
mayors Office, In the city hall. at noon.
Mr.. Sawyer told the members or
the committee present, Mayor Wfh. b.
Thompson. ,. l.. Hudson, Milton. A.
McRae and George t. Moody, that the
refugees were being housed In dwell
ings which escaped the fire in the
two towns and In neighboring muni-
cipalities, such as East Tawas and
Oscoda township. He also said that
Bay City, Saginaw, Port Huron, Al
pena and other places we're caring for
a number OF the sufferers, and that
they were sending help to those In
-0scoda and -Aa Sable
The committee, In view Of what Mr.
Sawyer reported, decided not to call
for any observation-disclosures just now.
I'VE shall use the $4,000 given by
the common council and the $4,000 left
over from the contributions for the
fire of 1908 first" said Mr.. Hudson.
Then, IL more money Is needed, we1l
use the private subscriptions we now
have ON hand and ask for more. IL
looks now, though. that we might not
have to call on the citizens for any
more donations. We have given the
sufferers money and clothing, and,
today, we shipped them three carloads
of lumber. with which they can build
temporary homes"
In addition to about $4,000 received
up TO Thursday night for relief, in
eladiHg the council grant, the mayer
got check for 500 from the Detroit
Hotelmen,s association, Friday morn
The American Express Co. and the
Pere Marquette also notified him that
they would carry express packages
and freight for the fire sufferers free
of charge, while number of business
firms offered donations OF clothing and
provisions.
Three Oscoda families, VINO came
here for relief. will be cared for by
the United Charities association.
There is not much left OF 0scoda
or Au Sable" said Mr.. Sawyer to The
/. Times. In each town, however, there
gare some houses which were saved
without even being scorched. Inthese
a large number OF families are being
housed. But this kind of housing can
only be continued for a very short
time. because OF the bad sanitary con-
ditions which are unavoidable under
such conditions. The state has proyid-
ed q large number OF tents and our
committee will have 100 on hand to
send II they are needed. But 1t will
only be short time before the suf-
sferers will have temporary wooden
houses, or shacks, for themselves. Car
loads OF lumber are on the way. and
the houses will be erected within a
few days after the material reaches its
destination"
Was II forest fire which destroy
tContinued ON Page EightJ