The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-12
SMALL TOWNS ARE . SWEPT OFF MAP BY FIRE IN MICHIGAN Au Sable and Osc0da De- stroyed and Alpena Is
 Burning
CHEBOYGAN ALSO
 FACES OBSTRUCTION
Fierce Forest Fires Rage Along Line of Detroit and Mackinac Rail- road-Rain Only Can
 Relieve Situation

etroit, Mich, July 1i.--with hardly more than half a. dozen houses left stand if in the villages of Au Sable and Os- coda: with the city of Alpena fighting a dIss strous fire all day, and with fires "a sing along the line of the Detroit and Mackinac railroad from Au Sable to Che boygan, and at other points in the north ern part of the peninsula, heavy rain is rcs ed tonight to prevent possible heavy loss of life
 1cday's fires at Alpena and Oscoda were not cue to forest fires. but originated in stab yards that were dry as finder from long drouth. At Cheboygan a 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 and Mack iaac railroad, were reported to be burn ing today and in Lewiston, in Montmor- ency county, and Alger and Turner, in Al enac county, were said to be threatened by forest fires.
 Wire service from Au Sable, north to CkeLoygan was interrupted this after rcon, but news of the fires at Alpena, oscoda and Au Sable was forwarded by train to East Tawas. where wires were a,uilahle for transmission to Detroit.
 C. A. Little, manager for the Western Union Telegraph company at Alpena. who got cut of Alpena on a train at D. m., ala arrived at East Tawas late this even- inh, said the train passed through no fliss until they were approaching Au Satlc.
 City a Mass of Flames
 That city was mass of f1ames,'' he said. 'I don't believe there are half a dozen houses left. Many refugees were taken from Au Sable on the steamer. Others f1ocked to the shore of Lake Huron aa. were driven into the water by the intense heat Many found refuge in the fields along the railroad right of way, standing guard over little piles of personal effects they were able to snatch from thsi. homes as they fled at the approach of the flames. Women and children were crying from terror and hunger as they viewed the burning village in the distance. X relief train was hurriedly made up to csrry the homeless women and children to East Tawas.
 There are rumors that some lives were Ic.t in the fire at Oscoda and Au Sable. but f was impossible tonight to obtain ai', confirmation.
 Bay City, M1cn., July H.-lne nrSt tram reaching here from the fire-swept town .of Au Sable tonight brought rumors of the loss of several lives. One hundred survivors were aboard the rescue train, They said several women and children were suffocated by the dense smoke and others lost their lives in the flames.
 lineman succeeded in getting around tine fire and tapped the wires four miles south of the town. He said that there ha.l been loss of life.
 Relief Train to Alpena
 i.othing further has been heard from All,ena 51 miles north of Oscoda. but message has just been received saying that the relief train, with fire apparatus. seut there from this city, was wrecked somewhere north of East 1awas
 The fire at Cheboygan, where a huge n,t rtan of sawdust which has been burning fd weeks. got beyond control ,erterday. Is now in furious blaze, but tt ,s not known whether ti'ere is danger to tie city. Lewiston, AIger and Turner all north of here, are In danger from fo,tst fires. The Alpena and Oscoda fires oreiuated in slab yards.
 Fcrty cars and two bridges on the Michigan Central near Crawling were burned this afternoon.