Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-07-12
Oscoda and Au Sable,
Mich, in Ashes---Peo-
pie Homeless.
DRIVEN INTO WATER
Steamers Go to ReSCue-FireS
Raging in 0ntario-MuCh
Property Destroyed.

Detroit, July 1.-THE destruction OF
AN Sable and Oscoda and a half mil
Hon dollar fire at Alpena. which was
not due to forest fires, probably caused
exaggerated reports yesterday of heavy
damage and possible loss of lives in
forest fires In northern counties Of the
southern peninsula of Michigan. The
towns along the Detroit & Mackinac
railroad suffered considerable damage,
but many of the towns that last night
were reported burning are today re
ported safe. These include Lewiston.
Turner and Alger. 1t is impossible TO
confirm rumors of loss of life. Quar-
termaster General Rogers of the st;Ee
militia made hurried preparations to
forward supply of tents to Oscoda 10
give temporary shelter to the homeless
people there.
FOUR BODIES FOUND.
Detroit, July 12.-The burned bodies
of three men and a woman are repor' ed
found today near the railroad tracks
at Au Sable. The four apparently were
heading for the open fields when over
come.
Bay City, Mich, July 12.-The twin
towns of OscOda and Au Sable, oFro-
site each other at the mouth of TIC
Au Sable river, and having a combined
population of 1,sOO people. are in asne8
while such of its inhabitants as have
not escaped on board the steamer
Kongo or on relief trains are shelter
less in the swamps about the still burn
ing towns.
AT midnight last night a carload of
food, hastily collected here by Mayo
Woodruff and a volunteer committee.
was dispatched to the two cities. One
thousand two hundred persons re-
manned arouud-tlte ash---&~aps--oRca-
their homes They had nothing to eat
since yesterday noon No loss of life
is reported. although the fire, under the
influence of 5O-mile wind, spread vi, d
such rapidity that men and WON sn
dashed from their houses, dropping
such bundles Of yaluables and clotkilg
as they had started TO pack.
LAKE AS a REFUGE.
Many people living on the shore side
OF the town started for safety a'"ng
the beach. but within 10 minutes the
heat was SO intense they were dri"en
into the water and continued their way
wading along the shore.
The heaviest losers are II. VI
Iouds' Sons Co, OF which Congress
man George A. Loud, of the 10Th Mich
igan district, is the head. The com
pany's loss is nearly three quarters uf
million dollars. Its property cen
sisted of a lumber yard, several mill,
stores and residences. The total losses
probably will exceed S1.5O0,0 200. IT,
fire originated in a slab yard in OscCdl
and in half an hour the entire tog p
was in flames.
FIRE JUMPS STREAM.
The fire quickly jumped the Au Sab'e
river and soon An Sable also was IN
the grip of the blaze that reached the
town limits on every side. \ s2v-
cial train carrying fire apparatus from
Bay City and Alpena in response u a
call for help from that city. iumTCo
the track in trying to pass around al
towns and was held until midnight
before the track was repaired.
\ high wind was general throughout
northern Michigan last night and from
all over the district came reports %
heavy fires famed 10 huge proportions
by 40 to 60-mile breezes. The towE ct
Lewiston has a fire on its borders and
the population is lighting il
TWO CANADA TOWNS WIPED OUT.
Toronto, July IA stretch of