Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-12
Homeless Sent Food
by Mayor of Bay City

BAY CITY. Mich, July 12-The twin
towns Of Oscoda and Au Sable, opposite
each other at the mouth Of the Au Sa-
BILE river. and having a combined popu-
lation OF 1900 people, are in ashes. while
such Of the inhabitants as have not es-
capped on board the steamer Kongo, or
the Detroit and Mackinac relief trains
are shelterless in the swamps and fields
about the still burning towns.
At midnight last night a carload OF
food, hastily collected here by Mayor
Woodruff and volunteer committee. was
dispatched to the two cities. as about
LOO people remained around the ash
heaps that were once their homes. hav-
ing had nothing to eat since yesterday
noon.
No loss Of life has been reported, al
though 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 valua-
bles 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 that they were driven
into the water and continued their way
wading along the shore.
Loss Exceeds Million and Half.
The heaviest loser Is H. NJ. Louds Sons
Company, Of which Representative George
A. Loud Of the tenth Michigan district is
the head. The company's loss is nearly
three-Quarters Of a million dollars. Its
property consisted Of two sawmiLs. plan
ing mill. shingle mill. bolt mill, lumber
yard. cedar yard, pump houses, stores
and residences. The total losses are prob
ably in excess of one and q half million
dollars.
Tie fire originated in a slab yard in
Oscoda. and in half an hour the entire
town was in flames. The fire quickly
jumped the Au Sable river. and soon Au
Sable was in the grip of a blaze that
reached the town limits ON every side.
A passenger train on the Detroit and
Mackinac railway got around the town by
running on an old lumber spur and ar
rived here at midnight. Flames were then
drumming a hundred feet in the air. and
the intense heat scorched the sides Of the
cars and cracked the windows.
A special train. carrying dre apparatus
from Bay City to Alpena, in response to a
call for help from that city, jumped the
track in trying to pass around the two
towns and was held until nearly midnight
| before the track was repaired. 1t then
proceeded. as the fire at Alpena was said
to be still dangerous.
Wind Causes Flames to Spread.
| The high wind was general throughout
northern Michigan last night, and from
all over the district came reports Of
heavy fires famed to huge proportions
by the breeze. which Is reported at from
forty to sixty miles at various points.
| The town of Lewiston has fire on Its
borders and the entire population Is out
fighting it.
| Alger, on the Michigan Central and
Turner, on the Detroit and Mackinac, are
also in danger.
| Reports were received at Alpena that
Bolton and Metz, which were a few years
ago wiped out, are again threatened. as
| is also Millersburg, a town of about
| 500. Not a telegraph, telephone or rail-
road wire Is working north OF Oscoda
on the Detroit and Mackinac, while Che.
boygan is also cut of from communica.
tion.
| At Cheboygan a mound Of sawdust. the
accumulation of thirty years saving, has
been burning for week. and Monday
CONTINUED on Eighth Page.l