The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-12
SIX REFUGEES
REACH CITY
BY BOAT
White Star Line Brings the Paquettes
and Four Children Who Were
Among 0scoda Rescued BY
Steamers Valiant Captain.
They Bring News To Distressed Hus.
band and Father at Dock That
Wife and Child in Stricken
District Are Safe.
Many Detroiters IN Vicinity Of the
Fires for Whom Fear Is Felt
BY Relatives.

When Mr.. and Mrs. Chafies-Pa-
quette and their four little children.
refugees from the forest fires which
swept the cities of Oscoda and Au
Sable on the map, arrived In Detroit
Wednesday noon, on the White Star
steamer, City OF Toledo, they brought
JOY to at least one Detroiter, Joseph
II. Garipy, No. $50 Campbell-ave., in
assuring him that his wife and Two
daughters, who have been visiting
relatives In Oscoda the past month.
were safe.
Mr.. Garipy, travelling salesman
for the Kentucky Whisky Co., accom-
panied by a friend, was almost be-
reft as he waited impatiently for the
overdue steamer from Port Huron
and when he rushed aboard and his
eyes lighted upon Mrs. Paquette, he
grabbed the woman's arm In frenzy
OF anxiety and asked her II she knew
anything about his dear ones.
Thank God" was Mr.. Garipys'
only exclamation as Mrs, Paquette
told him she knew his wife and child
rem and their relatives, Mr., and Mrs.
Jesse LeFevre and Ave children and
Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Levere and four
children were safe, In Port Huron,
and were being cared for by the city
authorities until sufficient clothing
could be secured 20 allow them to
pursue their journey 10 Detroit
II was born and brought up in Os-
coda and knew this woman here and
when | saw her as the boat came In
TO the dock felt that she would be
able to tell me something about mE
family.s Mr.. Garipy said IN sxPlanl.
ton to The Times Il knew nothing
about the fires. of course, until /
reached town this morning and heard
the newsboys shouting the extras. !
bought a paper to see what IL was
all about and ! hope ! shall never
experience again the horror that came
over me as an the Oscoda headlines
and realized the awful danger my
wife and children has been In, IL they
were not already among those lost
went to the telegraph Office imme-
diately but, OF course, II was futile.
Then learned of the possibility OF
some of the survivors coming down
Port Huron ON the Toledo, 80
ran all the way to the dock. II
seemed a million years since l got
out OF bed this morning. l Will try
TO get definite word from Port Huron
Mt once about my family. but II |
fail to hear within an hour | VIII
take the frst train, car or boat that
will get me there.
Mr. and Mrs. Paquette, their four
little ones and Mrs. Paquette's SIS
ter, Maud Martin, a young woman,
about Is years old, were the only
refugees from the burned district to
reach Detroit on the White Star
steamer. Paquette Is a French-Cana'
dian and worked in the lumber mills
of the II. M. Loud & Son Lumber
: Co. == :.
"The fire began early yesterday
morning but we thought II would be
put out before IL reached our house
which was near the mill, said Mrs.
Paauette, to The Times When II
came nearer and nearer We fed to
the mill for my husband. The mill
authorities refused to shut down the
mill until noon although the town
was then in flames. A lumber barge
called Niko, was tied up at the dock
and when the mill people saw the
town was doomed to destruction we
were all ordered TO get on the boat
The captain kept getting the people
on board until he was forced out IN
- Da2a Efnnf.l