Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-07-21

population Of 800 people, are In ashes.
while such Of its Inhabitants as have
not escaped on board the steamer Kon-
go or the Detroit g. Mackinac relief
trains. are shelterless in the swamps
end fields about the still burning
towns.
At midnight last night a carload of
food, hastily collected here by Mayor
Woodruff and a volunteer committee,
was dispatched to the two cities. as
about 200 people remained around the
ash heaps hat were once their homes,
having had nothing TO eat since yes
terday noon. No loss Of life has been
reported, although the fire, under the
influence OF a 50-mile wind, spread with
such rapidity that men and women
dashed from their houses dropping
such bundles Of %valuables and clothing
as they had started to pack.
Many people living on the shore side
Of he town started for safety alons
the beach, but within 10 minutes tht
heat was intense and they were driver
into the water and continued their way
wading along the shore.
Congressman Is Loser.
The heaviest loser is the II. NJ. Loud
Sons company, of which Congressman
Ct. A. Loud. of the Tenth Michigan
district, is the head. The company's
loss is nearly $780, 900. It's property
consisted of two saw mills, planning
mill, shingle mill, bolt mill, lumber
yard, cedar yard, pump house, stores
and residences. The total losses arg
probably in excess of $500, 900. Tbs
fire originated in a slab yard in Oscods
and in half an hour the entire towE
vas in flames. The fire quickly Jumped
the Al Sable river. and soon Au Sabl,
also was in the grip Of n blaze that
reached the town limits on every side
A passenger train on the Detroit &
Mackinac railway got around the town.
by running on an old lumber spur and
arrived here at midnight. Flames wer,
then running 100 feet in the air. de
clared the passengers, and the intensi
heat scOrChed the side of the train ant
cracked the windows.
A special train carrying fire appa
ratus from Bay City to Alpena in re-
sponse to q call fer help from tina
city, jumped the track in trying to pass
around the two towns n was hello
until nearly midnight before the track
vas repaired. 1t then proceeded, as
the fire at Alpena was said to be still
dangerous.
High Wind Spreads Flames.
The high wind was general through.
out northern Michigan last night, and
from all over the district came repOrtA
Of heavy fires famed to huge proper.
lions by the breeze. which is reported
at from 40 to GO 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 & MaCkinaC,
are also in danger.
Reports were received at Alpena that
Bolton and Metz. which was a few
years ago wiped out, are again threat
ened, as is also Millersburg, a town
of about 100. Not a telegraph, tele-
phone or railroad wire is working north
Of Oscoda, on the Detroit & Mackinac.
while ~Cheboygan is also cut off from
communication.
At Cheboygan q mound Of sawdust,
the accumulation Of so savings, had
been burning for a week, and Monday
the rising wind famed il into a stiff
blaze.
Circus Is Driven Out.
Yesterday at C~heboygan a circus was
forced to stop it's performance owing
to the smoke that overs the city. and
steamers could not make their way to
the docks. 1t was reported by railroad
officials that there in danger in Che
bOygan from the burning saWdust car
ried through the air by the high wind.
In the district around the mound resi-
dents nave Deen forced 10 leave tIlelr
homes because of the smoke.
At Richmond. 40 Michigan Central
cars and d bridge were destroyed, n
at Haakwood an overhead bridge was
burned.
In Beaver township. Crawford COun-
~. several farm houses and the town
hall have been burned. The BOyne City
Lumber company's lumber camp, No.
6, near Boyne City, is reported sur
rounded. IN Montmorenci county eX-
tensive' forest fires are damaging
standing timber and several camps are
reported in extreme danger owing to
high wind.
There is much anxiety IN Bay City
regarding the fire conditions north OF
here. Last reports from Grayling,
West Branch. ROsCommon, Wolverine
and Gaylord. by telephone, are to the
effect that forest fires are burning in
every direction. but that none Of these
towns was III immediate danger. Late
last night the wire went out north OF
Standish. so that now there is no wire
communication with all northern Mich.
igan north Of Standish. ArenaC county,
and East TaWaS.