The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-07-15
TOWNS IN MICHIGAN
WIPED OUT BY FIRE
Blazes Dot Lower Peninsula of
Wolverine State.
Flames Surround Many Little Towns
Women and Children Being Sent
Out Of Danger zone--Men
Remain to Fight Fire.

The forests OF northern Michi
gan, parched under the intense heat
OIL The past TWO weeks and dry as tin
der because oh tbe lack OF rain for
several weeks are burning, and threat
ening to wipe Out several small towns
whose Gre 6shius apparatus Is linn
tied
Telephone ana telegraph wires are
being cut OF ud women and children
are being sent south out OF the i'm
mediate danger zone on every train.
The men, in most cases. are remain
ING for a last lght to save their
homes
Northwest winds, said 20 be the
worst possible for a situation of the
kind are blowing down over the burn-
ing districts of the northern portion
of the lower peninsula, spreading FIRE
in almost every direction
There is no rain IA sight and the
weather men say that a long and hot
spell is an be state can expect for
several days Without rain there is
certain 10 be q much larger loss Of
property than I'D present and the rs
uros reported So CIR viii undoubtedly
reach SJ.Otc.QU0
In the two towns OF Oscoda and Au
Sable only q school and dwelling i'm
the south end OF An sable are stand
ing Reports continuo 20 be received
Of loss Of life at Oscoda and Al Sa
BILE Such DIT the inhabitants as have
not escaped On board the steamer kon
60. or the Detroit and Alackiuac relief
trains, are sheltcrless IN the swamps
and fields about the burned towns
The towns OF Tower and Ouaway
are reported TO be partly destroyed boy
forest Hses, with heavy losses az Nil
lorsburg, Metz Poscn and LaRouue
Ftonchtown. a thichly settled portion
of Onaway. Is said TO have been com
pletely wiped out
A carload OF food hastily collected
in Detroit by Mayor Woodruff and a
volunteer committee. was sent TO CISCO
da and An Sable. as about 200 per
sons remain about the ash heaps that
were once their homes, having nothing
10 eat.
The fire. under the influence of a
nifty mile wind, spread with such ra-
pidity that men and women dashed
from their EOUses, dropping such bun
Giles of va,uablcs and clothing as they
had started 90 collect Many people
living on the shore side OF the town
started for safety along the beach, but
within ten minutes the heat was SO in
tense that they We're driven into the
water and continued their way wading
along the shore.
The heaviest loser is II. NJ. LIQUIDS
Sons company, OF which Congressman
George A. Loud of the Tenth Michigan
district Is the head. The company
loss is nearly $4,000 It's property
consisted OF two sawmills, planning
mill, shingle mill, bolt mill. lumber
yard. cedar yard, pumphouses, stores
and residences The total losses are
probably in excess OF $l,500.000
In Beaver township, Crawford coun.
", several farm houses and the town
hall were burned The Boyne City
Lumber company's camp No. 6. near
Boyne City. Is reported surrounded by
flames
In Montmorenci county extensive
forest fires are damaging standing tim.
Der. Several camps are reported in
extreme danger owing TO the high
wind,
As the result OF fires that are sweep
ing unchecked through northern On
tario, at least 300 lives are lost. many
have been injured, hundreds are miss
ing and IL Is feared scores OF these
will be added 10 the fatalities.
Fifteen men were drowned at South
Porcupine when they were driven into
the lake by the dense clouds of smoke
and rolling waves OF Ere Two were
burned 10 death at ElGorado mine and
another met a similar fate at The Unit.
ed Porcupiue mine Three towns have
been wiped on the map Hundreds of
refugees are facing starvation
a train containing COO women and
children was rushed out OF Cochrane
as the wall of flames advanced toward
the village The town OF $500 inhab-
itants was soon mass OF fire. and Is
entirely destroyed. South Porcupine
and ptUaytlip AFRO churrCd fsifpe