The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-12
TWO TOWNS BURN
OscOda and Au Sable, Mich,
Are in Ashes.
They Had a Combined POpula-
tiOn of About 1900.
DRIVEN INTO RIVER
The Inhabitants Escape by
Wading to Safety.
Property Loss Is Estimated at
Above 81 100000.
DRIVEN INTO RIVER

ndF city AIlti-s july 4A-- L ne twin
towns of Oscoda and Au Sable, oppo-
site each other at the mouth of the
Au Sable river, and having q combin-
ed population of 1.S00 people. are IN
ashes while such of their inhabitants
as have not escaped on the steamer
Kongo, or the Detroit and Mackinac
relief trains, are Shelterless in the
swamps and fields about the burned
towns. A carload of food hastily cor
lected here by Mayor Woodruff and
volunteer committee, has been dis
patched to the two cities, as ABOUT 1,zOO
people remained around the ash heaps
that were once thir homes, having had
nothing to eat since yesterday noon-
No loss Of life has been reported al
though the fire under the influence OF
a so mile wind. spread with such rapid
ty that mon ana women dasneo from
their houses, dropping such bundles OF
valuables and clothing as they had
started to pack Many people living
on the shore side of the towns started
for safety along the beach but within
ten minutes the heat was so intense
that they We're driven into the water
ana continued their way, wadin5 along
the shore.
The heaviest loser is H. NJ. Loud
Sons company of which Congressman
George A. Loud, of the Tenth Michigan
district, IS the head. The company $
loss is nearly three quarters OF mil
lion dollars Its property consists Of
bolt mill, lumber yard, cedar yard,
pump houses, stores and residences The
total losses are probably in excess OF
one and a half million dollars.
The 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 also was in the grip of blaze
that reached the town limits on every
a Messenger train on the Detroit &
Mackinac railway got around the towns
by running on an old lumber spur ana
arrived here at midnight. FLAMES were
then running a hundred feet IN the
air, declared the passengers and the
intense heat scorched the sides Of the
train and cracked the windows
A special train carrying hre appar-
atus from Bay City to Aipena IN re-
sponse to q call for help from that city.
iu.0Ded the track in trying 10 pass
around the two towns and was hello un-
fill nearly midnight before the track
was repaired. 1t then proceeded as the
fire at Alpena was said to be still dan
gerous.
ont northern Michigan last night and
from all over the district came reports
of heavy fires famed to huge proper
tions by the breeze which is reported
AZ from 40 to so miles at various points.
Fires at Other Points.
The .sh wind was general through
out northern Michigan last night and
from al over the district came reports
of heavy fires famed to huge proper
tions by the breeze hich is reported
at from 40 to so 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 800. Not telegraph, telephone
or railroad wire is orking north OF
Oscoda on the Detroit & Mackinac,
while Cheboygan is also cut off from
communication
At ChebOygan mound of sawdust
the accumulation of thirty years saw
Ing has been burning for a week and
Monday the rising wind famed 1t into
a stiff blaze.
Yesterday at Chebyogan a circus
was forced to stop its performance
owing to the smoke that covers the
city, and steamers could not make
their way to the docks. Z was re-
ported by railroad officials that there
is danger in C'hebyogan from the burn
ing sawdust carried through the air by
the high wind. IN the district around
the mound residents have been forced
to leave their homes because of the
smoke. At Richmond, forty Michigan
Central cars and a bridge was de-
stroyed, and at Haakwood, an over
head bridge was burned.
In Beaver township, Crawford coun-
ty, several farm houses and the town
hall have been burned The Boyne
City Lumber company's camp No. 6,
near Boyne City, is reported surround
ed In Montmorenci county extensive
forest fires are damaging standing
timber and several camps are report
ed in extreme danger owing to the
high wind There is much anxiety in
Bay City regarding the fire conditions
north of here.
Last reports from GrsyIing. 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 owns
was in immediate danger. Late last
night the wire went out north of Stand
ish ST chat there is no wire communi-
cation with all northern Michigan north
of Standish. Areuac county, and East
Tawas.
Burning for Four Days.
Lake George y. Y. July 12.-Anxiety
IS felt today for the safety of a little
hamlet at the base Of Elephant Noun
tain. 1S miles north of Lake George
village, because Of the unchecked
spread of a forest fire that broke out
four days ago.
Three Canadian Towns Wiped Out.
Toronto. Ont. July IA stretch
OF 500 miles of woodland in northern
Ontario has thus far been swept by
the forest fires raging a above North
Bay. Many deaths are reported and
the property loss will be enormous
Three towns are wiped out and scores
or mining camps destroyed
Thousands OF mining prospectors
deserted the camps in the Porcupine
district and fled before the flames