The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-13
Detroit Woman Tells
Experience In Az Sable Fire

Mrs. Adelbert Kristen, No. 1872 Ly-
sander-st., who was visiting In Au
Sable when the FIRE broke out, has
returned home safe and sound. In
describing the conditions and her own
experiences, she said, Wednesday
night, at her home:
The fire started on long ridge
that lies about a quarter of a mile
from Au Sable. There IL a railroad
track running along the base of the
ridge, and the dry brushwood which
covers Its sides was ignited by sparks
from the engine. Fire first broke out
some distance from Au Sable, and
was put out. Later a blaze started
right opposite the town, and spread
80 rapidly that there was no chance
OF successfully fighting II.
The country between the ridge
and the town Is hollow-an old river
bed-and was filled with number of
poles intended for use by the teles
graph companies. They were dry tim
Der, and soon were q roaring mass of
names. The great fire quickly OK
tended TO the Loud Brothers' barns
and mill, and to the other buildings
on the outskirts of the town. We
could see then that the whole place
was doomed, and commenced prepare
lions for flight, but before we were
ready, the great piles of timber that
lay along the Au Sable river front
had caught fire, and the frail. bridges
which connected US with the other
side OF the river were greedily licked
up by the flames, which .leaped the
river and swept over Oscoda. There
was fire In front of Us, and fire In the
rear. Our escape was nearly cut of.
1T seems improbable that all could
have gotten away safely, so rapid was
the advance of the confagration.
Seeing no other way of escape, q num-
Der OF us then set out on twomile
walk toward the south east, to the
lake shore. We gathered there on
the sands for the night, men, women
and children, all drawn together by
the bonds of a great affection. We
were all alike. Few had anything
more than the clothes ON their backs,
and what money was In the house at
the time OF their fight. Everything
else was lost.
I'VE remained on the beach until
morning, when q small tug came
along and took a number OF the
refugees on board. Most of them did
not stop to think where they were
going. but hurfied onto the boat, Inn
PEELED by the one idea of getting
away from the terror that lay behind
them.
Il myself hired q rig and was driv-
en- to railroad station, where was
glad to get on train for home. The
driver had to take me several miles
out of the way In going to the station,
because all the bridges over the small
streams that lay along our route had
been burned.
1T is scarcely probable that the
town will be rebuilt. Nothing re-
mains but a mass of charred ruins,
with here and there a pile OF bricks
and mortar marking the spot where
the foundation OF some house had
stood. The wood supply for the big
Loud Brothers mill was mostly gone
from the neighboring country, aud
for some time had been brought a
considerable distance. All of the old
homesteads are destroyed, and the
sandy soil in the vicinity would hard
ly make IL worth while TO rebuild
without the mills, which furnished
employment to so many. An Sable
as village will probably pass from
the man."