The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-07-12
Loss of Life
Is Reported
Au Sable and OscOda in Ruins.
Alpena Fighting Rush of
Flames From Mill.
FOREST FIRES DRIVE
PEOPLE INTO WATER
Scenes Of Three Years Ago Will be
Re-enacted Unless Rain
Gives Relief.

DETROIT. Mich. July ll.-with
hardly more than half dozen houses
left standing in the villages OF Aul
Sable and Oscoda, with the city OF
Alpena fighting a disastrous fire all
day and with forest fires raging along
the line OF the Detroit and Mackinac
railroad, from Au Sable TO Cheboygan
and at other points i'm the northern
part OF the lower peninsula. heavy
rain is needed tonight TO prevent 4
possible heavy loss of life. such as
began with the destruction oil the vii
lage Metz. October l6. 1908. and the
burning OF nearly a score OF people
seeking safety on relief train. To-
days fires at Alpena and Oscoda
were not due 10 forest fires but origi-
mated in slab yards that were dry as
tinder from the long drought. At Che
boygan mountain OF sawdust caught
fire and the flames threatened ,oI
spread through the city.
Six Towns Seorched.
The smaller towns of Metz. Nillers-
burg and Tower along the Detroit and
Mackinac railroad. were reported to-
be burning to-day. and Lewiston. in
Mont Norcncy county. and Alger and
Turner in Arenac county. were said TO-
be seriously threatened by forest fires
Wire service from Au Sable. north
to ChebuyEan. WAS interrupted this
afternoon. but news OF the fires at
Alpcna. Oscoda and Au Sable was
forwarded 10 the Associated Press by
train 10 East Tawas. where wires were
available for transmission 20 Detroit.
&. 4 Lytlc. manager for the West
ern UE.on Telegraph Company at
AlpeTa. who got ont OF Alpcna at D..
m on train and arrived at East
Tawas late this evening. said that the
train passed through 10 fires until
they were approaching Au Sable.
City Mass Of Flames.
THAT city was "A mass OF flames.
he said. Il don't believe there are half
a dozen houses left standing Many
refugees were taken from An Sable
on the steamer konso. that MAS N
port loading freight Others hocked
to the short of Lake Huron and were
driven into the water by the intense
heat Many found refuge In the fields
along the railroad right of way, stand
ing guard over little piles OF personal
effects that they we're able TO snatch
from their homes as they fled al the
approach OF the flames Women and
children were crying from terror and
hunger. and they viewed the burning
village i'm the distance. y relief train
was hurriedly made mp 10 carry the
homeless women and children 20
Eas, TaWas"
There are rumors that some lives
were lost TN the fire ar Oscoda and
An Sable. bur IL WAS impossible to-
night 20 obtain any confirmation.
Loss Of Life.
EAST TAWAS. Mich July H.
Tho first train from tho hrc swept
town of ~ Sabi" tonight brought
rumOrs %. %, loss OF several lives in
thai village One hundred survivors
were aboard th" rescue train They
sold several women aud children were
sIFocaf.d bv 'Ec dense smoke and
others i'st thoir lif" in the flames.
100000 Fire q Alpena.
ALPENA. Mich. July IA dis
asfrou- FIRE broke Ouf here this after
noon ir the logs on fhc bank ~ Thun-
der i1. river gust A.s' Of fho Noouch
tanner. s fierce west wind spread
o." flames into fho bark piles of g..
Noeuch and Sons COMPANY. thence ~
heir bleach house. hide house and
.arpcn'sr shop. making 90 total loss
y rho hIiidincs. lf is hoped fhat two
hird- of fir bark can hD saved. also
boo remainder ~ rho fHuucry Tho f.r.
hon spread 90 fIo cedar yard Of
rank Christian. totally DESTROYING o..
a. This point. one OF 'Io oif.s fire
tcontnued on z zhth PagsJ