The Marion Daily Mirror

Cochrane, South Porcupine,
Pottsville, Au Sable and
Oscoda Wiped Out.

REFUGEES
COMING
IN

Some of Them Crawling on
Their Hands and Knees
and Badly Burned.

A Frightful Night Spent in
the Forests Filled With
Smoke and Sometimes
Contact with Wild
Animals.

Reports Say Many People are Dead
In the Streets and Churches-Entire
National Guard Will be Called
Out.

By United Press Wire.

The following towns in Michigan are threatened by raging forest fires: At Traverse City, $5,000 damage had been done up to midnight and the fires are still controlled only by blowing up a dozen houses in the middle of the town. Reports received today say that every mining camp between Whitney township and Dome has been wiped out. The known dead in this section are F. Flynn, A. Gill, and W. F. Fletcher, burned when caught in a little lake into which they retreated to escape the onrushing fire, and Billy Moore, a railway contractor, with three foreigners, who were drowned trying to ford a river.
The flames swept down on South Porcupine and Pottsville almost without warning. The alarm came just in time for the people to rush for the lake but they were forced to abandon all of their belongings. Gasoline boats, rowboats and even hastily improvised rafts were utilized to get the refugees, many of whom were women and children, across the lake to Golden City. There all, with other survivors of the fires in the north, are at present fighting back the fire which scorched the outskirts of that place.
There are only a few days' provisions left in Golden City. The laborers employed on the Ontario government's new railroad line from Golden City west reached the city after a desperate fight with the flames in which many were badly burned. They lost everything but the clothes they wore.
The town of Kelso was abandoned today after a fight lasting since Sunday.
Superintendent Black, and staff, of the Ontario railway, have sidetracked all trains to expedite relief trains being sent to the endangered points.
Au Sable and Oscoda.
East Tawas, Mich., July 12.-The towns of Au Sable and Oscoda, Mich., lying directly across from each other on the Au Sable river in northeastern Michigan, were wiped off the map and probably hundreds perished last night, by one of the worst forest fires that has ever visited Michigan. Not a business place is standing in Oscoda today.
The fire which started in the forest near Oscoda was fanned by a fierce gale and within a few hours had destroyed the little town and by means of sparks and burning brands had swept Au Sable where the fire raged all night, completely destroying the town.
Hundreds of people driven from their homes by the fire took refuge on board the freighter Congo which was lying at the docks at Au Sable when the fire broke out. Others boarded the regular southbound passenger train on the Detroit and Mackinac which made its way to the stricken towns by means of numerous spur tracks.
At Trowbridge, fire destroyed most of the town.
At Lagrange, fires gaining headway and threatening the town.
At Cheboygan, dense clouds of smoke overhang the sky and telephone communication has been cut off to the south where it is reported that the towns of Millersburg, Laroque and Onaway have been destroyed.
At Lewiston the entire population is engaged in fighting the flames which threaten the town on all sides.
At Bay Shore village, endangered by brush and forest fires.
At Boyne City, loggers reported surrounded by forest fires.
At Lake City, the largest town in Missaukee county, fire gaining headway despite desperate efforts of the fire fighters.
East Tawas, Mich., July 12.-With refugees arriving every hour, many crawling in on their hands and knees, burned, injured and exhausted, this town at noon today shelters nearly 800 people made homeless and destitute by the fierce forest fires raging in this vicinity since yesterday. Five hundred of the refugees are from the towns of Au Sable and Oscoda, which were destroyed by the fire within six hours last night. Early this morning, the food supply gave out here. Help has been asked of the surrounding towns. Relief trains have also been sent from Bay City with doctors and nurses, as many of the refugees are in a serious condition from their all night exposure and horrible experiences in the swamps and burning woods.
Stanley Edgley, of Flint, who went to Au Sable yesterday on a fishing and camping trip with two companions, arrived here early today, and tells of seeing at least fifty fall in the streets or run directly into the wall of flames sweeping down on the town in the first panic-stricken rush for safety.
Horrors of Night.
Many other refugees arriving here on foot late today tell of the horrors of a night spent in the woods and swamps, where the heavy smoke nearly strangled many of them. One refugee tells of starting out with five companions through the woods for safety. Two dropped out before they had covered half the distance here, overcome by smoke. They ran onto all kinds of wild animals rushing before the flames in a mad attempt to escape.
After struggling for five hours they finally came upon the railroad tracks which they followed to this city.
When they reached here this morning they were in a serious condition. Their eyes and faces were swollen from the heat and parts of their clothes were burned away by the cinders and brands from the burning woods.
Three Towns Burned.
North Bay, Ont., July 12.-Three towns have been wiped off the map, seven prospectors are known to be dead, many others are missing and hundreds of refugees are facing starvation, as the result of the forest fires now sweeping through the porcupine region. With the woods like tinder and the flames fanned by winds from the south, the fire is spreading with fearful rapidity and hundreds of men, women and children have been compelled to wade into lakes, rivers and small streams to seek refuge from the intense heat.
Cochrane, a town of 2,500 inhabitants; South Porcupine and Pottsville are masses of charred ruins today. Golden City has been surrounded by flames for hours and is still in danger, although the suburbs have been burned. Half of Tisdale has been wiped out, the fire is being controlled only by blowing up a dozen houses.
The fire swept over the doomed towns with such rapidity that all the inhabitants could do was to flee for their lives, leaving behind all their belongings. The fierce rush of flames drove hundreds into Lake Huron and while it is impossible to ascertain whether any lives were lost, it is feared many have perished.
Stories of Refugees.
According to the stories of 300 refugees who arrived here this morning when the train left Oscoda, the flames were leaping 100 feet high and roaring like a furnace. The heat was so intense that those within the coaches had to close the windows. Bodies are lying in the streets of Au Sable and the churches and halls are packed with those who were overtaken by the flames. Many who sought shelter from the fire were suffocated with the dense smoke. Babies carried to the water in trunks, were either drowned or smothered to death.
From Alpena and Boyne City, reports are coming in today of fierce fires raging about those cities. At Boyne City the fires are reported to have surrounded several logging camps and to have hemmed in the loggers with a solid wall of flame. At both Alpena and Boyne City heavy clouds of smoke can be seen on all sides.
National Guard Called.
Lansing, Mich., July 12.-The entire national guard of the state will be called out to do duty in the forest regions of Michigan which are now burning.
Major J. N. Cox, of the military department here, is trying to get in touch with Governor Osborn, who is yachting in Lake Michigan somewhere in the vicinity of the straits, for the necessary order calling out the troops.
The mayor of Oscoda, one of the towns burned, wired the military department here this morning asking that a company of the national guard infantry be sent to the scene of the disaster at once to do patrol duty.
This will be done as soon as Governor Osborne can be located.
Survivor of Two Conflagrations.
Bay City, Mich., July 12.-Among the refugees who arrived here early today on the D. & M. relief train from Au Sable and Oscoda, wiped out by flames, was Mrs. Doris Diamond, a survivor of the Iroquois theater fire in Chicago.
She said that the scenes at Oscoda were more horrifying than the Chicago holocaust.
"The people were compelled to rush from their homes with whatever they had on their backs," said Mrs. Diamond, "and run for their lives to the lake and swamps, so rapidly did the flames spread. My four children, my sister and myself fled from our house as the flames roared down upon us and joined the panic-stricken crowd fleeing for places of safety.
"I saw women and children fall up
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PEOPLE PERISH

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on the road exhausted from the smoke and heat and it seemed incredible that all escaped with their lives. My sister was with us when we started from our home but she stopped to assist a woman with her children and we became separated and I do not know whether she is alive or not.

People who gathered up their personal effects in bundles before leaving their homes were compelled to drop them in their rush for safety.

"The awful scenes were more terrifying and impressed me more than my experience in the Iroquois theater fire."