MI "Great Thumb Fire," Sept 1881

MICHIGAN VILLAGES DESTROYED - WHOLE FAMILIES CAUGHT IN THE FLAMES.

CHICAGO, Sept. 7. - Later dispatches from East Saginaw, Port Huron, Flint, and other places in Michigan continue to give alarming reports of the fires. The additional rumors of loss of life continue. Several persons have been burned to death while fleeing from the fire. The village of Deckerville, on the Port Huron and North-western Railway, is totally consumed. Anderson Station is partly burned. In Mendon the only loss was the elevator. Port Hope is nearly all burned. In Verona Mills, in Huron County, the buildings are all destroyed but the church and a store. Bad Axe is all gone but the Court-house and a hotel. Sandusky is totally destroyed, and Richmondville is totally consumed. The fire is raging in the western part of Fortsville, and the people are all moving to the lake shore. in Watertown Township two entire families have been burned to death. The mail-carrier from Marlette to Bad Axe is reported lost. The mail-carrier from Sandusky to Carsonville saw two dead bodies on his route, and the horrible truth remains only partially told. George Ayres hart and his wife, grandmother, two children, and a grandchild have been burned to death. Terror reigns in the whole country. It is very dark, and so smoky as to render breathing troublesome and cause harm to the eyes. Lamps are kept constantly burning. It is impossible to ascertain the full extent of the terrible calamity, as there is no mail, and the telegraph wires are burned down from Forrester to Point Crescent.

DETROIT, Mich., Sept. 7. - Reports are beginning to arrive from the northern and northeastern portion of the State, showing a terrible condition of affairs. The long-continued drought has rendered everything as dry as tinder, and numerous "flashings" or partly cleared tracts of land, covered with brush, decayed timber, and other inflammable materials, afford the best possible medium for the rapid spread of the flames, carried by the high winds which have been prevailing. Sanilac and Huron Counties, lying on the shore of Lake Huron, between Port Huron and Saginaw Bay, are the scenes of the greatest destruction, which is growing positively appalling in character. Hundreds of farms have already been reduced to blackened ashes. Stock, crops, farm buildings, and fences, all have been swept away. Men, women, and children have been overtaken by the flames, and several lives are known to have been lost. It is feared, when full accounts are received, that the loss of life will prove terrible. The little hamlets of Anderson, Richmondville, Charleston, and Sanilac are all reported to have been wiped out, while Port Hope, Verona Mills, and Bad Axe, Huron County, are reported wholly or partly burned up. The people are flocking to the shore of Lake Huron from the interior of these counties as the only refuge from the flames. Some were overtaken by the spreading fire. Not less than 20 deaths are already reported, but it is hoped that these statements may prove incorrect. In Tuscola County, in the next tier of counties back from Lake Huron and south of Saginaw, fires are also raging, but with less severity. The losses there are overshadowed by the more terrible condition of things in the adjoining counties. The same state of affairs exists in Lapeer County, next south of Tuscola, and the whole country around Saginaw and Bay City is ablaze from the marshes taking fire. Reports of many losses to farmers are beginning to reach here. The weather continues excessively hot, and there is no sign of rain.

The New York Times, New York, NY 8 Sept 1881

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TERRIBLE FOREST FIRES

GREAT LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY IN MICHIGAN.

REPORTS THAT OVER 500 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BURNED - ONLY ASHES LEFT OF WHOLE VILLAGES - CROPS SWEPT AWAY - AN APPEAL FOR AID FOR THE SUFFERERS.

DETROIT, Mich., Sept. 8. - Telegraphic communications is entirely cut off with the worst part of the burned region of this State, so that reports are yet somewhat fragmentary, and, it is hoped, exaggerated, but there are many fears that the worst is far from having been told. The complete destruction of Richmondville, Sanilac County, is confirmed. The villages of Carson, Charleston, and Tyre are reported to be completely destroyed, and Ashley partly so. The townships of Delaware, Hunken, Austin, in Sanilac County, and Bingham, Sherman, and Paris, in Huron County, are burned over and desterted. The crops in these townships were all harvested, and nearly all are now lost. The bodies of a family of seven persons named Redmond were found in a well near Charleston, they having entered the well for shelter and were there suffocated. The charred remains of Henry Cole were also found at Charleston, and a family named Lusula in Paris township, and a Mrs. Diebert and her three children were overtaken by the flames and burned to death. In Watertown township another family named Dennison are believed to have been burned. Two families named Thornton and Lee, it is feared, fell a prey to the flames. Near Richmondville there was a gale carrying the fire with a rapidity that often prevented escape. Yesterday afternoon the direction of the wind changed, and this, it is feared, will add new destruction by sending the flames over regions that had escaped. It was much cooler last night, which is in that respect favorable; but the wind is high and the country helpless. There are no signs of rain, without which there seems to be no deliverance. The Board of Trade of this city yesterday appointed committees to solicit relief for the destitute ommunities, as it is very evident that a large work in that direction is at our doors. Hundreds of families have lost all their property and this year's crops, and are reduced to a condition of absolute and immediate want.

The following appeal has been issued by a committee of citizens at Port Huron, headed by Senator Conger, Mayor E. C. Carleton, and others:

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES:

A most appalling disaster has fallen upon a large portion of the Counties of Huron and Sanilac, with some adjacent territory, a section of country recently covered with forests and now occupied by 50,000 largely recent settlers, and either poor or in very moderate circumstances. In the whole of this section there has been but little rain during the past two months, and everthing was parched and dry when, on Monday, Sept. 5, a hurricane swept over it, carrying with it a sheet of flame that hardly anything could withstand. We have reports already of over 200 persons burned to death, many of them by the roadside or in fields, while seeking places of safety, and it is probable that thrice this number have perished. We also have reports from 20 or more townships in which scarcely a house, barn, or supplies of any kind are left, and thousands of people are destitute and helpless. All of these people require immediate assistance, and most of them must depend on charity for months to come. We are doing all in our power to succor them, but the necessities of the case are so great that the contributions of the charitable throughout the country will be required to keep them through the Winter. We therefore appeal to you to send money, clothing, bedding, provisions, or any other supplies that will help to maintain the sufferers and enable them to provide shelter for themselves and begin work again. Contributions may be sent to the Mayor, E. C. Carleton, Chairman of the Relief Committee appointed by the citizens of Port Huron, who have sent agents through the burned district to ascertain the wants of the sufferers and distribute supplies."

A few additional particulars have been received this afternoon from Lexington, Sanilac County. The following additional causalties have been reported in Moore township: Mrs. Strong and two children; Humphrey, stage-driver; Mrs. Frank Dennison, child and sister, and George Krictch, who went to their rescue. Twenty persons are reported burned to death in Custer township. In Bingham township: Mr. Thomas Barnes, wife, sister, mother, and two children. In Austin township, an old man named Payne and Michael Welch, wife and two children. Nearly every farmer in that township has lost either his house, barn, or crops, or all of them. The loss of life and property is immense. Dead bodies are being brought in from all directions. It is estimated that 500 human beings have perished, and that 5,000 people are homeless and are in want of immediate assistance. The farmers in the newer townships lose stock, houses, barns, crops, - everything. A farmer who has just come in from Austin township saved his family of eight children in a field of buckwheat, but says that the whole country in that part is totally destroyed, and many lives have been lost. The loss of live stock is simply immense. The older townships escaped with but little loss, but in most of the newer townships nothing remains except a fire-swept, blackened wilderness.

A dispatch from Marlette, Sanilac County, says: "A terrible state of affairs exists at this point. The entire section of the country lying to the north and east of this place has been on fire, and the number of families rendered homeless will reach the hundreds. Up to this time 17 persons are known to have met their death by fire. The horse of Ira Humphrey, a mail courier between this place and Davis's Corners, came home badly burned, with a card attached to the saddle, written by Humphrey, stating his peril from fire. A relief party found him in the road dead. He was entirely denuded, his clothes either having been burned on his person or taken off by himself in his despiration."

In the Township of Argyle, in Sanilac County, the following were burned to death: Paul Whitsle, wife and five children; George Gratch, wife, and three children; Mrs. Morris Welch and two children, James Gilson and two women recently from Canada, names unknown. There were also several so badly burned that they cannot live. In some sections the fire swept everything before it, and spread with such rapidity that the people were obliged to flee with only the clothing on their backs. In Lapeer and Huron Counties, back from the Lake Shore, the devastation has been more serious, especially in loss of life, although the property losses have also been severe. The loss in Tuscaloosa[sic] County is estimated at $200,000.

The work of forwarding clothing and supplies from Detroit began to-night by boat and rail. Efficient committees on the ground have been or will be appointed to receive and properly distribute supplies, and every effort will be made to reach the sufferers as promptly as possible, and to see that all contributions are properly bestowde [sic].

EAST SAGINAW, Mich., Sept. 8. - Yesterday the wind blew freshly from the north-east, and the temperature dropping from 97 on Monday to 64 at 5 P. M. yesterday. The smoke, however, was unusually dense, and it was dark at 5:30 P. M. About 1 o'clock this morning it rained for about five minutes, but not sufficiently to lay the dust or check the fires east of this city. It rained hard in the north and at Bay City. Reports show that in Millington Township, Tuscola County, 21 families are left homeless; in Denmark, Guilford, and Tuscola Townships, of the same county, 20 or 30 families have been burned out, and many acres of timber and crops, and many miles of fences have been destroyed by the flames. In the vicinity of this place, the fires are chiefly confined to Buena Vista, Blumfield, Bridgeport, and Birch Run Townships on the east, and Kochville, Zillwaukee, and Saginaw Townshps on the west, in all of which numbers of buildings and large quantities of property have been swept away. The Indian settlement, seven miles below this city, which is surrounded by a dense forest, is reported to be burned, and, doubtless, a number of lives were lost. Thirty families lived there, and there was no mode of escape. Fires are reported to have done great damage in Isabella County.

The New York Times, New York, NY 9 Sept 1881

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DEVASTATED BY FLAMES

TERRIBLE DESTRUCTION BY THE MICHIGAN FIRES.

HURON AND SANILAC COUNTIES THE SCENE OF THE CHIEF SUFFERING - SOME HARROWING INCIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLES TO ESCAPE THE FLAMES - LIGHTER LOSSES FURTHER FROM THE LAKE.

DETROIT, Mich., Sept. 9. - Details continue to come in relative to the destruction by forest fires. Huron and Sanilac Counties have been the principal theatre of the greatest destruction and suffering. An eye-witness states that darkness and a copper-colored sky preceded the approach of the fire. Later the sky changed to a deep red, and Monday afternoon it became so dark that lanterns were necessary for people to find their way. This condition of affairs continued until about 8 o'clock Wednesday morning, when the wind shifted from west to north, cooling the air and bringing a slight relief. In the woods were many scorched and charred bodies, which presented a revolting appearance. The high winds that prevailed cut off nearly every avenue of escape, and large burning masses would be lifted up bodily and borne along for a great distance. In many instances these burning mases started fires in fresh places. The skill and courage of man seemed impotent to combat with such flames, and the fleeing people were caught in the firetraps and roasted. One farmer who was plowing with his oxen a few miles from Sand Beach perceived the approaching darkness and started for the house. On reaching home he found that his wife had gone to a neighbor's house. He then took two of his children, his eldest daughter taking three others. Before going many rods they found themselves cut off by the flames. The farmer then turned in another direction and escaped with the two children. His daughter and the other three children were found next day, all in a heap, charred beyond recognition. Up to Wednesday night 45 bodies had been found within a mile.

In Paris Township many are missing, most of them Poles. The whole settlement - buildings, fences, crops - was swept clean. In Delaware Township, all the county south of Forestville from the lake, seven miles back, there is hardly anything left - not one house to the square mile. The residents were new settlers and had small clearings, and the fire swept them like a hurricane. They lose all they had and owe for their places. Many of them fled to the lake. The shore line has been crowded with human beings, cattle, and everything that could get to the water. Eye-witnesses from Forestville say that the utmost confusion prevailed. Many could not see. One man, who had lost his all, was both blind and crazy, and had to be led to the lake. North of Sanilac the fire on Monday night was terrible, sweeping almost everything; but it seemed to leave the houses. The people here did not know any fire was near them until it was on them, and had to run for the lake, and it being only a short distance away all reached it safely. John Kerr and family were asleep when their building caught fire, and a neighbor seeing it ran and woke them, and they succeeded in saving the house but lost everything else. Mrs. N. Burgess got separated from her husband, and lay all night in a ditch. Another person lay down in a mud-puddle and rolled over and over all night. A large body of men have gone to bury the dead beasts in the Forester Township. Dr. Hoyt, who returned for more medicine, reports several badly burned. Many are so blind they had to be led, and many are without food. A number of parties have already gone with food, clothes, shoes, and medicine. More help must come soon, as much suffering will ensue. They have no flour or provisions. George Ferguson, of White Rock, who has been on the road since Monday, reports that he has seen 116 burned bodies; at one place he saw four wagons bearing eight coffins, with one man walking behind all alone. It was his family. Another man was following three coffins. Every farmer lost some crops and fences. On Wednesday night the burned district between Deckersville and Sand Beach was visited by a rain-storm, which put out a large portion of the fires and cleared the atmosphere. The latest reports are that the fires appear to be abating.

A dispatch from Port Austin, at the top of the burned peninsula, sums up the general destruction as follows: The loss of lives by the forest fires on Monday and Tuesday is estimated at 200 to 300. The followin villages were burned: Bad Axe, Verona, Forest Bay, Richmondville, Charleston, Anderson, Deckersville, Harrisonville and Sandusky. The following were partly burned: Port Hope, Minden, and Ubly. The great loss in villages is nothing to that in the country, where the losses are too numerous to be named. Reports from Saginaw, Tuscola, and Lapeer Counties, one tier back from the lake, while showing much destruction of property, do not approach the losses in the shore counties. The losses by fire were much less sweeping and general, and the loss of life was small. But in each of these more favored counties hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of property have been destroyed. The latest reports from all these counties encourage the belief that rain has visited many places, and that the deluge of flame is subsiding. The work of relief must now be systematically entered upon. Lumber to build houses, provisions of all kinds, clothing, and seed for future crops, must be furnished in large quantities to prevent still greater destitution.

A point has now been reached where it may reasonably be hoped that no fresh reports of disasters to the afflicted people will be heard of. Rains have fallen in probably sufficient quantities to quench the fires, but not enough to soak the ground and revive the drooping vegetation. The lowest estimates are that 215 families have been burned out in the towns of Marlette, Flynn, Argyle, Evergreen, Moore, Lamotte, and Elmer, in Sanilac County, and 32 persons are known to be dead. Men who traveled through the burned district, yesterday, report that the fires are mostly out, and the inhabitants sitting about the ashes of their burned houses, many burned and otherwise injured. They are disconsolate and almost bereft of their senses. Provisions, clothing, bedding, and other necessities are being constantly forwarded, and men are traveling through the burned districts distributing supplies and taking the names of those who are in need. Many persons are still missing in the burned district, and the exact loss cannot be known for several days. Sixty-five burials are already reported in six towns, and it is said that 27 have been found dead in the country between Bad Axe and Port Hope. Trains are now running regularly to Sand Beach and Marlette. The older settled towns have suffered no losses to speak of, but the loss falls on the poorer class of people, who are just starting in the lower townships. A great deal of suffering is also reported from the back part of Tuscola County, adjoining Sanilac, where, as near as can be ascertained, many families have been completely burned out, and it is feared that there has been some loss of life, but to what extent is not known. The worst of the destruction is probably at an end.

The benevolent everywhere can safely send money to Mr. E. C. Carleton, mayor of Port Huron, or to Senator O. D. Conger, in the same place, with the assurance that the means will be judiciously used. Prompt action is urgently demanded.

CINCINNATI, Sept. 9. - The Chamber of Commerce has ordered the appointment of a committee to solicit aid for the sufferers from the forest fires in Michigan.

CLEVELAND, Ohio, Sept. 9. - The Board of Trade to-day instructed its Secretary to correspond with the proper persons to ascertain if the Michigan sufferers by fire need money and, if so, to appropriate a generous sum from the board treasury.

The New York Times, New York, NY 10 Sept 1881

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DISASTEROUS FOREST FIRES.

AN APPEAL FOR THE SUFFERERS IN MICHIGAN - FIRES IN OTHER STATES.

CINCINNATI, Sept. 12. - The following appeal has been telegraphed from Port Huron:

TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE:

W have to-night returned from the burned district of Huron and Sanilac Counties. We have seen the burned, disfigured, and writhing bodies of men, women, and children. Rough board coffins contained the dead, followed to the grave by a few blinded, despairing relatives; crowds of half-starved people atsome of the stations asking bread for their families and neighbors. We hear of more than 200 victims already buried, and more charred and bloated bodies are daily discovered. Already more than 1,500 families were found to be utterly destitute and houseless. They huddle in barns, in schoolhouses, and in their neighbors' houses, scorched, blinded, and hopeless. Some still wander half-crazed around the ruins of their habitations, vainly seeking their dead; some in speechless agony, wringing their hands and refusing to be comforted. More than 10,000 people who only a week ago occupied happy, comfortable homes are to-day house-less and homeless sufferers. They are hungry and almost naked when found, and in such numbers and so widely scattered that our best efforts and greatest resources fail to supply their immediate wants. Without speedy aid many will perish, and many more will suffer and become exiles. Our people will do their utmost for their relief, but all our resources would fail to meet their necessities. We appeal to the charity and generosity of the American people. Send help without delay.

E. C. CARLESON
Mayor of Port Huron and Chairman of the Relief Committe [sic].

William Hartraff, John P. Sanborn, Charles A. Ward, Omar D. Conger, Charles B. Peck, Peter B. Sanborn.

The New York Times, New York, NY 13 Sept 1881
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Transcribed by Tim Taugher. Thanks, Tim!