Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== EAST SHORE NEWS PENTWATER, OCEANA Co., MICH. VOL. I, NO. 40 Friday, 20 October 1871 TERRIBLE FIRES. ------------ Further From Chicago ------------ OUR OWN STATE ------------ Minnesota and Wisconsin ------------ [extracted portion of article that pertains to Huron County] IN MICHIGAN Special dispatches to the Detroit Tribune. PORT SANILAC, October 11. - The villages of Elm Creek, Centre Harbor, Sand Beach, Huron City and New River - all in Huron county - have been completely destroyed by fire. Port Hope is reported gone. PORT HURON, October 11. - The expedition which started out from this city last evening on board the tug Frank Moffat, with supplies for the relief of the sufferers on the lake shore above this city, returned this evening. Forestville, White Rock, Elm Creek, Sand Beach and Huron City are all consumed. Rock Falls and Port Hope are par- tially burned. There were on board the tug about 40 men, women and children, five of whom were badly burned. All the country back of Sand Beach is destroyed. It is sup- posed that a great many lives must have been lost. Cato is not destroyed. The Huron and Fessenden will bring the remainder of the people to-morrow morning. Back of Rock Falls, a woman with five children started the children for the lake, she remaining behind to look after some things about her premises. She subsequently reached the lake, but the children were not there and undoubtedly perished. A small village named Verona, just west (back) of Sand Beach, in the interior, is entirely wiped out. PORT HURON, October 11. - On Tuesday afternoon the steamer Huron brought down to this city from the lake shore about two hundred of the sufferers from the fire. The Mayor issued a call for a public meeting that eve- ning, which resulted in a large gathering, and $1,000 was subscribed there for the relief of the destitute. Since then the subscription has been raised to $1,500, besides a large quantity of clothing, provisions and bedding. Most harrowing incidents of suffering and adventure are related. Hundreds of people were driven in the lake to save their lives, and in numerous in- stances the hair was burned from their heads. Parents holding their children in their arms were protected from the falling embers by having wet sand thrown over their heads. One man, living four miles back from the lake, buried his aged parents (who were too infirm to attempt reaching the lake) in a root house, covering it with earth, leaving only space for air to sustain life. They have not yet been heard from. ===========================================================================