Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2012, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Daily True American, Clinton, N.J., Saturday, October 17, 1908 17 PERISH FLEEING FROM FIRE ------------ Relief Train Plunges Into Furnace In Woods. ------ SEVERAL TOWNS ARE WIPED OUT ------ With Flames On All Sides Fate Was Inevitable ---------- ***************** FACTS ABOUT FIRES Number of known dead is 17. Estimated more than 200 lives have been lost. Property loss is estimated at between $4,000,000 and $6,000, 000. Fire still burning in three counties. Four towns are reported wiped out. They are in Presque Isle county. ******************** Special to True American. ALPENA, Mich., Oct. 16 - Seven- teen persons perished early this morning when a relief train, carry- ing refugees from the little village of Metz, in Presque Isle county, left the rails, two miles south of the village, in the midst of a blazing forest. Many who were aboard are still unaccounted for. The dead: - William Barrett, Brakeman, Alpena, body found on tracks. Arthur Lee, Alpena, fireman, boil- ed alive in water tank of engine. Mrs. George Cicero, Metz, charred remains in steel car. Mrs. Cicero's three children, found in the car. Mrs. John Konitczny, Metz, found in the car. Mrs. Konitczny's three children, found in the car. Mrs. Edward Hardies, Metz, found in the car. Mrs. Hardies' three children, found in the car. John Nowicki, burned in his home beside the tracks. Mrs. John Nowicki, burned in her home beside the tracks. About 30 others on the train escap- ed. Metz is a little town 23 miles north of Alpena. Probably 200 peo- ple live there. Yesterday afternoon they sent tele- grams to the north and south, saying forest fires were closing in on all sides and asking for relief, as the village was in danger and there were no means of escape except by a railroad. A special train consisting of three empty box cars and two coal gondo- las, was made up and rushed to Metz. When the relief train reached Metz, everybody was invited to get on board with their household goods, and men, women and children hastily filled the FLAMES SPREAD OUT. The whole northeast of Michigan is burn- ing in spots, the smoldering ruins of the forest fires, which a few weeks ago did such enormous damage, are being fanned into flames by the high winds of the last few days. Fears are felt for the safety of several thousand persons. Four towns, Metz, Millersburg, Posen and Polaski, have already been destroyed. The town of Brimley is one of the places now being wiped out, and Millersburg is still burning, the fire surrounding the lat- ter place, cutting off all chance to reach there from Alpena. The smoke over the St. Mary's river is so dense that naviga- tion has been suspended. The fire is now raging in four counties, and aside from the unknown loss of life the loss of property will be between $4,000,000 and $6,000,000. Later dispatches, based upon informa- tion furnished by searching parties, say that Millersburg, a town of 850 population, has been entirely wiped out and nothing is known as to what became of the in- habitants. ===========================================================================