Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2012,
All Rights Reserved
U.S. Data Repository
Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page:
<http://www.us-data.org/fineprint.html>
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.
===========================================================================