Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, 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. =========================================================================== The History of Tuscola and Bay Counties, Mich. H. R. Page & Co., Chicago - 1883 -185- THE GREAT FIRE OF 1881. This terribly ruinous conflagration, which laid parts of Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola Counties in ruins, was described at the time, from the standpoint of Cass City, as follows: "Ten years ago a conflagration swept through this region, leaving in its wake a charred and blackened country; but with all its hideous horrors it was not so destructive of property and life as the fire of this week, for the very good reason that there was not so much to destroy. "It is utterly impossible at this time to form any intelligent estimate of the amount of damage done. In the sacrifice of human life it is simply overwhelming. From all directions reports of the finding of the blistered and charred remains of men, women and little children continue to come in, until it is thought that within the burned district no less than three hundred lives have been de- stroyed. The thought of the untold sufferings accompanying these deaths from burning, suffocation and starvation is too awful to think of. No mind can conceive, nor pen portray one-tenth of the sickening sights presented to the eye in traversing the desert of de- struction, and looking upon the realm of the dead. Mothers were found cold in the embrace of death, with their little children clasped in their blistered and blackened arms, bearing eloquent testimony to the genuineness of their parental fidelity and the al- most superhuman efforts which they made to save from the jaws of death those who were dearer to them than life. Well authenticated stories are told of the devoted heroism of the husband in his utter abandonment of self and the sacrifice of his own life to save that of his wife, who may truthfully write over his grave, 'He died for me.' "For two weeks past the fires have been burning with more or less fury, but not until last Sunday, September 4th, was the real danger apprehended. It was then that the winds began to fan the smoldering embers into hot and hissing flames, and by daylight Monday morning thirty townships were enveloped in fire. All day Monday and Tuesday the fiend was bravely fought by both men and women, who labored without food or sleep to save their little homes from ruin. But it was a struggle against fearful odds, and utterly in vain; and one by one they were driven off. Many fell exhausted by the way, or were overtaken by the rapidly advancing mon- ster, were consumed with hardly a moment's warning. "During Sunday and the two following days the excitement in Cass City was terrible. During every moment of that time we were in imminent danger. It is only because of our abundant water supply, and the most heroic and persistent efforts on the part of our citizens that our name is not added to the long list of the consumed. The fire approached with unaccountable rapidity from the south and west, and it seemed again and again as if no human power could beat back the great roaring, hissing mountains of flame. But undaunted the brave men fought on, hour after hour, without food or sleep, and to look back over those three days of struggle, it indeed seems more like a dream than reality. Finally, however, hard work won the day, and Wednesday morning the danger was past. "RICHARD MEREDITH was brought in Tuesday night horribly burned, having been found by the side of the road near Mrs. LAP- LEE'S, on the State road, where he lay for twenty-four hours. Over forty persons are reported burned in the single town of Paris, Huron County. In Argyle twelve or fifteen were burned. In the vicinity of Port Hope twenty-four lives were lost, principally from the town- ship of Bloomfield. "In Austin the wife of MORRIS WELCH and three children were lost. IRA HUMPHREY, mail carrier between Marlette and Bad Axe, perished sixteen miles this side of Marlette, the buggy and mail being consumed, the horse only escaping. "A pathetic story is told of a poor man in Sanilac, who fought fire until one of his arms was nearly burned off, returned to his home where his two little children were nearly suffocated, and realizing that he could not save them both, had to choose which one to carry off with the arm he had left. He hesitated in bewil- derment for a moment, and then as the hot flames were already blistering him, picked up the older child and escaped, while the younger was burned to a crisp." The following is a list of losses in the town of Elkland: T.E. MORSE, everything; J. L. HITCHCOCK, two barns and house; GEORGE HAWKINS, house and barn; JOHN LITTLE, house and barn; S. M. WOODS, cooper shop; H. Y. DEPEW, brick kiln and house; EDMUND BROTHERTON, house and barn; WILLIAM WITHEY, house and barn; ANDREW SEEGAR, house and barn; EDGAR DAVIS, barn; ELDER DEMING, house and barn; CLARK TRAVERS, house and barn; SETH MYERS, house and barn; JOHN ENO, house and barn; WILLIAM WYERS, house and barn; DONALD KEN- NEDY, house and barn; H. C. DOWNING, house; E. R. HUNT, barn; S. STRICKLAND, T. STRICKLAND, J. BRADSHAW, GEORGE KOLB, FRED BURK, J. E. WRIGHT, I. STRIFFLER and GEORGE HOUGHTON, everything; P. CARR, H. BALL, G. GRAY and ELLA JACOBS, losses from $300 to $500; DANIEL McCLOREY, wagon and hay; C. W. LYNDS, house and barn; WILLIAM RUSSELL, barn. The organized systematic relief which came so spontaneously from the whole country largely prevented here, as in other towns of the county and adjoining counties, the suffering which would naturally result. And for the thrifty, enterprising, hard-working farmer but a short time was required to recover from the blow, and soon the last traces of the great disaster will disappear, and the blackened stumps which stand here and there as reminders of the fire will give place to cultivated fields. ===========================================================================