Leaves Death and Desolation to Mark Its Onward Course.

Tower, Onaway, Millerburg, Alpena, Au Sable and Oscoda In Its Grasp.

Black Tuesday, July 11, 1911, is destined to go down in history as the worst and most destructive day that ever dawned on this section of North-eastern Michigan, for wind, dust, smoke and fire combined to do their worst for both man and beast

For days the smoldering forest fires that had been spreading through the slashings was by the wind, that at times assumed a gait of forty miles an hour, fanned into flames, creating a smoke that was blinding and wearisome to anybody that dared venture out. In the slashing just north of Onaway all Tuesday morning the volume of smoke that poured into Frenchtown was simply horrible, and kept the occupants on constant watch. Shortly after p p.m. the expected fire alarm sounded owing to a small house owned by Fred Hubert catching fire, but owing to the long distance from water the department could do nothing, other than help move families out of danger. But for heroic work several other buildings would have suffered.

From then on the county seemed doomed, for on every side there were evidence of encroaching dangers. Northwest of the city flying embers and smoke made a very foreboding picture to look at, and excepting one citizen and the company’s men there was nobody out on the fire line to prevent the fire coming in on the city. In fact at the time the fire had come within a hundred feet of the north lumber tramway, which if it had caught, there is no telling what the result would have been to every property holder.

At Tower at 3:30 the writer in company with Deputy Game and Fire Warden Ellsworth stared for Tower, and in over half century we’ve been on earth, this was the worst we ever encountered. Facing that gale of wind, dust, and smoke that was coming forty miles an hour there were times when the horse could be hardly seen. As we neared Tower we met various citizens in rigs and on foot hurrying towards Onaway and begging for God’s sake to turn back else we would be devoured by the flames, but we drove on and into Tower, and a more direful picture of a deserted village was never seen. Half the population had gone on the morning train to see the circus in Cheboygan, while the other half had nearly all fled or getting ready to flea. Every kind of conveyance was brought into requisition to remove goods and people to places of safety.

We drove down far as the Banks House then against protestations of those who had given up hope, we ventured to the north end of the lumber piles. By that time a hell of fire was raging at the depot, the agent’s house just opposite the Holoface house, just south among the pines, the Henry O’Brien house near the electric power house, Fitzpatrick Bros. Shingle mill, together with six flat cars, three gons, three stock cars and six cars of logs less than two hours before been pushed in, were a seething wall of fire, leaping like devils in their fury to spread and destroy every tangible material their firey tongues could touch. An strange as it may seem there was not a single man in sight, all had fled. We got busy at once, for it was then or never, as the fire had come within less than twenty feet of the huge lumber piles. To the southwest of the lumber and business part of the village are great slab piles, and to that point Warden Ellsworth went, and to his surprise found only two men at work as all others had fled in despair of ever doing any good.

By uncoupling a car at a time and moving them toward the mill eleven cars were saved to the D & M. The D & M’s loss of the Tower depot, agent’s house and twenty-four cars will aggregate $30,000. Fitzpatrick Bros. Shingle factory, stock on hand, including shingles and cedar is estimated at $7,000. The Worboys Lumber co., save six cars of logs escaped because Chas. Mcginnis is a man that don’t know the term "give up". The writer knows whereof he speaks, for he was there and but for a half a dozen men of the McGinnis stripe, the huge piles of lumber, the mill and every vestige of Tower would have been nothing but an ash heap today.

Fire Warden Ellsworth was not saying much but put a lot of enthusiasm into his long handled shovel. He also acted as an angel of mercy later by carrying ice water to the fighters and staid on the job nearly all night.

Behind his helmet of whiskers M. D. Myers was a handy man with the water bucket and never quit until danger was over. Cashier Fuehr showed us how to a crow bar under a car wheel and yank brakes loose. Lew Robbins, northwest of tower lost everything in the fire. Badder’s little mill and dwelling was wiped out of existence.

That fine little mill of Laird & Waring, four miles south of Onaway, that for years had been a staunch business industry was wiped out of existence together with cut lumber and logs, exceeding $20,000 in value. The homes of bother Mr. Laird and Mr. Waring were burned, also the homes of John Gifford, Al McAtee, two house and a barn of Albert Donald, and a house occupied by Theo Lutze.

Residents of Waverly township were subjected to a great deal of smoke and in many instance of narrow escapes from fire. Those who lost their homes were Sammuel Wells, loss $400; Ira Fales, $400; Freeman Rose $250; Wm Laidle $600; Hard Zimmerman; $400; school house No. 3, $1400, insured for $1200.

The south part of Millersburg suffered severely by fire first running in at Ruben Mitchell’s mill and destroying it completely, then spreading to the residence portion. The homes of those destroyed are J. D. Walker’s store, post office and residence, F. B. Mill’s house, M. G. Steven’s house, Joseph Whitsett’s house and outbuildings, Hugh McKinnon’s home, Ed Jone’s home, R. P. Hollihan’s fine residence also the homes of Wm. Johnston, James Adam’s, Mrs. Steele, Andrew Sheff, Joseph Dennis, Mrs Milfred, John Bisnett, Mrs. Baird, John Leader, Link Brewster and Chauncey Robbins. The fire leaves many of thse in destitute circumstances and for a time dependent upon the more fortunate. Mrs. Kroening’s two stores and residence also went up in flames.

Merritt Chandler had nine of his fine Hereford cattle destroyed by the fire and about twenty severely burned, some of which will have to be killed. He also lost over one hundred tons of timothy hay.

Owing to the high wind the sawdust mountain was sending up a five foot blaze from one end to the other, causing a blinding smoke nearly all day. The Forepaugh circus ground caught fire, and the management rather than run any risk refused to put on a performance and packed up and moved to Petoskey.

The City of Alpena was menaced for a time Tuesday afternoon and grave fears for its safety were entertained. So far as ascertained it’s loss reaches $265,000. The Moench tannery was the heaviest loser, as in buildings and tan bark it totaled at $250,000.

The News believes the origin of the fire was caused by boys in swimming and using matches to light cigarettes while sitting on logs at the river bank.

Words fail to express the horrors and suffering of the people of Au Sable and Oscoda, for all that is left of Au Sable is a school house and four dwelling, while at Oscoda every business house is gone and only sixty dwellings are left, while the loss of life is reported this morning at three, being Sam Rosenthal, brother-in-law of our Postmaster I.J. Barnett, William Batt, and a peddler whose name we failed to learn.

The little steamer Niko ran in to Oscoda and took 280 people aboard, taking them to Port Huron. The Loud mill and extensive yards with millions of feet of lumber and logs and entire equipment at AuSable was wiped out without leaving a single cedar stick to tell that they had ever invested a cent in anything of the kind, entailing a loss close to a million dollars.

Joseph Goupie’s place just west of Onaway, including house, barn, chicken and hog house, with two large hogs, twelve tons of cut hay, garden stuff, ect., was swept from the face of the earth as clean as a floor. His loss is placed at $1200. Louis and George Wilton and William Bailey of South Forest, lost their homes and outbuildings, barely escaping with their lives.

While walking from Sam Shnepp’s near Millersburg toward Onaway George Comfort met and experience at the crooked hill he will not soon forget. He was completely surrounded by roaring flames and in raising his hands to save his face his hands and arms were fearfully blistered and was an awful sight when he came to the doctor yesterday morning.

While the L. & C. have this week and last been fighting the fires to prevent it spreading in their timber, they have alos helped many a settler save his home and indirectly saved Onaway very serious fire loss. They responded to every call and helped Millersburg considerable by sending men to fight the flame. In the absence of Mr. Blanchard, O.K. Snyder did double duty and was Johnny on the spot at every turn. Karl Hodge also proving an able lieutenant.

Tales of heroism in saving life and property are many.

The State has proffered help to the destitute, Bay City, Detroit, Grand Rapids and other cities are seeing that the immediate needs of the people are supplied.