Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1895 — NORTHERN MICHIGAN FIRES. [ARTICLE]

NORTHERN MICHIGAN FIRES.

Great Precautions Taken to Prevent the Destruction of Villages. According to press dispatches the Northern Michigan forest fires are numerous and formidable. The forests are mostly hardwood, and while the fires may run rapidly when fanned by a strong wind, yet they can be controlled by judicious and timely back firing. All the small towns in the danger district and many farms have been carefully encircled with back fires. The psif.nation is being carefully watched, however, and there is not much to fear. At Wallin, the town burned Thursday, these precautions were not taken in time. The Sullivan Lumber Company loses about $30,000 on mill, lumber and buildings, with a total of $3,200 insurance. The charcoal kilns will be repaired immediately to use the damaged timber before it goes to ruin, but the mill will not be rebuilt until next season. A large tent has already been erected for postoffice, store and hotel 1 , and as soon as buildings can be put up many of the workmen will return with their families, who are now stopping at Thompsonville. The villages of Clary, Copemish, Interlocken, Grawn, Bensonia and others have been threatened, but by back firing the danger has been averted. Comparatively few farmers have been burned out. Considerable damage has been done to standing timber and much hemlock bark has been destroyed. No lives have been lost, and even at Wallin the live stock was saved, the cattle taking to the thick woods, where the fire did not reach them.