Newaygo County MI Archives History - Books .....FIRES IN THE FOREST, 1871. 1884
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 6, 2008, 10:32 pm

Book Title: Newaygo County Portrait & Biographical Album

FIRES IN THE FOREST, 1871.


"Fire is a good servant, but a hard master," and under favoring circumstances 
will sweep away in a single night or 

day the work of years and the savings of a life-time.  Fires in the forests of 
Michigan are dreaded as much as the 

prairie fires of Illinois and Iowa once were.  They come generally in the 
season of autumn, when dead leaves are on 

the ground, and are most destructive after a dry season.  Newaygo County has 
suffered slightly from these fires, but 

on the whole has been very fortunate.  Thee have been no sweeping losses.  The 
days of forest fires have gone by, at 

least for this part of the State, and as the remaining timber is gradually 
cleared away, the danger to be guarded 

against becomes less and less.

October, 1871, was a month long to be remembered as the one which witnessed so 
much destruction in Chicago, and 

through many portions of the State of Michigan.  In Newaygo County there were 
many narrow escapes, but comparitively 

little damage was done - much less than was experienced by neighboring 
counties.  During the first week in October 

the whole country was enveloped in a cloud of smoke, which was almost 
suffocating.  On Monday, Oct. 9, the smoke was 

so dense that the sun could scarcely be seen, and it penetrated dwellings and 
places of business so that it was 

almost impossible to transact business of any kind; the wind blew a gale all 
day, and the dust in addition to the 

smoke was anything but pleasant.  Rumors of fire and destruction of property 
in different directions were rife and 

the consequent excitement was so intense that almost all work was at a 
standstill.  In Newaygo village all were 

espectant of coming conflagration.  Towards evening it was ascertained that 
Wyatt's lumbering shanties, and 150 cords 

of shingle bolts beloning to I.D. Merrill were totally destroyed.  But it was 
only when night came on that the true 

state of affairs could be seen from the village.  In every direction the 
flames could be distinctly seen, and it was 

evident to all that the destroying element was rapidly approaching the 
village, and unless its progress could be 

stayed a fearful destruction of property and perhaps loss of life must ensue.

At midnight the bells were rung, and the citizens turned out almost en masse, 
and commenced battling the fire, but 

with perceptible effect;  and it appeared so near to the dwelluing of David 
Jarse that his household goods were 

removed.  About two o'clock Tuesday morning rain commenced falling, and by 
daylight the fire was nearly subdued.

At one time the fire was within 30 rods of Kritzer's grist-mill, and the wind 
blowing it directly on with irrestible 

force, but a sudden shift of the wind lessened the danger in that quarter 
materially.  It is beyond controversy that 

if the mill had caught fire the whole town would have been destroyed.  Never 
was rain more earnestly prayed for, or 

more thankfully received.

At Fremont Center a hard fight was made.  All around the village fences were 
torn down and the ground plowed up.  

Several buildings were destroyed in the vicinity, among them three 
residences.  Fifty men were fighting fire at 

Darling's mill all Sunday night, and with difficulty saved that valuable 
property.  A great many families removed 

their goods from their dwellings, having given up all hope of saving them.  At 
Denver the fire did much damage, and 

in mnay other sections of the county there were close escapes from severe 
visitations of the consuming element.

Fires have also done some damage during several other autumn seasons.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/newaygo/history/1884/newaygoc/firesinf65gms.txt

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