FIRES START AGAIN -
Both the Cadillac and Traverse City reports say that the fires in the northeastern part of the state have started again with great force and are threatening those cities. the fire is only a quarter of a mile away from Traverse city, on the southwest.

From the upper peninsula come reports that the fires in Chippewa and Houghton counties are very dangerous and spreading rapidly.

Fifteen people lost their lives last night in the burning of the Detroit & Mackinack relief train, which was carrying the inhabitants of the little village of Metz, 23 miles north of here, to safety from the forest fires which were sweeping away their homes. The ill-fated train was ditched by spreading rails at Nowicki siding, a few miles south of Metz, and the terrified refugees were forced to abandon the cars and rush for safety either down the track, with burning forests on either side, or into the plowed fields near the siding. eleven of the victims were women and children, who were unable to escape quickly enough from the gondola car which they were occupying. their charred bodies were found today when rescuers reached the scene. Two of the victims were members of the train crew. four additional fatalities occurred in the neighborhood of the wreck last night. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ranowicki lost their lives in their burning house near the siding where the wreck occurred.

When the forest fires closed in yesterday about the little village, a special train of three empty cars and two gondolas were rushed to Metz, in charge of John E. Kinville, conductor, William Foster, engineer; Arthur lee fireman, and W.A. Bartlett, brakeman

DELAY WAS FATAL - As rapidly as possible the people and their goods were loaded into the cars. Some refused to abandon their goods or the train might have left earlier and reached Aplena safely. when the train finally started there were about 100 frightened people aboard. the flames were already sweeping through the village. Engineer Foster started his train from Alpena. Nearing Norwicki crossing he saw blazing piles of cedar ties on both sides of the track. Opening wide the throttle, he tried to dash through at full speed, but the heat had loosened the rails and they spread, and the train left the track. Blazing piles of ties surrounded it and in an instant the cars caught fire.

The terror stricken people caught by the peril from which they were fleeing, jumped from the cars and rushed down the track. Three mothers and their little ones were not quick enough. They crawled in the gondola cars, where they were caught. Brakeman William Bartkett sprang into the water tank behind the engine only to be literally boiled to death as the flames wept over it. Engineer Foster and Conductor Kinville fled down the track through the fire and smoke and were the first to reach the village of Posen and report the wreck and ask for assistance from here.

Behind them straggled a burned and wounded procession of refugees from the wrecked train. It was a fearful march over the hot ties, with the flames from the burning woods on either side of the track roaring and snapping in their faces. Engineer Foster was terribly burned about the head and face, but it is thought that he will recover. Conductor Kinville was badly blinded by burns. John Nowicki Sr. and his wife, and Mrs. Albert Hardies and her you son were seriously burned.

SURVIVORS DAZED BY HORROR - Many more of the refugees are suffering from painful burns. the survivors of the frightful experience seemed dazed by their peril and suffering. They seemed to realize nothing except the necessity for running to escape the intense heat and menacing flames. It was difficult to get any coherent statement from them as to loss of life in the wreck or as to whether there had been people left behind in Metz.

R.S. Richard a Bay City traveling salesman, when he arrived at Posen said:
"As the train left the track the heart-rendering, cries of women and children sent a chill over my body. I did not wait to see the outcome as I knew it would be of no avail and every minute was precious. George Boston, also of Bay City, myself and another man started together, we walked down the track toward Posen, in some places the flames forced us to run and Mr. Boston was burned about the face before he reached safety. Several other men left the scene about the same time we did, but when I reached Posen they were not to be seen. They may have perished in the flames."

NO CHANCE TO SAVE THEM - "There was absolutely no chance to save the women and children from the gondola car. The time was too short. It will probably be a week or more before it is known definitely how many people perished in the village of Metz. The fire had gained a foothold in the town before the train left and in all probability many of the citizens were cremated"

Others stated that when the relief train left Metz it carried all the inhabitants of the village, except George Cicero, the station agent, who stayed to handle the railroad wire and escaped through the ploughed fields when the fire reached the station, only to find his wife and three children cremated in the wreck of the relief train. A fourth child, a boy about 11 years of age, had jumped from the burning car and escaped the but slight injuries.

The first relief train from here reached the crossing this forenoon and brought back the bodies and those of the refugees who wished to come here. Some of them were so hysterical from fright that they refused to ride on the train fearing another accident.