The Saginaw Courier says that the fire that has been so fearfully in the vicinity of Chesaning during the last two weeks, has abated in fury, and seems now to be under control, as the rain that fell last Saturday, although not sufficient to extinguish it, has moistened the surface of the ground, and prevented its further spread, at least for the present.
A settlement of German, about three miles north of Chesaning, known locally as "Dutch Town," is almost annihilated. These Germans had settled here some years ago with very limited means, but by patient toil and industry had opened up good farms, and some of them had erected good, substantial, frame house and barns; but out of twenty-six buildings, nineteen have been burned, including the school-house, - a neat frame building that spoke well for the enterprise of the inhabitants; and the escape of others, under the circumstances seems almost miraculous.
The principal losers in the settlement, so far as known, are: Frederick Byerly, who lost his house and greater part of its contents, also his barn, filled with hay and grain, covering all that he had raised on his farm the past season. Loss, $2,000.
Jacob Haist lost a new frame barn just completed, and his barn and farm crops. Loss from $10,000 to $12,000. He still occupied his old house which was fortunately saved, together with its contents.
C. F. Wheat lost a frame house and barn, involving a loss of $6,000 to 8,000. Several other buildings of lesser value were consumed. All the above buildings were burned on the same road, and within one mile of each other.
West of the village, W. B. Mickle lost his barn and contents. His loss is about $800, which, we understand, is partially covered by insurance.
Jas. McMillen, barn and hay. Lost about $300.
Richard Welch, on the ridge road, west of Oakley, lost his barn and contents, including a mower and other farm implements. We have not learned the exact value of his property destroyed, but it must have reached $10,000 or $12,000.
The mill, lumber and buildings at Pine Grove, owned by McArthur, of Corunna, including about two hundred thousand feet of lumber, owned by Chapman & Co., of this place, was burned; loss about $12,000. We fear there was no insurance on either mill.
There are various other losses reported in the vicinity, but in the excitement we have not been able to learn of them with sufficient accuracy to report them. The estimates of losses given above, include only the property mentioned, and does not cover the damage sustained by the destruction of fences, and the damage to tinder and land. It is impossible at present to estimate the damage in this direction, a there is scarcely a farm in this or the adjoining townships, that some portion of it has not been swept by the fire, destroying more or less of its fences. Thousands of acres of cleared lands are thrown out to commons, and in some cases, the entire crops of the farm are left unprotected.
Chesaning itself was for a time considered in imminent danger, but providentially escaped destruction.
Many of the sufferers in the vicinity of Chesaning are poor, industrious men, who have been struggling for years to secure for themselves a home and a competency, and must receive immediate and material aid to supply their present wants and enable them to meet the rigors of the approaching winter.