“After driving about the region a few hours, in order to gain an adequate idea of the extent of the loss, I took a train for Detroit for the purpose of conferring with officers of the State Branch of the Red Cross, concerning relief measures. Some relief supplies were already arriving, contributed by the people of the City of Alpena, twenty-five miles to the east, and hurried in by the railroad company. I found Detroit awakened to the situation. Mr. Emory W. Clark, treasurer of the State Branch, and Mr. Ralph M. Dyar, secretary, had been in conference the morning of my arrival. Mr. Clark took me to call upon the Mayor, who requested me to attend a meeting of business men, which he had called to assemble in his office at noon. The result of the meeting was the appointment of a relief committee. Mr. Clark was made the Red Cross representative upon this committee. The committee appointed Mr. J. D. Hawks, president of the Detroit and Mackinac Railroad, its representative in the field and requested me to return to the fire district with him to help organize and direct the work of relief. It was arranged that we should start to Metz that same evening. [Illustration: ONLY BUILDING LEFT IN BOLTON.] “In the afternoon, this being October 19, the Red Cross opened a large downtown room for the reception of clothing intended for the fire sufferers. Mrs. R. McD. Campau, an active and enthusiastic member of the Red Cross, took charge of the supply depot and plenty of volunteers joined her staff. The afternoon papers announced the arrangement conspicuously and before night supplies began coming in. In a week so much clothing had been received that the supply room was closed and the public requested to send no more. “In the fire district three relief stations were opened at Metz, Posen and Alpena. The Alpena relief committee, which was extremely active and efficient, had charge of the relief station in that city. A committee of women managed the clothing distribution, while the men’s committee handled other supplies, including hay for live stock. At Posen the railroad company gave the use of its freight house for relief headquarters. At Metz the railroad company placed freight cars upon a siding for relief supplies. The company also gave the services of a number of its capable officers for the work of relief. For example: President Hawks, of the railroad company, not only gave substantially all of his own time, but detailed the General Superintendent of the road, the Chief Engineer, the District Passenger and Freight Agent, and other men of proved ability. The railroad company also facilitated in every possible way the shipment of supplies of all kinds and put into service a daily relief train which transferred supplies as required from one relief station to another, carried the relief workers back and forth, etc.