Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-06-18
From the Ottowa (U. P.) Citizen.
The Great Fire ian Upper Cana da--
Twelve Townships Burnt Over--
Two Islands entirely swept.

Twelve HOWnSn1ps Burnt OVerss
Two Islands entirely swept.
The Upper Ottawa country has been visi
ted with terrible calamity. Hundreds Of
families are houseless and almost without food
and large extent of country presents black.
ened picture Of desolation. On the 9th inst,
coniagration swept the country from the
Deep river to within a short distance of the
Bonnechere River, destroying houses, fences,
earns, cattle, provisions, grain, and every de-
scrption that came in its way 1t is mirac-
ulous that the lives Of the inhabitants were
saved, only two persons, it appears, have per-
ished
The fire originated from the burning OF
new land in different parts of the country, and
owing to the warm sunshine and high wind
on Monday, it suddenly increased and spread
with fearful rapidity. During the early part
Of the day the wind blew from the southwest,
and carried fire from the rear of the town.
ships in Upper Canada northward toward the
settlements on the Ottowa river. At the
same time it was making alarming progress in
Sheen and Chichester, on the north or Low
er Canada shore, and on the upper or wes-
terly part of Allumette Island. Soon after
one O'Clock the wind suddenly came round to
the west and blew with increased Violence
The FIRE, which till then was scattered and
spread over a considerable extent of country,
through the townships of Pembroke Stafford,
and Westmeath, which lie in order as named
soon united and became dense mass OF
fame, and swept with fearful fury through the
interior, passing over portions of Ross, Brom
ley, and Horton, towards the Bonnechere riy.
er. During the grester part Of the Afternoon
the scene was truly terrific. On the Allu
mette Island the destruction going on, at the
same time, was equally dreadful The islant
is fourteen miles long. and was swept from
head to foot Only two or three dwelling
remain out OF about one hundred, thus leay
ing ninety seven families here alone houseless
The Calumet Island also suffered severely.
The country burnt over extends in Uppe
Canada, from the upper part Of Pembrok
and Stafford to near the Bonnechere river, il
Horton and Adamston, the distance in tha
direction being nearly thirty miles, and iron
the best information it appears that it woul
average some twelve miles in width. Th,
> townships which suffer here are Pembroke
Stafford, Westmeath Bromley, Ross and Hor
ton, and about two hundred families are i
them left houseless in fact, totally "burne
out"
The Allumette is about fourteen by 6v
i miles in extent, with ninety seven families in
l. similar condition. The country on the mort
e shore being settled only short distance bac
" from the river, contains proportionally fewt
l. settlers ; and there the number of sufferer
e may be put at about thirty families. Th
= would make altogether something near thre
'e hundred and thirty families sufferers by th
r calamity. In some instances the individu
losses exceeds 1000 pounds. The area
m country burned over is about four hundrt
RS and fifty square miles, total.
" To provide seed for the ground and food t
y four months to come. will require, Mt the 10,
Y est computation, seven thousand pounds
Less than that sum will not do it. One four
of this amount may perhaps be raised in IL
y part Of Canada, but where Is The remainder
a over four thousand pounds-to come from
se We look 20 the Legislature for this assistanc
y For every good reason it should be grant
as forthwith. The necessity OF the case--t
'e Importance of the demand--the awful natu
of the calamity y--and withal the immense o
g nual revenue derived form this section
70 Canada, should be grounds sufficient to wi
SC rant the appropriation required. Let t
DC Legislature speedily appropriate FIVE thousa
pounds at least to meet the immediate a
." absolute necessities.