The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-10-21
THE PRAIRIE FIRES.
Michigan and wisconsin AblaZe-The
Ibesfruciion Of PeShIiSO-TWeive
Hundred Persons Roasted
AIive-Terrible Scenes.


Hundred Persons Roasted
AIIve-TerribIe Scenes.
CHICAGO, October. l5.-Peshtigo, Wis,
dates to the 18th record the utter destruction
of the town. Four hundred dead bodies
have been recovered, and it is thought that
500 more are in the river, where the Intense
heat caused death by inhalation while the
rest of the body was under water. The ve-
locity of the FIRE was so great that all escape
was impossible. A large number of dead
were brought to Oconto for burial, as no
materials for coffins could be procured.
The loss of life on the east shore, in Dover
and Kenwanee counties, is appalling. All
communication is severed, and. the terrible
news comes slowly. At Pensaukee twenty
Eve dwellings, were burned and several lives
lost. The destruction Of hay. farm houses
and fences in the vicinity is complete.
In Brussels, Dover county, two hundred
houses, comprising the Belgian settlement,
were destroyed, and large number of per-
sons are missing. The people, in utter des-
titutiun, are struck dumb with their losses
and powerless. Houses, barns, farming inn
/ plements and cattle al! destroyed roads
are lied with the careasses of animals-bor-
ses, cattle and sheep-dying from smoke and
I heat, while hunger and starvaling must be
endured by the wretched people.
! Menkauns has been destroyed, aad al! its
I inha abitants are destitute, houseless and home
} less No particulars have been received.
! 1t is reported the whole west coast is on
! fire from Green Bay to Menomnee. Depere.
! Wrighstown and Ft Howard are threatened.
| No rain fell for two months until to-day,
when copious showers were hailed with jny.
Great numbers of wounded have been
brought to Green Bay. The scenes were
Men and woman UeUe narti2llV
roasted, alive. their eyes burned out and their
ears burned off.
Advices from Fon du Lac say that reports
from the northern districts grow hourly
worse The accounts of suffering are un-
parallel Clothes, food and money are great
ly needed.
Great fires are also reported in Calumet
county. Dwellings, barns, hay. grain and
stock have been destroyed Not single
town in the county has escaped All crops
have been destroyed. Particulars have not
been received.
The settlement of Williamson's Mills. al
Sturgeon Bay, has been burned, and sixty
lives lost.
Late advices say that the towns of Mari
eta and Marnetti were partially saved The
heavy rain which is falling has nearly extin
guished the fires in Calumet aud Sheboygar
counties.
News from Michigan is very meagre. but
most terrible No details have come to hand
but the total destruction of large number
of towns is reported, including Holland
SAugatuck, Manistee and others.
TWELVE HUNDRED DEAD AT PESHTIGo-
MANY MORE AT GREEN BAY.
MILWAUKEE. October l5.-Later accounts
from northern Wisconsin confirm all previ-
Gus reports and rumors. The loss Of life il
the neigh borhood of Peshitigo will react
over twelve hundred. Fifteen per cent. o.
thOse injured cannot recover.
member of the relief committee, sem
from Milwaukee with supplies. says the only
survivors we're those who were fortunate
enough to reach the water, many throwing
themselves into mill ponds, clinging to float
ing logs A number of these were drowned
by being thrown from the logs by maddeneC
horses and cattle that rushed into the water
The fire swept over a tract of country eigh
or ten miles wide. Every building, fence
and all the timber were completely destroy
ed. Tie population of Peshtigo Numbered
1000. one third of whom perished that fear
ful night.
Reports from the east shore of Green Bay
place this loss of life fully as high as st Pesh
tgo. The same account states that the i'm
mediate wants of the people are supplied
but large amounts Of provisions and cloth
ing viii 5e required for the coming winter
The mayer of Milwaukee has issued an ap
peal to the cuuntry for aid.
CmCAGs. Oct. I7.-ht last accounts th'
fires were still raging III the forests of Wiz
consin and Michigan. causing terrible dam
age. 1t is believed over 1000 people ssy
persisted.