Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1871-11-11
THE WISCONSIN FIRES.
Terrible Loss Of I.ife-Belief TINT Mt Lenst
One Thousand Persons Have Perished-
Proclamation by Gov. Fairchild.
From the Milwaukee Sentinel. Oct.

FROM Ine NllIWhuhee Sentnel, pCt H.
GREEN BAY, Oct. l2.-The news from
Peshtigo and vicinity is of most heart
rending character. Three hundred and
twenty-five dead bodies have been found
and buried up to last night, and more
are supposed to have been lost. On the
east shore the news is also dreadful
Nearly one hundred dead bodies have
been found and buried, and doubtless
more are burned in that fearful contia-
grafton. Many that have been dread
fully burned have been brought here,
and more are constantly arriving. AS
sistance is coming to their relief, and
| food and clothing are being sent to the
sufferers as rapidly as possible.
To Mayor Ludington:
GREEN BAY, Oct. l3.-The northern steamer
is just in. DR.. Nichols, of your city, and
other passengers bring the horrible news
that four hundred and seventy dead bodies
| have been found at Peshtigo and vicinity,
and it is thought that the loss of life will
reach seven hundred This is exclusive of
| the east shore, where the loss of life is fear
| full Robinson Il BRo.
FIRES DOOR COUNTY.
| The fire is raging with unabated fury in
Door county. The brother of Deputy Sheriff
| Fagg, of this city, a resident of Forestville,
writes that he has fought the fire for three
weeks. During the time there was not an
| hour of perfect security. Showers of burn
irg leaves and cinders would fall when least
| expected, and it required the utmost vigi
| lance to save his residence and barn. The
| fire went around him on every side, and his
barn, containing the harvest of months of
labor, took fire three times, but in each case
he was successful in saving it. All his cord
wood and timber is destroyed, the fire sweep
1, ,;,,cv ,nrth nfr rtr,,p
numbers had passed his place to seek a
refuge beyond the course of the destroyer,
many having broken up their households,
| the members starting in different directions
for succor and aid.
In Forestville thirty residents have lost
everything on their premises, the flames
leaving their fields charred and barren. At
Claybanks the circumstances are about the
same.
About three or four miles from Forcstvile
great fire RACES, desolating everything in
its course. Many families are reported
homeless, and all the live stock burned. In
many instances families saved themselves
by letting themselves down into wells. Mr..
Fagg also writes that his brother-in-law ar
rived while be was penning the letter, and
reported that twenty-five bodies had been
hemmed in and burned short distance
above Forestville, and another group of six
at another place.
The letter contains but a faint idea of the
devastation and suffering at and beyond
Forestvile.
THE HORRORS INCREASING.
MARINETTE, Wis, Uia Green Bay, Oct l3.-
There have been $50 wounded brought here
from Peshtigo, and there are scores who are
lying in the bushes within twelve or four
teen miles who are alive, but cannot be
reached to-day. Whole families, having let
themselves down into wells, were burned to
death even there, and were covered up
where they laid. No reports have been
overdrawn. The loss of life is fearful.
AN APPEAL THAT SHOULD BE HEEDED.
To the People of Wisconsin:
GREEN BAY, Oct. l3.-The accounts of the
appalling calamity which has fallen upon
the east and west shores of Green Bay have
not been exaggerated. The burned district
comprises the counties of Oconto, Brown,
Door and Kewaunee, and parts of Manitowoc
and Outagamic. The great loss of life and
property has resulted from the whirlwind
of fire which swept over the country, max
ing the roads and avenues of escape i'm
passible with fallen timber and burned
bridges. The previous long drouth had pre-
pared everything for the flames. The loss
of life has been very great. The first esti
mates were entirely inadequate, and even
now it is feared that it is much greater than
present accounts place. 1t is known that at
least 1000 persons have been either
burned, drowned or smothered. OF these
deaths, six hundred or more were at Pesh
tigo and adjacent places, and the others in
Door, Kewaunee, and Brown counties. Men
are now penetrating that almost inaccessible
region for the purpose of atfording reliet,
and fear that their reports will increase
this estimate. From the most reliable
sources OF information l can learn that no
less than 5000 men, women, and children
have been rendered entirely destitute.
Mothers are left with fatherless children,
fathers with motherless children, children
are left homeless orphans. Distress and in
tense suffering are on every hand, where
but few days ago We're comfort and happi- |
ness. Scores of men, women and little
children now lie helpless. They are burned
and manned in temporary hospitals, cared
for by more fortunate neighbors. These
suffering people must be supplied with food,
bedding, clothing, feed for their cattle, and
the means of providing shelter during the
winter. The response by the good people
of Wisconsin has already been prompt and
generous. It's meeting the immediate need,
and is being faithfully and energetically
distributed through the relief organization
of Green Bay, but provision must be made
for months in the future. There are wanted
flour, salt and cured meats, not cooked,
blankets, bedding, stoves, baled hay, build
ing materials, lights, farming implements
and tools, boots, shoes, and clothing for men,
women, and children, log chains, axes with
handles, nails glass, and house trimmings,
and, indeed, everything needed by farm
ing community that has lost everything.
To expediate the transfers at Green Bay
all boxes should have cards attached to
them, stating their contents, and all sup
plies should be sent to the relief committee
at Green Bay. Money contributed should be
converted into supplies, but should be for
warded to the committee. Depots have been
established at Green Bay, under the man
agement of committee of pubic-spirited
and energetic men who have the confidence
of all, for the receiving and despatchng of
supplies. They have organized system of
sub depots contiguous to the burned regions,
and steamboats, and wagons are being sent
out with supplies. Let us uphold their
hands in the good work, and see that their
depots be kept full to overlooking. 1t is
fortunate that we live in a wealthy and pros
porous State, blessed with prosperity in
business and overtiowing harvests, and that
thus we are, by wise Providence, endowed
with a means to help our less fortunate
neighbors.
am urged by public spirited citizens of
the State to call an immediate extra session
of the Legislature to provide for this calam-
ity. | have given serious attention to this
suggestion, and have concluded not to do so,
for the reason that the expense of such
session would be likely to equal the amount
which the State would be asked to contribute.
Believing, therefore, that the people and
the Legislature will endorse my action in
this emergency, have, in conjunction with
the State Treasurer, decided to advance such
moderate sum of money as seems to be ap-
propriate in addition to that contributed.