New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-10-26


the lonely timber lends and pneries, great numbers Of
deer bears and other animals broke " the settlements
and were easily EhOt and captured In the high
roads. These creatures, moving 80 restlessly
from accustomed haunts, gave warning Of some
disturbance, and superstiuOus dread fell upon
the country side. For 0 time vidous Of the ancient
huntnggrounds came back to tho old settler and the
ominous tokens vero forgotten. Hardly had the ami
mails crossed the verge OF civilization, however, when
the great line Of fame penetrated after them. Then
began stern battle with fire. Systematic measures
werc adopted. The fire fought with fire. Every
homestead, mmlet and village adopted some method Of
precaution but none thought Of method Of preserve
ton. Brush WIS burned away, and burned toward tho
enemy bitches were cut about houses and towns cserns
dug to supply water and these offered refuge In case Of
the last but most unexpected emergency.
For weeks the air had been darkened by the clouds 10
the northumberland day coming At night the
northern heavens shon with the splendor Of tho ad
yancing re the powdered dust Of weeks hoated visby
In the air obscurng the sunlight In the counties near
Green Bay, the crawling flames stole on nsdousy abb
solutely burrowing in the roots, and harding wide
gashes OF black through the plains Of rank lanceike
prairie grasses. For weeks the battle with fire had been
waged, and the danger kept away. Dying out In the
day and flaming up at night the flames caused great
trouble but no real alarm As the days on into
early October. and the rain stin held Of.
the first serious apprehensions come TO the
towns and settlements. BY day the sky was
heavy with dense clouds Of ascending smoke and at
night the horizon burnt with forest fires. A vague
shadow Of the coming danger lowered In mems minds,
and extraordinary precautions taken wherever and
whenever possible. Not only in the north and west but
up to the very border Of Green Bay, the fires ragged
Here the citizens fought with the danger srenuousy
the distant frontier and kept the in the woods
encircng the borders of the city, Woods in the very
outskirts aame, and the harbor and bay OBJ
Iii nka lrnn Inn linz
igation.
The drouth had extended the entire northern part
Of the State and smoldernR fires could be almost
all Wisconsin Up to Sunday, Oct g. very grew
GUS damage had been reported Farms had been badly
ravaGed In some Districts but lives had been lost or
other apparently rreparabe injury been inflicted But
on the fatal Sunday fearful storm OF eddying wind
swept the shores Of the bay aud made Of hundred
thrifty settlements and towns wilderness Of waste and
rum. Even before the first imperfect reports in,
grave fears felt for the fate Of the timber country
Interpenctrated every hand by fire, such wind
could not butt deal death and destruction to
the unprotected places The distance to the
chain Of fine towns aud prosperous hamlets along
the bay are not great, but communication is imperfect
day two passed before the first fearful reports OF the
result to Green Bay These meager frat reports
although falling immeasurabv below the actual destruc
on thrilled the city and the State 1t was at once clear
hut it was not shown that the country also
TALLY depOpulaed Terrified refugees, worn and ex-
hausted by the long battle told of whole families perish
ing in their dooryards cattle filling the WOODS In
heaps and the prosperous homes OF thousands inc WIG
and dreariest OF waste places Still there was no
ing like panic in the untouched towns; but later the
facts came in and the entire State new TO the rescue
In the cheerful brisk business towns built up entirely
by peImNlelt industries, scarcely vestge OF pros
pbrty remained dozen had been reduced TO ashes,
and three entirely depopulated, The lesrely steam
line that traverses the Green Bay for local trade came
each day laden with the SCARED remnants OF the nearer
towns In OcOuts Shaun Door, and kewauDee Counties
Scores OF helpless crppes poured into Green Bay aud
were kindly cared for The full proportions OF the accn-
muating disaster now fully KNOWN ana the story
OF Pcshego ManaRaunee, Marenette aroused the COM
munlty 10 the needs Of the situation. The city was
turned into hospital and supply depot Relief dele;
cations poured In from all parts OF the state, and
in a few days the sufferers we're abundantly sup
piled with the accessories Of life, and exploring eIpe-
ditons under way relieve the helpless ones nnRer-
ing In the smoking woods. The wounded are more
pitiabe than the rellcts OF battle. The nut
blast striking vigorous men, seems to have whipped the
Skin completely off all exposed parts and for the tmei
deprived them wholly OF the faculty OF sight The heat
wis SO intense that full breath instant DEATH
Even the distant breath Of the whirwnd scarihed and
the victims present pald parchment visages that seem
TO deny the possibility Of drop Of blood The mere
crOuclng on the ground brought severe penalties.
Children wander about with bandaRed hands, almost
roasted by mere contact with the burning soil
The Belief Committee have sent many wounded INTO
the towns and TO relatives at distance, but great
number still remain In this and the neRhbornR places,
as we'll as In the vicinity Of the disaster.