Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-10-07
THE FIRES IN WISCONSIN,.

The following particulars are given by
telegraph of the great fires raging in the
numbering regions of Wisconsin:
"MnwAUcEE, Wis, Oct. 4. The fires in
the woods above Green Bay have extended
across Fox river, and cover strip thirty
miles wide in Showanaw and Oconto counties.
The large numbering towns of Mariatette and
Peshlegs are threatened with destruction.
square miles of territory.
About a hundred families are burned out,
and the refugees are in Green Bay and other
towns. At least a hundred other families are
in danger of being burned out. Farm build
ings, bridges, fences and absolutely every
thing are swept away.
Thousands of square miles of valuable pine
forests are destroyed. Bears and other wild
beasts have been driven from the woods, and
are flying in every direction.
The entire population is fighting the fires
without success. Many people were prostrat-
ed, suffocated by the heat and smoke, and
had to be carried by their comrades to places
of safety.
The supplies of food &C., for man and beast
have been destroyed, and starvation during
the coming winter stares them in the face.
GREEN BAY, Wis, Oct. 4. The fires that
prevail In six or seven of the northwestern
counties of Wisconsin have never had a
parallel since the settlement of the country.
The drouth which prevailed early in Au-
gust dried up the springs, streams and vege-
tation, and parched the ground to such a
depth below the surface that the soil itself
burns, and living trees are falling from the
action of the fires which undermine them.
All outstanding property is swept away,
there being no water available to stop the fires.
wood and other property, with hundreds of
miles of fences, are burned, as no resistance
can be offered to the approaching fires.
There is no authentic account of the loss
of life, although family in Rehwanee coun
ty and some Indians in Shawanow county are
reported burned. The hardest fights against
the flames are made at quantity of saw mills
located among the pine forests of this region,
but many of them have been burned. All
the forces available from adjacent places have
gone to the assistance of the threatened mills
and settlements.
In some cases the resistance against the
fire met with success. The work has been so
long and harrassing and the men so exhausted
that in many places the contest was abandon
ed. In places where no water is available,
trenches are dug around property; but the
slightest wind carries the burning bark
| through the air and renders such efforts use
less.
| The Advocate estimates an area of 15C
square miles being burned over. Three saw
mills are positively known to have been burn
| ed, and others are reported destroyed; but
| the reports lack confirmation.
In Kehwanee county sixty or eighty dwell
| ings and barns were burned, the inhabitants
| fleeing to the lake shore for safety.
| At Hornes Pier a store, six dwellings, shops
barns and other buildings were consumed. 1t
!, is said that the inhabitants saved themselves
by retreating to the pier and taking up the
planks communicating with the shore.
Two Rivers, Two Creeks, Kewanee ant
other villages are damaged. In Dorr county
great quantities of cord wood, railroad ties
telegraph poles and other property got GU
| for shipment have been burned.
/ On the west side of Green Bay and Fo,
River the flames extend FROM Memonee t,
Oshkosh, distance of one hundred and TWEEN
ty miles, and are thirty miles in breadth. Thi
region is one of alternate pine and hard Woo
timber, and thickly settled. The haystack
fences and bridges are mostly gone. In SOM
cases large lots Of logs in the dried up stream
were burned. Very little travel is practc
able.