Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-10-24
NUMBER 5.
The Forest Fires-Great Loss of Life and
Property.

The fires that are raging In the forests Of
Wisconsin, Michigan and other Western States
continue to increase in violence. They were,
or time, overshadowed by the Chicago CON-
nagratlon, which was concentrated at a single
point 10 direct communication with all of our
cltles The rural fires are diffused over vast
surface removed from the lines of communica-
tion and inaccessible to immediate relief But
as intelligence of the desolation spreads. pub.
lie attention and sympathy are being aroused.
Whole towns have been consumed, leaving Lit.
orally nothing but ashes to mark the snot
where they once stood whole counties have
oeen swept bare Of houses, fences and woods:
hundreds and perhaps thousands of human
lives have been lost; the flames have in ona
long district left blackened trail seyentv.fva
miles vide, sparing in their dreadful blast
neither man nor beast nor dwelling, and the
people who had staked everything to find a
western home stand to-day on the threshold
OF Winter without food or clothing or money.
Inc tragic fate which has befallen the town
OF Plshtego is truly distressing to contemplate.
Out of population of 2 600, one-third have
absolutely perished while of those who 90.
capped, many have been seriously injured, and
all have lost everything they had in the world
L ne loss OF life by these forest fires has greatly
exceeded the loss of life at Chicago, while the
sutierings caused by them are much greater in
consequence of the victims being so far beyond
the reach of relief Neighbors cannot assist
one another for all are the victims of COM
mon suffering. Many must perish from star,
Vatlon before their wants can be supplied from
distance
A letter from Green Bay, on the 4th inst.
gives the following graphic account of the fire:
The lres IN the woods that have been raging
TO the east aud on the shore of Lake Mioh1gan
are stlil burning. with no prospect of abate-
ment, ana Dew fires have broken our to the
west OF the Bay. The loss is beyond comnn.
tation. 'o"Pu-
Fully 200 families. burned out of house and
hcme' nave now come to this place, destitute
vi everything, aud at least a hundred more
,dln''ies "a are 10 an equally tad CONDITION.
Houses, harms, farm buildings. fences hr;doas
on the roads-absoutely everything has been
swept away The smoke is so dense and suffn-
eating that no attempt can be made TO cross
cne country aud ascertain the extent OF the
nIe; out lt RACES in Manitowoc Kewannee
Door ana brown counties on the ea>t. and in
ohawano and Oconto counties at he was, and
norm. La the latter, the settlements are scar.
cef ana less loss to families has occurred. But
he ground Is so dry that the fire ears into the
vegetable mold foot and half deep. aud
"ufns tne roots of trees. so that they fail and
lie In all directions for miles 10 extent like tim.
Der sia>hlngs," Miles and miles of the most
valuable pine lands are rendered worthless
Inc Wllu beasts are driven Ia distress from the
WOODS. Bears approach human habitations.
aud deer aud wolves fee across tie fields in ev.
cry direction, seeking distant forests where the
nre-nend does not wave his banner of Ham..-
The plank road to the eastward is burned nm
TO the very city limits. The smoke is SO thick
10 the streets that man cannot be seem five
RODS away The poor settlers fight the Gre as
it approaches their homes, retreating foot bv
loot, as 1t creeps towards them, gather round
tne'r Darn and work to save it as long as possi-
Die TIL 1t goes; then they protect their houses
tlll blinded and suffocated by the heat and the
smoke, they are forced to retreat and see their
all perish before their eyes, Many cases are
related of men falling from exhaustion and be.
Ing carried away to save them from the flames