Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-10-25
The Great Fires in the Northwest.

1t may be well to give our readers a
condensed report of the ravages by
fire in Michigan and Wisconsin during
the past two weeks. We begin with
Wisconsin. The loss of life in the
village Of Peshtigo, Northern Wis
cousin, with population Of only two
thousand, totally destroyed, is tlcctUe
hundred, while fifteen per cent of
those injured cannot survive. We
quote from the Detroit Tribune:
The fire tornado was heard at a dis
tance like the roaring of the sea
Balls Of fire were soon observed to fall
i like meteOrs in differen parts of the
town, ,igniting Whatever they touched.
| The people rushed with their children
in their arms for place of safety, but
the storm of fire was upon them, and
envelOped them in flame, smoke, bur-
I ming sand and einders, and those una
ble to reach the river were suffoeated
and roasted alive. This terrible scene
happened on Sunday night, the Sth
OfOctOber, already made famous by
the Chicago horror. The only survi-
vOrs were those who were fortunate
enough to reach the water, many
throwing themselves into mill ponds
and clinging to the floating logs. A
number of these were drowned, by
being thrown from the logs by mad
dened horses and cattle that rushed
/ into the water.
The fiery cyclone swept over a tract
of country eight or ten miles wide
Every building, fence, and all the
timber were licked up clean by the
tongue Of fire.
Read it over slowly, that the mind
may fully take in and comprehend, IL
possible, the fearful calamity which
is set forth with such terrible calm
ness.
Reports from the casts shore Of Green
Bay places the loss of life fully as
great as to Peshtigo. The same ae-
count states that the immediate wants
of the people are supplied, but large
amounts of provisions and clothing
will be required for the coming win
ter.
From the country round about Port
Huron, Michigan, the people have
been burned out, and are now over
crOwding that city.
On the same Sunday night on which
Chicago was burned, a strong wind
commenced blowing over Huron
county, passing at different hours in
somewhat different directions, but al
ways tending out towards the lake at
the east. By ten O'Clock in the even
ing it was blowing very hard and by
midnight it was a gale, rOusing the
! lslumbering fires in the forest into
tremendous fury and bringing des-
truetion upon the farms and the lake
settlements.
The warming of imminent danger
was first brought to the shore by men,
women and children fleeing from the
interior toward the lake and the fire
shortly afterwards burst on some of
the settlements themselves. On that
night the town of Sand Beach was
totally burned, except Darlington,
Peck * Co.'S boarding house and store,
and the Rice shingle mill, lying un-
der hill near the water. The inhabi-
tants were driven out and many sought
refuge in the lake, throwing the water
over themselves to protect their bod
les and face from the intense heat oc-
easioned by the burning of the great
number of buildings near the shore.
This town is almost totally ruined,
its milling interest destroyed, and its
population scattered far and wide.
On the same night also White Rock
was entirely destroyed, village Of
some 800 inhabitants. At least one
person was burned to death here, the
body of woman apvaneed in life be-
ing afteTward found in one OF the
streets with the head and limbs most
ly destroyed On the same night
FOrestville was entirely burned.
On Monday night the fires attacked
other settlements on the shore. HUI
ron City, place Of quite population
and a good business point, was COM
pletely destroyed with the exception
of four buildings. New River was
about One-half burned. Port Hope,
Stafford & Haywood's mill and its
surroundings were burned, aud two
tanneries, together with eight dwell
lings about them, were also complete
ly consumed. Forest Bay was ruined
entirely. Center Harbor suffered the
same fate, as did also Elm Creek.
Tire. a little settlement awav from
the lake, has been utterly destroyed.
VerOne Mills is burned, as is also q
hamlet, where a gentleman named
Frank BuskwOski resided and did
business.
1t will be seen from the above that
the ruin and devastation in that re-
gion was almost universal. When we
reflect that these people are far away
from the thickly settled country, we
may begin to realize the extent Of the
catastrophe. We quote further:
The approach of the fires from the
woods, both on Sunday and Monday
nights, was very sudden, and left no
time for preparation on the part of the
inhabitants, who saved absolutely
nothing. The flames were first seen
rushing from the forests toward the
farms and little hamlets in the interi-
or, and men were driven almost in
simultaneously from their homes, and,
with their families, often half dressed
sought safety in flight, hurrying, as q
rule, towards the lake. There is no
doubt that many of these thus seeking
to escape were Overtaken by the fires
and peTished miseTably. Many skele-
tons have already been found in the
interior, and also the charred remains
of men, women and children. 1t is
thought by persons from the country
that from forty to fifty human beings
were Overtaken and burned on Sun
day and Monday nights.
The newly prepared farms, with
their buildings, have been generally
destroyed, together with the clothing,
furniture and provisions of the fami-
lies, leaving in the interior scene of
utter ruin in all save a few fortunate
localities. The little capital which
these people had accumulated during
several years of patient toll, has been
annihilGted in a night, and they must
abandon their places, OI receive such
assistance as shall enable them to re-
sumo operations again, with the
means Of living, until something can
be raised from the land.
Along the lake shore, and in ths
mill towns which have been visited
by the fire, the loss of human life has
been much less, though some persons
have doubtless perished in their inn