New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-10-20
MARCH or THE FIRE FIEND.
Destruction Of Wisconsin ToWns-Fearful
Loss Of Life.

Deseructien Of Wisconsin Tewns-Fearfu
Loss Of Life.
A letter from MenOsha, Wisconsin, to the
Cleveland Herald, describes the fearful
scenes at Peshtigo, Wisconsin:
have just returned from what was once
Peshtigo, whittier l went yesterday, that
might I've able to give to the readers Of the
Herald correct account Of the destruction
Of that place. The village was situated on
Peshtigo river, seven miles from Green Bay
1t was nice little town of about two thou.
| sand inhabitants, quite regularly laid out,
had fine hotels, stores, churches, schools,
etc, besides the large factory owned by the
Peshtigo Manufacturing Company, a sash,
door and blind factory and foundry, also
owned by the same company, who owned
nearly every building in the town. The
factory was devoted to the manufacture of
pals, tubs, broom handles, ETC., and gave
employment to about seven hundred hands
in the different branches.
The town is nearly surrounded by fine
forests, the suburban portions being built
'.among the pines" The inhabitants have
for the past ten days been fighting FIRE in
the woods, trying to save the town, and had
settled down into feeling of comparative
security, since the woods on all sides lad
been more or less burned over.
On Sunday night they were awakened
from this feeling of security by noise like
distant thunder, which increased in volume
until the crash Of falling trees and the roar
Of the wind and fire could be plainly heard.
Soon after tornado burst upon the town,
unrOOfng a number Of buildings and quickly
followed by solid sheet Of flame, extend
ing the whole, length Of the village and far
beyond each way. In an instant the whole
exposed side OF the place was in flames.
Men wn,pan urd ch;(1ran rusball ;r+o ~.
street, and, surrounded by Q fire on all
sides, were soon either smOthered or burned
to death. In the less exposed portions the
people fed to the river, and, jumping in,
many were drowned. Some saved their
lives by keeping their bodies under water
and once in . while putting their heads
under as the heat became insutferable
Others took refuge in wells and cisterns
and were saved. Quite large portion of
of the fire, and by lying on the ground
were saved, although some of them were
badly burned. There is but one house lett
standing. and this is isolated and lately
built Of green lumber.
AS near as can at present be ascertained
two hundred and fifty lives have been lost,
mostly women and children. Although a
good many men have perished, there are
seventy-five who are badly burned, many
of whom will die. and nearly all are more
or less burned. The destruction has been
so complete that the streets can not be
traced. all being covered with sand which
was swept in great clouds by the tornado.
In some instances bodies have been found
completely covered by sand.
could ill columns with the heart-rend-
ing incidents Of this conhagratiOn, but will
only give few as illustrations Of the rest
In one instance man took his family and
fed to the bridge spanning the river. The
bridge was soon on TIRE, and the poor un.
fortunate family were nearly roasted alive,
and then jumped into the river and were
drowned. A woman, on seeing the fire ap-
preaching, put her little girl, a child Of six
years. in a we'll which was nearly dry, and
ran to the river herself for security. The
woman was saved. and. as soon as she
could. found ont the locality. and her JOY
was SO great at finding the little one alive
and well that she swOoned, aud on recover
ing clasped her child in her arms and ran
of crying for JOY.
Too few, alas, were SO fortunate. In many |
cases whole families have persisted. In other |
cases men have lost tkeir families, they be- |
ng, at the time Of the fire, working to save |
The factories. In other instances. men per-
shed in their endeavor to save their fami-
les. In one case, to which NV attention
vas called, little boy Of seven years is the
,nly surviving member Of numerous
amily.
As soon as the fire had sufficiently SUBJ
ided, all that were able went to the relief
# the sufferers. Blackened, charred corpses
we're lying in every direction, with their
clothing, as general thing, nearly or quite
burned of. Many dead bodies were found
u the river. and many more have since
,een recovered. A number have died from
heir bruises, while others are crippled or
earfully disfgured.
The most imaginative mind can not begin
o realize this fearful calamity, much less
ny poor pen to describe it. The shrieks
md groans of the dying and of those who
lad lost near and dear friends; the ghastly
spect Of the blackened corpses; the shock
ng appearance OF MANY who, badly
'urned and almost destitute OF clothing,
we're running they knew not where; others
n the last agOnies OF death. made picture
90 horrid for contemplation. The suffer
rs have all been taken to Green Bay and
ther towns. where they will be kindly
ared tor, as hospitality is one of the marked
rats Of the West.
The loss to the Peshtigo Company, which
wned the factories and most of the town,
esides large pine lands. is estimated at
hree million dollars, besides the loss Of
heir extensive warehouses in Chicago.
Mennekannee. town of seven or eight
undred inhabitants, is all destroyed but
hree houses. Fortunately, no lives were
,st here.
Marinette is also nearly all destroyed.
Business in this section is partially sus-
ended. All the sawmills and factories at
shkosh. FOn du Lac and other neighbor-