The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1871-11-03
Phenomena and Incidents Of the
Northern Fire.


Phenomena and Incidents Of Il
Northern Fire.
lei lFfom iheGreen Ray Aivo a;..l
PHENOMENA OF THE FIRE.
''c There are some phases Of the great g.
&C 'ainity which fell upon this region IN
81, week worthy Of scientific investigated
The testimony OF the cooler headed su,
OF vivors Of the fires at l'cshtiyo, the Suv,
re bush and Williamsonvillc. arc united f,
AL To one phenomena. They say that III
lire dill not come upon them gradual
nr from burning trees aud other objects I
~ the windward, but the first notice the
H. had Of II was a whirlwind Oi fame. Il
y great clouds, from above the tons of IN
)" trees, which fell upon and emvclope,
2 everything. The atmosphere SCENE,
" one of fire. Tile people imhslcd II. o
the intensely hot air, and fell down dead
This is verified by the appearance q
many OF the cOrpses. They were founf
;, dead IN the roads. and open spaces
where there were no visible marks O,
fire near by, with not a trace of burninu
upon their bodies or clothing. Al TIC
Sugar Eush, Which is an extended clear.
; my. in sonc places four miles In width.
! corpses were found in the open road.
G between fences which were only slight
" burned. No mark Of fire was mon
!, them, but they laid there as il asleep.
phenomena seems to cxplain the
! tact that so many were killed in com.
pact masses. They seemed To have h,d-
died together in what were evidently
regarded at the moment MS the safest
places. away from buildings, trees. or.
other infammablc material. and there 10
have died together. Fences around
cleared fields were burned in spots Of
only a few rods in length, and elsewhere
not touched. Fish were killed in the
streams. as at Pcshtigo.
We hear the universal testimony that
the prevailing idea among the terror
stricken people Of those places was Tint
the last day had rome. They needed
not to be terror-strickcn for snch
imaginings. What other explanation
could he given to that imminent time.
wtei' there was M OminOus warning
anu sound coming from the distance:
when the sky, so dark just before. burst
INTO great clouds Of fire. the beasts of
Tue forest came running Tor sucrur into !.
the midst oftl'c settlements. and a great
rec. consuming. roaring hell nf fire fell
upon all around. The dreadful scene
lacked nothing but the sounding of the
last trump = and indeed the approach of,
the awful roaring, and the prenomitious
rom the distance. supplied even that 10
The appalled, imaginings Of the people. ,
lhe Fpsy theory, we think it is. that I
continued aud wide spread fires will
bring on rain, seems to he entirely OK. I
PIodcd in this instance. These fires had 4
lasted nearly or quite four weeks. ray. {
aging forests over u great area, and still ]
a drop OF rain. The rim only came
with a change Of wind Ia The moihward. 1
several days after the worst burn. 5
Ings were over with. G
WHAT A SURVIVOR SAYS. =
10 a person no in the fire it seems Y
meredith that so many should have u
'cristcd IN the flames. To nc. and | y
la most OF those Who were in !
he IRE. II seems il miracle that so many q
scrc saved. IL gu suppose the worst e
now Storm vOu ever witnessed. auI -
ach snow flake a coal or spark of tirs y
'riven before a fierce wind, and you .
some idea OF the state OF the atmios.
mere ut the time the fire struck the -
own. We all know how little presence
! mlnd many people have in times Of u
rcat excitement. aud but few persons >
now just what to do when death. I'm Il
= n0s appalling form, starcs them I'm u
nc face. OF one thing, however. We 81
'ay be sure all, under sucl, circu,n. IL
'anccs, Go the best they arc capable of 81
DING. There were deeds Of Ieroism I'll
nj dreadful night in PcshfigO. that are CT
'orthy u place by Tie side Of the bright ~
Il and m"b!cst facts Of history. MANY 80
'st their lives IN attempting to- save the IN
ic Of others. Many have been founl nc
aspimg some darling object Of affection M
their arms. as ia the act of shielding an
ZEN from the fire. Mothers were jo
r~eid:uli. burned. but "a wed their CHI. IN
ZEN. Husbands and fathers were burm. 10
!, but saved their families. One was W;
fca'itull!y burned in attempting TO save ~
Is wife and two children: but they
ere burned. A young lady ran for
&c river with a child in her arms: bur.
'crcornc by the heat and fright, tainted.
III was dragged to tho water by some thu
&c and saved. In the morning She Il
armed that her sister was burned. One vii
q IMAM, after the fire a%latei, was found rO;
burncd IN the side that his cutrals In
ont. His hands and face were up
'rribIy burned, and lie begged pitcous- an'
4 u onc to kill Inn and nut him liOI
u OF his misery. pes
r. ant
=, There will be NJ adjourned term rs
me Circuit Court next week. Tie ut ,
's' important case to be disposed Of Is five
action brought by Phillip and John Cir
use I" rcrOvcr property now in pos. gus
's'o'' OF Charity Lodgc No. 30 Free sha
u Accepted MasOns. The history Of pea
: .'Sc - us lolIOws: la 1874, Joseph int
Cr,sc, q few days before his death. $50
He'd 10 Charity Lodge, Of which he bon
. u member, personal and real estate as
IOuntIng to $Ij,3 37 81. Tho ,r,,o,,ud anil