White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1871-11-16
PHENOMENA AND INCIDENTS OF THE
NORTHERN FIRE.
From the Green Bay advocate.
PHENOMENA or THE FIRE

There are some phases of the great calamity
which fell upon this region last week worthy OF
scientific investigation. The testimony of the
cooler headed survivors Of the fires at Peshtigo
the Sugar Bush, and WilliamsOnville is united ~
to one phenomena: They say that the fire did
not come upon them gradually from burning trees
and other objects to the windward, but the first
notice they had of it was whirlwind of fame, in
great clouds, from above the tops of the trees,
which fell upon and envelOped everything. The
atmosphere seemed one of fire. The poor people
inhaled it, OF the intensely hot air, and fell down
dead. This is verified by the appearance of many
Of the corrses. They wefe found dead in the
roads and open spaces, wheIe there were no visi-
BILE marks Of fire near by, with not trace of bur-
ming upon their bodies or clothing. At the Sugar
Bush, which is an extended clearing, in some pla-
ces four miles in width cOrpses were found in the
open road, between fences which were only slight
~ burned No mark of fire was upon them, but
they laid as if asleep. This phenomena seems to
explain the fact that so many were killed i'm COM
pact masses. They seemed to have huddled
together in what were evidently regarded at the
moment the safest places, away from buildings,
trees, other infiammable material, and there to
have died together. Fences around cleared fields
were burned in spots of only few rods in length,
and elsewhere not touched. Fish were killed in
the streams-as at PeshtigO.
We bear the universal testimony that the pre-
vailing idea among the terror-stricken people of
those places was that the last day had come.
Iuey neeUeO not u DC teIIOT-StTlckcn 1OT SUCH
imaginings. What other explanation could be
given to the imminent time, when there was an
OminOus warning sound coming from the dis
lance; when the sky, so dark just before, burst
into great clouds of fire, the beasts of the forest
came running for succor into the midst of the set
Elements and great, red, consuming, roaring hell
of 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 premOnitions from the distance, supplied
Hall r.
pie.
The Espy theory, we think it u.s. that continued
and wide spread fires will bring on rain. seems to
he entirely exploded in this instance. These fires
had lasted nearly OF quite four weeks, ravaging
forests over great area, and still not drop of
rain. The rain only came with change of wind
to the n0rthward and severald days after the worst
burnings were over with.
WHAT SURVIVOR SAYS.
To person not in the lire it seems incredible
that sd many should have persisted i'm the flames
To me, and presume to most of those who were
in the fire, it seems miracle that 80 many were
saved. If you supposed the worst snow storm
you ever witnessed, and each snow flake a coal or
spark of fire driven before fierce wind, and You
have some idea Of the state of the atmosphere at
the time the fire struck the town. We all know
bow little presence of mind many people have in
times of great excitement, and but few persons
know just what to do when death, in its most ap-
palling form, stares them in the face. OF one
thing, however, we may be sure-all, under such
do the best they capable of do
ing. There were deeds Of heroism that fearful
night in PeshtigO, that are worthy place by the
side of the brightest and noblest facts of history
Many lost their lives in attempting to save the
life of others. Many have been found claspipg
,ome darling object of affection in their arms, as
in the act Of shielding them from the fire. Moth
ers were dreadfully burned, but saved their chill
lren. Husbands and fathers were burned, hut
saved their families. One was dreadfnlly burned
IN attempting to save his wife and two children
but they were burned. A young lady ran for the
liver with Q child in her arms; but, overcome by
he heat and fright, tainted and was dragged to |
he water by some one and saved. In the NOR
hing she learned that her sister was burned. One
I'D man, after the fire abated, was found 80 burned
n the side that his entrails hung ont. His hands |
md face were horribly burned, and he begged |
'iteonsly for some one to kill him and put an end
o his misery.