Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-10-19
The Great Fires in North
ern Wisconsin.
SIX COUNTIES BURNED OVER
1000 PEOPLE CONSUMED.
5000 RENDERED HOMELESS.
STARVATION STARING THEM
IN TIE FACE.
PROCLAMATIDN BY THE GOV
ERNOR, CALLING FOR
MORE AID.
GREEN BAY, Oct IS.


To the people Of Ipisconsin:
The accounts Of the appalling calami-
tv which has fallen upon the east and
west shores of Green Bay, have not been
exaggerated The burned district COM
priscs the counties OF Oconto, Brown,
Door and krwaunec, and parts Of Man.
itowoc and Ou,agame The great loss
of life and property has resulted from
the whirlwli Of fire which swept over
the country, making The roads and ave-
nues of escape impossible with fallen tim
Der and burned hridIcs. The long
dronth had prepared every thing for the
flames
The loss Of life has been very great
The first estimates were entirely made
quate, and even now it i, feared that it
is much greater than present accounts
place it, It is known that at least one
thousand persons have been either burns
ed, drowned or smcthered Of these
deaths coo or more were at Peshtigo
and adjacent places, and the others in
Door, kcwaunec and Brown counties.
Men are penetrating that almost inncces
sable region for the purpose of afording
relief, and fear that their report will
increase this estimate
From the most reliable sources Of in,
formation, learn that not less than
5000 men, women and children have
been redcred entirely destitute Moths
crs are left with fatherlrss children;
fathers with motherlcss children Child
rem are left homeless orphans Distress
and intense suffering are on every hand,
where but lex days ago were comfor
and happiness Scores Of men. women
and little children now lie hclplessly
burned and manned in temporary hos>
pitfalls, cared for 10y their more fortunate
ncighhors.
These suffering people must be sup
piled with food, bedding, clothing, feed
for their cattle, and the means Of pro-
viding shelter during the winter The
response by the good people Of Wiscon,
sin has already been prompt and gencr,
Gus IN meeting the Immediate need, AMI
is being faithfully and encrseticaIly dis
trihued through the relief organizations
at Green Bay, hut provision NUT be
made for many months in the future
There are wanted -four, salt and cured
meats, not cooked, blankets, beddin.,
stoves, baled hay, building materials
lights, farming implements and tools,
boots, shoes and clothing for mon,
women and children, log chains, axes
with handles, nails glass, and house
trimmings, and indeed everything need
ed by farming community which has
lost everything.
To expedite the transfers at Green Bay
all boxes should have cards attached 10
them, stating their contents. A sup,
Plies should be sent to Relief Com,nittee
Of Green Bay. Money contributed
should not he converted into supplies.
but should be forwarded to the Commit
tee.
nepots have been established at Green
Bay, under the management Of con-,
mittee Of public spirited men, who have
the confidence of all for the receiving
and diSpatchng Of supplies They lave
organized a system Of sub>depots con,
tiguous to the burned regions, and
steamboats, and wagons are being sent
out with supplies Let Us uphold their
hands in the good work, and see that
their depots be kept filed to overHowing.
1t is fortunate that we live in wealthy
and prosperous Suite, blessed with pros,
perity 10 business and overlooking bar
vests. and that thus we are hy Il wiae
Providence endowed with means to help
oar less fortunate noi -htors
! am urged |'y public spirited citizens
Of the State to call an immediate extra
session Of the legislature, to provide
for this calamity. have given serious
attention to this suggestion, and Lave
CONCLUDED not to do so, for the reason
TINT the expense of such session would
be likely to equal the amount which the
State would be asked to contribute. b.
lievlnc. therefore that the people and
the Legislature will endorse my action in
this emergency, | have, in conjunction
with the State Treasurer, decided to ad>
vance such q moderate sum or money ms
seems to be appropriate, in addition to
that eOutributed.
LUclUs FAlncHup,
Cover nor Of Wis