The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-10-18
GhtGRteIhaetrcer.
THE BURNING OF PESHTIGO.
A village Consumed BY a Tornado of

ElTe-AWtul Scenes ana Lncldents'
A correspondent, writing from Menasha,
Wisconsin, on the 1lth inst, describes the
destruction of Peshtigo:
The village was situated on Peshtigo
river, seven miles from Green Bay. II
was nice little town oil about 1000 in;
habitants, quite regularly laid out, had
fine hotels, stores, churches, schools, &c
beside a large factory, owned by the Fesh'
tigo 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, &c, and
gave employment to 700 hands IN the diff
lerent branches.
The town is nearly surrounded by pine
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 state of com.
parativG security, since the woods on all
sides had been more or less burned over.
On Sunday night they were awakened
from this feeling OF security by u noise
like distant thunder, which increased in
volume until the crash Of falling teees and
the roar OF the wind and fire could be
plainly heard Soon alter tornadoIburst |
upon the town, unroOhng number OF
buildings, and quickly followed by q
solid sheet of flame, extending the
whole length of the village, and far
beyond each way, In an instant the
whole exposed side Of tho place was in
flames. Men, women and children
rushed into the street, and, surrounded by
fire on all sides, were soon either smOth-
cred or burned to death In the less ex.
posed portions the people fled to the river,
and, jumping in, many were drowned
Some saved their lives by keeping their
bodies well under water, and once In
while putting their heads under rs tho
heat became insutFcrabe Others took
refuge in wells and Cisterns, and were
saved, Quite large portion OF the in.
habtants ran to field To the leewardDi
the fire, and by lying on the ground were
saved, although some Of these were badly
burned. There Is but one house lett
standing, and that is isolated, and lately
built OF green lumber. AS near as can ut /
present be asCertained, $50 lives have
been lost, mostly wCmen and children. I
Although good many men have per- !
ished, there are rs whOaro badly burned, {
many OF whom will de, and nearly oil
are more or less burned. The destruc-
ton has been SO complete that the streets
cannot 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 7
sand
could fill columns with hcart.rGnding t
incidents Of this ConiagratiOn, but will
only give few as illustrative OF the rest Ii
In one instance man took his family and
lied to the bridge spanning the river. y
The bridge was soon on fire, and the poor
unfortunate family were nearly roasted T
alive, and then jumped into the river and
were drowned. A woman, on seeing the
fire approaching, put her little girl, a
child Of six years, In well, which was i
nearly dry, and ran to the river herself for /
security. The woman was saved, and, as I
soon as she could, found out the locality,
aud her joy was 80 great ut finding the
little one alive and well that she swooned,
and on recovering ClaspGd her child In a
her arms, and ran OIL crying for joy. /
Too few, alas, were so fortunate In v
many cases whole families have persisted. Il
In other cases men have lost their iami. /
lies, they being, at tho time OF the fire, d
working to save the factories In other Il
instances men persisted in their Cndeavor I,
tOsaVe their families. In one case TO which.
my attention was called, little boy Of
seven years Is the only surviving member Il
OF II numerous family. AS soon rs the Q
fire had sufficiently subsidized, NIL that were a
able went to the relief Of the sufferers c
BlaCkened, Charred cOrpses were lying in
every direction, with their clothing, rs n 1
general thing, nearly or quite burned oil a
Many dead bodies were found in the river, !
and many more have since been recover. a
ed. A number have died IRON their
bruises, while others are crippled or fear.
fully diShgured The most imaginative b
mind cannot begin to realize the fearful d
calamity, much less mypoor pon to de.
scribe 1t. The shrieks and grOans OF tho
dying, and OF those who had lost near and
dear friends; tho CHASTITY aspect of the =,
blackenod cOrpses; the shocking appear. /
anoe OF many who, badly burned and al.
most destitute Of clothing, were running 2
they knew not where; Others in the last
agonics of death, made picture too lor.
rid for contemplation. The sufferers have
MI been taken to Green Bay and other
towns, where they will be kindly cared
Tor ashospiality is one Of the marked
traits Of the West The loss to the Pesh. 4
ttgo Company, who owned the factories /
and most OF the town, besides large pine
lands, Is estimated ut three million dollars,
besides the loss Of their extensive ware.
houses in Chicago.
Later wsby telegraph puts the loss Of
life several times greater than estimated
In this account. The last report stating !
1t rs high rs twelve hundred. A Chicago
telegram dated 10Th says
PeShtigo wis dates TO the 18th record !
The utter destruction Of the town. -Four
hundred dead bodies have been recover. d
ed, and 1t Is thought that 800 more are in q
the river, where the intense heat caused
death by limitation while the rest Of the
body was under water The velocity Of
the fire was so great that all escape was i'm. c
possible A large number of dead were
Drought to OcOnto Tor burial, as no ma :,
terlals for collins could be procured