Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-11-07

| Menekaune suffered to the same excnt,
with the exception Of the loss OF life,
which was much less
We have just received the news of the
destruction OF hamlet in Door county,
with iiily-fyc lives. and all around us
fires are continually raging. When rain
will come God only knows. Nothing
can stop The flames but thorough drench.
ing rains, and that Tor days in succession.
The Green Bay Advocate says that
among The villages either wholly or in
part destroyed are the following Green
Bay, Humboldt, Casco, Red River, Brus-
sells, Rosicrc, Robinsonville, Thirty
Deamcs, Glenmorc, Hubbard's Mill.
New Franken. Oak Orchard, Coullard
Bridge. Williamsonvilc. Meuekaunec.
Marinc,tc, Birch Creek. Union Town.
Pishtcgo, The Sugar Bush. Messiere,
Dyckesville, Abnepee, Pierce, Kewanee
and many others.
a party Of refugees from these fires
reached New York Thursday. All were
suffering from having inhaled the smoke,
fumes and ashes of the lires.-Mrs.
Hunters hair which she says flowed to
the waist. was completely burned of.
One side OF he face and neck and should.
ers was learfully injured, three deep
holes having been made by the glowing
cinders in the flesh. Her hands, also,
covered with bisters. Mr.. Hunters
fnce, neck and hands, were badly burned.
Mr.. Marines face was a horrid specla-
Gle. One cheek was literally raw. and
great blotches pitted bis LEFT arm. should
CT and back. One eye is hopelcssly
ruined, and the other infamed to IN ON.
inous degree. All were SCARED, cspeci.
ally on the face, neck. hands and feet As
they say, no tongue can tell their agony Of
mind, pain. and terror, nor can language
or pencil portray the dreadful scenes
passed through.
| WI. iiHHtci q SUI ~ S'"P"'S anu
thrilling. He resided at Peshtigo with
his wife and little child, seven years OF
age. Their hou.e was about three miles
from the Town. just at the edge OF a strip
of forest There had been fires in the
woods and prairies for n week previously,
and night after night they had set at The
windows, gazing upon tho gorgeous pam
Drama of flame. smoke and sparkling
cinderS, as it would move along the
horizon Very little, II any. fear was
entertained. as the course IF the fire
seemed away from the town.
On Saturday night they attended
church in the village. They and Mar.
tine, The herdman, retired TO rest early,
wholly unsuSpecting the fearful peril
that was SO soon to overwhclm them
AT midnight they were aroused by the
roar aud cracking of the flames At
first they were almost petrified with
amazement and fear. The blazing woods
seemed marching upon them. A brisk
breeze was stirring, but the strong cur
rents oil hot mir ragged to and fro with a
horid, bowling sound Quickly dress
ing, they rushed to the yard. The sky
was thick with smoke, and showers Of
sparks were hurried hither and thither,
assailing their iaces, eyes and clothing.
From the barn came a pitcous chorus OF
neighs, bellowings and screams from The
terrified cattle. horses and other animals.
After great difficulty they were released,
and compelled 10 go out. The cattle at
once siampedcd from the fire. but
the horses trembled and seemed paralyZ-
ed, their noslrils expanding, their eyes
dilaiing and glaring, and their mouths
frothing. With great difficulty and haste
they were harnessed and attached to
long lumber box wagon, into which q
lew articles were thrown, and the party
mounted and drove of.
An eighth of mile had been lraversed
at n rapid rate, when sudden gust OF
wind drove mass OF red hot cinders
upon them, filling the air with sitting
smoke. When the sparks fell they
burned into the flesh. The little girl
screamed with fear. "Oh, mamma, I'm
burning up" she cried, and the others
groaned, shook off the fire and covered
themselves with blankets. The air for
n moment was black, and breathing was
almost impossible. The horses staggered,
backed. and reared with furious screams,
and then with u plunge that unseated
those in the wagon, mad Iy rushed down
the road at almost lightning speed.
All control of them was lost. and the
party clung to the sides of the vehicle to
keep in. On they flew. the wheels strik.
ing fire against the stones. and the
wagon. swaying to and fro from one side
OF the road to the other. Then for
time, the wind changed and the clouds of
cinders were carried in another direction.
They could see that all the northern
part of the village was OH fire. and the
flames seemed moving with the velocity
of clouds. All the buildings were of
wood, much ol it being pitch pine. and
rs there had been no rain fora long time.
and the sun had baked everything dry,
the fire ran along them as though they
had been train of gunpowder.
Mrs. Hunter said "We stood in the
water up to our necks, our little girl
Minnie being held up between us.