New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-10-27
THE BUSH HORRORS.

IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OF TIMBBR-TIIE SUGAR
BUsH-HERoISM AMONG THE LUMBERMEN.
IRON THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUERl
OCONTo, Wis, Oct. 22.-Whichever way you
turn the wofu vision OF destruction and sudden death
comes before You Green Bay evidences Of the
prevailing pain and every side. The
great staple and shuddering narrative
this dreadful affection Of fire, fills all minds with sorrow
and anxiety. At the street lusty umDermen with
hands hcky swathed in white cloths stride and stare
about dseonsOlately. In the hospitals the seriously
wounded groan out their ptfu stories to whoever has
heart to listen this brisk little lumber town specters
Of the brawDy built up the prosperous country
to the northwad haunt the streets and wait with
uncertainty for the means OF recommending the bat
tie for bread home Oconto built at the intersection
of the broad river Of the same name and Green Bay
is believe, an outpost Of civilization not
within the cognizance Of map or Gazetteer. 1t
ssans an important relation to the demands Of supply
Notwithstanding and holds by means contemplate
place in the economy Of demand Built like Menominee
ON river sweeps the bay the town has far
escaped the ravages OF Peshego and INTERCHANGEABLE
first Is and the latter miles the nOrthward But the
place has been weeks the very Of the Storm
The fires have penetrated to its borders and the smoke
las clouded its streets and blinded its people. The SOIL
much richer than IN the vicinity Of the other towns, Is
less numbered by pine and cedar swamps where fires
have habit of lurking for weeks unsupported Hence
the immunity OF the village from the fire cyclone OF Sun
day. the sth This fine country had invited thick pOpu
latOn Of NOrwegians, Belgans, French and Germans.
The clearngs among the oaks and naples thorough
and we'll cultivated, and the people established in srag
Cling communities after the fashion Of the Fathcrands
Riding northward from OcOnto, widespread track OF
ruin points the way TO the famous "Sugar Bush"
What use to tell Of the depOrabe work Of the flames!
Not dwelling stands on the ravaged causeway Of
fre-a causeway wider than any has yet
ventured to explore skrng the waters OF the bay
1nas fha hor
of the unpeoped regions the fire. spurred by the tor
nado eveled everything before It, Such utter obitera
ton and wasting were seen. An army Of 10000
could hardly set TO work deliberately with all the app
ances Of destruction and clear such extent OF country
in FIVE years. The very soi.seems burned to a fine pow
derry substance not yestge Of the shrubbery is left
behind. Where the timber grew densely and In great
trunks, the fire simply burned the bark and limbs and
few onward to easily consumed substances. FOr
miles, however nothing, out Of vast groves is left stand
ing Immense trees were overthrown whose roots run
up Is and % feet nterlaced in piles Of earth As for
COLOR nothing the place possesses any tnge that
of charred blackncs What had been great fields OF juicy
clover, are fats Of duh ashen EARTH
After passing IL miles through the unsurpassed waste
the supreme scene Of desoaon and reached
the triple hamlets known the Upper" Middle"
and Lower" Cougar Bush" Dense groves OF magniA-
cent naples whose yearly YIELD added TO the resources
of these thriving communities, stretched backward
from the hOmesteads on either hand. The hamlets en-
braced all together nearly 1,lOO people. Immigrants
constantly arriving and tho saddest part OF the
dreadful catastrophe Is that tell the names OF
half that perished indeed the exact numbers In the
settlements not accurately known. The clearngs
were broad and continuous. and no one would have
dreamed that fire could surprise great host, by no
means huddled together Each man had built his
house as near his neghbor the land limits
would permit, but In sense like q regu-
larry laid.out town village. Until Sunday night
the fires had been viGilantly kept away, and
the inmates Of the quiet homesteads retired peace
fully to rest Some awake and others aroused
when o distant, ominous up from the line
OF forests to the southwark But there was no time
given for alarm conjecture. Great waves Of fame
with hurting voracious thunder, dashing into
the clearing. 1t was literally nundatiOn Of fire. Far
above the surging pillows Of fame the dark spreading
tops waved soemnly. untouched by the fire. There
men, women, and children who did from that
moment Of hell but what reproduce the awful pic
turet The three settlements were overwhelmed in
stanty and simultaneously Five miles Of cleared fields
and level woods submerged in pillows Of flame. In
that hot food 400 people perishod There are however
CHASTITY specters Of who stopped unspeakable
instant TO mark the nameess wonder; but they will
probably look the fun light Of day again Their
eyes though unscarred seem powerless.
Above the uproar Of the fire the paralyzing out
cry of the aged, nfrm, young, and helpless. To
hastily collected debris hurried down, and on these