Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-10-18
PESHTIGO.
A Correspondenps Account OF the
Wisconsin Horror.

WIscOnsth AhOEfOF.
Mepogha,, Wis.,. Letter to the oclevelant
/ have Just retained from what wa,
once Peshtigo, whittier ! went yesterday
that might be able to give to the read
ers of the Herald correct account of
the destruction ofthat place. Thevillage
was situated on Peshtigo river, seven
miles from Green Bay, 1t was nice
little town of about two thousand inhhb-
itants, quite regularly laid out, had fine
hotels, stores, churches, schools, etc. +,
besides the large factory owned by the
Peshtigo 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, ETC., and gave employment to
about seven hundred hands in the differ
eht branches. H1 = EA
The town is nearly surrounded by fine
forests, the suburban portions being built
"among the pines" The inhabitants
have for the past ten days been lighting
fire in the woods, trying to save the town,
and had settled down into a feeling OF
comparative 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 noise
ike distant thunder, which increased in
volume until the crash Of falling trees
and the roar Of the wind and Gre could
be plainly heard. Soon after a tornado
burst upon the town, unrooiing n nnm-
Der Of buildings, and quickly followed
by solid sheet Of flame, extending the
whole length of the village and far be-
yond each way. In an instant the whole
exposed side Of the place was in flames
Men, women and children rushed into
street, and surrounded by fire on all
sides, were soon either smothered or
burned to death. In the less exposed
portions the people fed to the river, and
jumping in, many were drowned. Some
saved their lives by keeping their bodies
under water and once in while putting
their heads under as the heat became in
sufferable, Others took refuge in wells
and cisterns and were saved. Quite a
large portion Of the iuhahitants ron to
a field to the leeward Of the FIRE, and by
lying on the ground we're saved, although
some Of them were badly burned. There
is but one house left standing, and this
is isolated and lately built of green lum-
Der. E
AS near as can at present be ascer-
tanned, two hundred and fifty lives have
been lost mostly women and children.
Although good many men have per-
ished, there are seEsntY-fye who are
badly burned, many of whom will die,
and nearly all more or less burned. The
destruction has been so complete that
the streets cannot be traced, all being
covered with sand which was being
swept in great clouds by the tornado.
In some instances bodies have been
completely covered by sand. #lt
| could fill columns with the heart
rending incidents of this conhagration,
bat viii only give o few as Illustrative Of
the rest In one instance man took
his family and fed to the bridge span
ming the river. The bridge was soon
on fire, and the poor unfortunate family
were nearly roasted alive and then
jumped into the rIyer and were drowned.
A woman, on soeing the hre approach
ing, put her little girl, child Of six
years, in well which was nearly dry
and ran TO the river herself for security
The woman was saved, and, as soon as
she could, found out the locality, and
her joy was so great at finding the little
one alive and well that sne swoone1,
and on recovering clasped her child in
her arms, and ran off CRYING for Joy.
Tn faW alaq Nuara an In
many cases whole families have per
ished. In other cases men have lost their
families, they being at the time of the
fire, working to save the factories. In
other instances men have perished in
tiieir endeRvor to save their families. In
one case TO which my attention Ygs
called, little boy Of seven years is the
only surviving member Of q numerous
family.
As soon as the fire had sufficiently
subs,deG ell that were able went TO the
relief of the sufferers. Blackened, !
charred corpses were lying in every d. |
rection, with their clothing, as a general
thing, nearly or quite burned of |
Many dead bodies were found in the |
river and many more have died from
their bruises, while others are crippled |
oy learfully disfgured.
The most imaginative mind can not |
1eqin to realize this fearful calamity, |
much less my poor pen TO describe It. |
The sbrieks aud groaus of the dying and |
Of those who had lost near and dear
friends; the ghasuy aspect Of the black
,ned corpses; the shocking appearance
1f many who, badly burned and almost q. .