The Republican journal., 1871-10-26
THE FOREST FIRES IN WISCONSIN
Heartrendng Scenes and Particulars.

HeaFtrendlr9 scenes ana fartiCulars.
A correspondent Of the Havorhill Ga
zette, writing from Oshkosh, Wisconsin,
18th inst, gives the following account of
the terrible contlagration that has been
wasting portions of that State
''Ihe three last months have been the
dryest ever known in this section. ANY
one acquainted in northern Wisconsin
know that it is one vast, limitless forest
Of beech, maple. hickory, pine, tamarack
and hemlock. Thousands and tens of
thousands of acres lie between Oshkosh
on the south, Marinette on the north, and
Wausaw and Grand Rapids on the west
For the past three weeks, in different sec
tions of this vast area, fires have been
burning with the wind-leav-
ing destruction and death in their train.
In scores of instances whole townships
have been devastated farms, 1armhouses,
barns, grain, cattle and stock Of all kinds
have been swept out of existence by the
deyouring element Churches, school
houses, stores, villages of from 300 to
1900 inhabitants and human beings by
hundreds have been burned, so that moth
ing remains where once was heard the
busy hum of industry, the lowing of graz
ing herd, the signing Of lofty pines, but
complete and awful destruction, and
blackness OF darkness. Nothing can be
compared to the utter desolation to be
witnessed in the path Of the fire.
The village Of Peshtigo. about forty
miles north of Green Bay containing
about 1900 inhabitants, where was located
the largest tub and pail factory in the
world, owned and operated by the
Peshtigo Company, with working capt
tai of over two millions OF dollars, in ten
minutes time was completely swept away
by the flames, the large factories over
500 feet long, 100 feet wide, and three
stories high, the company boarding
houses, where the men working for the
company boarded to the number Of five
hundred or more, the large store of the
company, containing probably u stock of
100000, all the books and papers,
the head book-keeper, his wife, mother
and two children, the stately residences
of the officers Of the company, four large
sized hotels. six general stores. about one
| hundred private residences, and three
| hundred human beings were thus destroy
ed in less time than | can write the ac-
count of this appalling and heartrending
event. The village OF Menekaunee suffer
! I
ea 10 me same 9: extent WIN the exception
Oh ", rne Ioss Oh NE, whleh was much iesS.
W { nave just received the news Oh the
destruction OF Il hamlet in Door county,
a Milh hi's-llVc nves' ahu a'l arn'lno ,,1, Us
llies :T aie c",l'lnut1ly ra9il9' W h'll run
VIII come , yea only knows. NothihS can
stop 'he names mes pul 'horoush urencnlns
| rams ahu lha' ior "lys III succession
IN oshSosh' 50 laf' no llves nave oeeh
lost, ana thanks TO our eiieaive lire de-
partment no great amount OF damage mas
been done.
y relet committee has been organized
to render assistance with PROVISIONS
money. clothing &c., ana cars beng 1lll-
ed and dlspatehed hourl to the different
a1tllcted communities IN the country north
OF Us. A call has been made ior all the
surgeons and nurses that could be spared
to go to the points on Gfeen bay shore,
and in response nine doctors and twice rs
many nurses lett on last nights train.
The writer. Mr. William Is. StlckneT,
formerly OF liayprhllI, makes an urgent