The union Democrat., 1871-10-21
SATURDAY MORNING. Oct. ~. 1871
The Fires Ia Northern yTisconsin and r ear
ful Mortality.


MILWAUKEE, Oct. l5.-Later accounts from
northern Wisconsin, confirm all previous re-
ports and the rumor says the loss OF life in
the neighborhood of the burned village of
Peshtego, will reach 1000. Fifteen per.
cent of those injured cannot recover The
fire tornado was heard at distance like the
roaring Of the sea. Balls of fire were soon
Observed to fall like meteors in different parts
OF the town igniting whatever they touched.
People rushed with children in their arms.
for place of safety, but the storm of fire was
upon them and enveloped them n flames,
smoke. burning sand and cindeIs, and those
that were not able to reach the river were
suffocated and roasted alive. This terrible
scene happened on Sunday night, the 9Th OF
October, already made famous by the Chica-
90 horror. A member of the Relief Commit
tee, sent from Milwaukee with supplies, says
the only survivors were those who were for
tunate enough 10 reach water, many throw
ing themselves into mll-pond and clfnging
10 floating logs. A number of these were
drowned by being thrown from the logs by
maddened horses and cattle that rushed into
the water. The fiery cyclone swept over a
tract of country eight or ten miles wide.
Every building, fence, and 1.-The timber were
licked up clean by the tongue of fire.
The town of Peshtego numbered 1900.
one third of whom persisted on that fearful
night Reports from the east shore of Green
Bay place the loss of life full as high as at
PeShtego. The same account states that the
immediate wants of the people are supplied,
but large amounts of provisions and clothing
will be required for the coming Winter.
Mayor Ludington of Milwaukee publishes the
following appeal for aid
"MILwAUKEE. Oct. l4.-"The caamities
that have beallen our State and some of our
neighhoring States, are truly appalling.
Over 500 men, women and children have
been burned to death in Wisconsin alone
Their business houses and farms to large
extent are entirely destroyed the very soil
having been burned and DESTROYED with all
their Autumn and root crops They are Vt
terry destitute and will require full support
at least till another season.
"Seyen counties in our own State are thus
in great part utterly desolated. Whole re-
gions of country in Western Michigan are in
the same condition, and these fires are still
raging and DESTROYING. Milwaukee is doing
all she can do. BY her close neighborhood
TO Chicago she was enabled to send large
quantities of supplies into that devastated
city during the progress of the fire, feeding
ntT HTcuitH anu tAudusltu CltlZtus. vast
numbers OF Chicago sufferers are now filling
our houses and public buildings. and we
ministered to their necessities. We have
supplied hundreds of tons of provisions and
clothing. and stores, and other needfu sup
plies to Chicago, to northern Wisconsin and
western Michigan, aud are doing our best,
but the amount of suffering in our State is
beyond our power alone TO assuage. We APP
peal to the public for aid, and will be tho dis
pensers of supplies to sufferers in Wisconsin
and western Michigan. We have made every
necessary arrangement to accomplish these
purposes with economy and effect. All con-
tributious in money may be sert to Alexan-
der Mitchell, banker. Contributions offered
in clothing, bedding and other necessary sup
plies may be directed to Harrison Ludington,
Mayor.
"(Signed) HARRISON LuDrNGroN.