The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-11-24
THE WISCONSIN HOLOCAUST.

Of the great fires in northeastern
Wisconsin, involving the loss Of sew
eral hundred lives, and the destruc-
ton Of several millions Of property
The fire was about three-fourths ofa |
mile distant from Marinette, and shoot
ing above the tallest trcetops, it lit up
the whole country with fierce, lurid
glare. The fire fiend was holding
high carnival, having selected the
towns Of Peshtigo, Marinette and
Menekaune, as its prey. Every avail
able force that could be brought to
bear to stay the force OF the fire was
brought into requisition.
The village OF Peshtigo is burnt to
the ground, and from 1000 to / 800
persons are out of employment. The
fire was seen at half past eight, and at
ten, every building was on fire, to-
gethcr with the great Peshtigo Nan
ufacturing Co.'S. pail and tub factory.
This wind came from the southwest,
and was heard coming an hour before
1t burst upon the town, and many were
awakened from sleep with barely time
10 hasten to the river and sink them
selves in the water to save their lives.
The flames rolled mountain high, and
swept every building, fence and stable
and left scene most horrible to be-
hold. Mr.. J. j. Taur nearly perished
III saving his family, aud lost three in
the flames, and Mr.. Beebe's family, lost
all but one child, and some one took this
child TO the river. The whole town
ran for the river, hanging on to logs
aud booms, and had frequently To
duck their heads to save their lives.
As many as seventy-five are supposed
TO have burnt To death.
Direct accounts from Peshtigo in
form us that the great number OF lives
lost there occurred thus: Fires had
been raging around the village some
days before; had become subdued,
and the people felt secure; when on
Sunday night, all of sudden, when
the wind was blowing tornado, it
again broke out from the fires of the
camps Of the bands working on the
railroad, and Immediately oyerwhelm-
ed the village, inmates of houses hay-
ing only time To escape as they arose
from their beds. The village could
not have contained more than FIVE or
six hundred, or a thousand at the
most, of residents; but it is estimated
that one thousand transient men were
in the place-lumbermen mainly. The
Peshtigo river runs directly through
the village. The people living in the
main portion of the village We're driv-
en- by the rushing flames directly to-
wards the river. and, horrible TO con-
template, cattle had proceeded them
and blockaded up the passage to the
bridge; consequently human beings
had TO take TO the water, when large
portion were either burned TO death
or drowned.
One man who escaped reports that
he sank his entire body into the water,
occasionally raising portion of his
head to get breath, and that he saw
several women perish right along side
of him. When rescued his eyes were
completely blinded, but are now par
TALLY restored.
Some hundred and fifty men finding
escape cut off. took to large barn
belonging to the Peshtigo Company,
and were burned up in it.
just hear of the death of seven
five persons, who could get TO no wa
ter, and were strangled and burnt to
death. Horses, cattle and wagons,
and all movcable property, were burnt
and many on board this boat, with
heads burnt, and eyes burnt out, and
ears off. Some saved themselves by
hiding in wells and burying them
selves in the sand, and in one case five
women perished by log turning,
when they all sank to rise no more.
The loss cannot be counted. A small
village, eighteen miles from here, of
eighteen persons perished at Burch
creeks and it is sickening to see the
sufferers come with eyes ont and fear
fully MANNED. Many children were
lost wandering from their homes to
the river The west coast is on fire
from Green Bay to Menominee. 1t
was said in thirty minutes after the
awful roaring was heard from the
woods the town was In flames, and in
Peshtigo no lumber was found to
make coffins to bury the dead. One
man was passing the benzine house
with his family when it exploded, and
his whole family was lost excepting
himself. The people of Marinette
and Menominee have all done their
duty to the survivors, in clothing,
food and money, and many a man
took off his coat to give to his neigh
Dor who had lost all.
A lady who came through here has
her hair and one side of her face burnt
to crisp. She says there was no
smoke from the burning buildings,
but it was one complete glare of
glowing blaze, awful to behold. Not
a vestige Of anything wooden is left of
the place.
Menekaune was destroyed. Every
thing of any particular value was des-
troyed. The luckless inhabitants are
homeless and houseless.
Marinette, also, was burnt. Though
not so large as Peshtigo, the suffering
is not less. The people are engaged
in saving what little there is left. Sew
eral lives were lost.
Menoninee suffered severely. -Four
persons are known to be dead. Loss
of property estimated from $4,000
to 100000.
A good instance of ''sharp prac-
tice" is that of q man of Ohio, who
was acquitted of murder on the plea
of insanity. He had secured his
LAWYERS by giving them q mortgage