The New York herald., 1871-10-05
Destruction Of Immense
ests In Wisconsin,.
DEVASTATING FIRES IN MINNESOTA.
Hundreds of Miles Of Territory
Burned Over.
SIX Or SEVEN COUNTIES RUINED.
Great Destitution Among the In
habitants.


habitants.
GREEN BAY, Wis, Oct. 4, 1871.
The nres which are now prevailing In six or seven
northwestern counties OF Wisconsin never had a
parallel since the settlement OF the country. The
drought which prevailed early in August dried up
springs, streams and vegetation, ana parched the
ground to such q depth below the surface
that the soil itself burns and living trees falling
from the action or the fres which undermine them.
All outstanding property is swept away, there
being no water available to stop the fires.
Barns and their contents, haystacks, corn, wood
and other property, together with hundreds
OF miles OF fences are burned. as no
resistance can be offered to the approaching fires as
yet There Is no authentic account OF the loss OF
life, although family in Kewannee county and
some Indians in Shawanaw county are reported
burned.
The hardest fights against the names are made at
q quantity or sawmills located among the pine
forests Of this region, but many OF Them have been
burned All the force available from The adjacent
places has been called the assistance Of the threat
ened mills ana settlements. In some cases
the resistance against the fire has met
with success The work has been 80 long
and harrasslng and the men SO exhausted that IN
mauy places the ontest has been given up. In
places where no water is available trenches have
been dug arouna property, but the slightest wind
carries the burning bark through the air and rem
ders such efforts useless
The Advocate to-day estimates that an area OF 15o
square miles Is being burned over Three saw mills
are positively known to have been burned. and
others reported to be destroyed but the reports
lack confirmation. In Kewanee county from sixty
to eighty dwellings and barns have been burned
the inhabitants nsetng TO the lake shore for safety
AT Horne's pier q store, six dwellings. shops
farms and other buildings have been consumed.
It Is said that the Inhabitants saved themselves by
retreatng to the pier and taking mp the planks
communicating with the shore. Two rivers, two
creeks, Kcwanee and other villages are more or
less damaged. In Darr county great quantities OF
cordwood railroad ties, telegraph poles and other
property got out for shipment have been burned.
On the west side OF Green Bay and Fox River the
names extend from Memonee to Ochoosk, distance
OF 100 miles, ana are thirty miles in BREADTH This
region is OF alternate pine and hard wood TIM.
Der, and is thckly settled.
Haystacks fences and Driuges are mostly gone;
In some cases large lots OF pine logs In dried-up
streams were burned. Very little travel is practl
cable. 1t is with difficulty that definite particulars
can be obtained.
Tho Fires In Northcrn Wisconsin-The Finest
Timber in the Stale DesirOyed-A starving
Population.
MILWAUKEE,, Oct. 4, 1871.
special despatch from Green Bay says the fires
which have been raging in the woods between there
and Michigan have extended across Fox River, and
cover q strip thirty miles wide in Shawano and
Oconto counties The large numbering towns Of
Marinette and Peshtigo are threatened with de-
structton.
The fires are now raging over 1000 square miles
Of territory. About hundred families burned
out OF house and home The refugees are In Green
Bay and other towns. At least one hundred other
families are in danger or being burned ont.
Farm buildings, bridges, fences and absolutely
everything nave been swept away. Thousands Of
square miles OF valuable pine forests have been
destroyed. Bears ana other wiId beasts have been
driven IN dismay from the woods and are dying
about in every direction.
The entire population has been ngnting the fires
without success. Many Of the people nave peen
prostrated, suffocated by the neat and smoke and
had to be carried by their comrades to places OF
safety
All supplies OF food Tor man and beast have been
destroyed, and starvation during the coming winter
stares them IN the face.
Two Hundred Miles of Prairie and Ferest
swept Bnrc-Five Lives Lost-Houses
Burned aud Farms Ruined-42,O ,OOO,O 900
Worth of Property Destroyed.
81 ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct 4, 1871.
A great fire Is raging In the woods and prairies
from Breckenridge to the Big Woods in this State.
1t has already caused fearful amount Of damage
and the loss Of at least dve lives. 1t began on
Friday morning last, and has already
swept over q range Of country 200 miles IN
extent. Houses, barns and naystacks have been
swept away as dust by the terrible connagration.
f,vSn xr ehA 80 Da,.l and
Pacific Railroad have been burned and a train OF
cars in attempting to pass through the nrc last
night came near sunocating all the passengers.
The cars were nled with cnders and pieces burn
ing wood
The amount OF damage done thus far rumor puts
at OO0 the actual loss may go either above
below that ngure before the nre Is subdued. Every
is excited al present. and prone 10 fix the losses
very high. II s, however, certain that there has
never before been such q fire in Minnesota.
Hundreds OF farmers have been ruined, ana they
have been glad TO escape with the lives OF them.
selves and families.
The nre 10 now within hundred miles OF g..
Paul. and as write the smoke is rolling IN great,
thick clouds, completely enveloping every thing In
It's fold.
ing strongly from the west
Destruction of Growing Timber by Fire In
Ohio.
TOLEDO, Oct. 4 1871.
The woods are on fire on both sides OF the Toledo
and wabash Railroad for the greater part OF the
way between Antwerp and New Haven, and cover.
ing an area OF four or 1ve miles. The woods are
burning also between Antwerp and Cecil, destroy
ing the timber, hundreds OF cords or nrewood and
miles OF fences. At woodburn, on October 2 three
houses were destroyed, ana the steam min was only
saved by breaking burrows IN the ground around
the building. The trains are delayed In conse-
quence Of the replacing Of heated rails with new
ones. the cornnelds and meadows are entirely