The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-10-21
Terrible Dos astaeion in Wiseonsiu and
NIIChIgan.

a SoAtOcPodu0at VI tu0 1No~ LOTh
Herald writes from Milwaukee, October
Is:
From various persons who have Just
returned from Northern Winconsin and
Michigan, it now appears the widest
rnmors aud inaginings which have pre-
vailed, for days past, have fallen far
short of the actual reality in describing
the loss Of life and property in these
devastated regions. The Chairman Of
Relief Committee sent from this city
states that on arriving at Dashligo bar
bor he found considerable number oF
those who had hct from the village,
seven miles up the river, many of whom
we're seriously burned, and all deploru-
bly destitute. At Peshtigo village, there
remained only few engaged in search
ing for and bnrying the dead The fire
which destroyed Pcshtigo occurred ON
the evening Of the 9Th instnnt, aud his
tory has never furnished parallel of
Its terrible destructiveness. Shortly
after the church going people had re-.
turned from evening service, an omi
nous sound was henrd, like the distuut
roar of the sea, or Of coming storm
This increased in intensity, md soon the
inhabitants became alarmed aud nppre-
honsve Of coming danger. Balls OF fire
we're observed to fall like meteors in
different parts of the town, iguiting
whatever they came in contact with.
by this time, the whole fopulation were
thoroughly aroused aud alarmed, aud
cnught up their children and what vnln-
ables they could hastily seize, and bo-
gan to fae to place Of safety. Now
bright light appeared in the Southwest
horizon. gradually increasing till the
heavens were a9low with the light. But
few moments elapsed utter this, be-
fore the horrible tornado of fire cnme
upon the people and cnveloped them in
flames, smoke, burning snnd and ciu-
ders. Those who had not now reached
we're suffucuted aud burned TO cindrrY he
fore they could advance hall dozen
steps further.
The character Of the fire was unlike
any described before. It was flame
famed by hurricane aud accompanied
with various electrical sparks, while they
INV electrical flames flash in the uir and
dance over the surface Of the earth
around them. But the fury or the flash
was past in half an hour, though tho fire
continued to burn more or less during
the whole night. The full effects of the
storm were not apparent until day light
returned and the survivors could come
forth from thar retreat.
a party Of l5D fortunately rnn toge
Their upon IL low meadow below the
bridges, and were all saved. A family
OF five persons saved themselves by
Jumping into shallow we'll. Another
family of the same number were all suf-
located by q like resort. large num-
ber threw themselves into tho mill pond
and sustained themselves by clipging to
the boom and floating logs, at the same
time continually wetting their heads to
prevent them from roasting. Many chill
dren, and some only few months old,
we're kept in the water all night and yet
survived. Many others were drowned
by being trampled on or thrown from
logs by cattle and horses that madly
rushed into the waters to escape the
fumes.
The tornado came from the South
west aud swept over O tract of country
eight or ten miles wide and of indefinite
length. Timber in its course was felled
by the hurrioanea and burned by the fire,
aud every vestige of fence and building
was swept away, with two or three ex-
captions.
Sometimes the wind struck the earth
with such force that the small under.
growth was torn up in winnows. At
other times it would skip away from The,
earth. The population of Peshtigo and
vicinity was 1000. and fully one-t6ird of
these perished that fearful night. Mari
nett, six miles Eastward, on the Memo.
minee River, is the city of refuge for
the Peshtigo sufferers, and the Dunlap
Hotel has be1n converted into tempo
rary hospital for over fifty of the sick
aud burned. Many others are distribnt-
cd among the citizens of the village.
About fifteen per cent. of them are 80
badly burned that it is impossible to re-
oover. Others will be able to return to
business in months time or less. The
burns occurred most frequently on the
feet, aud hands aud face. and nearly all
suffer from the emulation of hot sand
and cinders, and from the usual pulmo.
nary complications of burns.
The editor of the Menominee Herald,
just from the scene Of the disaster, SAYS
that on the fiat. near the river, the poor
creatures were gathered. many Of them
40 dis6gnred as to be nnrecognizable.
Hundreds lny in their agony, with per.
haps piece OF tent, q few boards or
., Ill