The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-01-04
ogEg NORTHERN GUNTgES.
Azsz,fEaer Report by Capt Ean@wO-t.sy
she Work Of Relieving lie Sufferers

Capt Langworthy, on his recent returl
from the devastated counties in our stat'
where he has served very ably as specla
= agent of Our Relief Committee, submit
ted the following report Of his observa
tions
MENoMoNEE. Mich, Dee. a, 1871.
L. Il Kellogg, Esq, Chairman Relic
Conanstttee Mtltcdukee:
I have, on this trip, visited the grounC
upon which were witnessed the most re
markable and memorable events tha
have ever occurred in the history of GU
countrv. Peshtigo, Menekaunee, ant
the Sugar Bush in Wisconsin, aud Burcl
Ok =, i;oL;<.Aa- unra directly in the
path of that whirlwind of fire and fame
which desolated with almost the speed o
lightning itself. At Peshtigo, the busy
hum Of industry in rebuilding has hush
ed the wall Of despair SO recently uttered
and against which human effort was sc
impotent. Already about fifty houses
have been erected, but the scarcity Of
lumber over the burned region is seri-
Gus drawback to its rapid development.
The people anxious wait the day when
| lumber can be had to erect shanties, to
enable them to go to work on their lands.
4 far better feeling is manifested
among them since the noble effort in their
behalf gives them a chance for recupera-
ton. On my first visit to that most les-
olate region the people who survived the
disaster were sadly depressed despair
sat brooding over every thought and feel
ing; they had neither wish nor care for
the future they looked upon the worth
less debris Of their once happy homes, in
many Of which were garnered all that the
heart could desire, and the vision was
that Of pe1ury and want. In the twink
ling Of an eye there came change and
not crumb was left upon any rich man S
table throughout all that fated land Such
a revulsion was too much for a human
nature, and it became insensible from the
blow Gradually the leaden weight has
raised "a million of human hearts have
rendered aid and sympathy-a magnetic
response is flowing in return, and the
people are feeling sadly cheering.
At Peshtigo they have built a large re-
lief store, and a building for barracks,
where the destitute people are fed who
are engaged in putting up buildings or
doing other necessary work. Here, as
at other points, the cattle and horses are
co3raEca and fed, because the lands can
not be occupied until shantics are erect
cd for the use of the owners. Mcssrs.
Eartcls and Mason are busy dispensing
the public blessing. and have the credit
OF being good men for the place. In
Oconto there are but few families left,
which are being properly cared for by the
committee. Marinctta was the Mecca Of
repose to all those who escaped the wrath
and fury OF the fiery storm, and to whose
charitable portals were conveyed the bad
ly burned OF that section. Its escape
from the overwhelming current of fame
seems almost miraculous Without any
apparant cause, the FIRE divided, or fork
ed as it approached Marinette, the larger
sheet passing northward about one half
mile west of the town, while its lesser
half passed to the northeast, licking up
Menekaunee, about mile or two distant
as if it had been gunpowder. Thus Ma
rinette was left unscathed, with the ex.
ception Of barn on its western border.
Here the hardest and most untiring work
has been performed, and NIessrs. Brown,
| Merryman and Prescott have not only
| given largely Of their own means, but
have constantly engaged in the good
work. At the onset, when the dead and
dying were brought by hundreds, they
seized the Dunlap House very large ho
tel, which was used as hospital unit
another could be provided, and was fillcd
to overfowing. Private houses were al
SO brought into requisition, and yet con
tain many who are unable to care fol
themselves. Here also, are barracks
with about fifty inmates, and the cattle
are coIrdZcd and fed as at Peshtigo The
hospital is nearly cleared Of patients, anc
it is to be closed in few days. OWNS
to the. ..indeiatigable work Of this commit
tee, everything has been well managed
here and at Peshtigo, which is still unde
their supervision. Standing In front o
tIG DGJI10I' tvT5U nfvrr 15rsrfIUr y. cSJy
es, Esq editor OF the Marinette Eig{e
he said: 4 was standing here lookin.
at the curreut of flame as it passed n0rtl
ward it seemed to be hundreds Of fee
in height. 1t travelled with great veloci
y and with a roar that equalled the con
slant revcrberation of heavy attillcr,
close at hand. During its coutinuanc
you could net make person hear you
voice without screaming iB his car wha
you had to say Ga my return fron
tIeuomonee, [ met two middie-aged mel
near the long bridge in Michigan. cross
ing The river to Wisconsin, which is her
very wide | asked them what the,
knew Of the FIRE, aud found that both hat
been utterly cleaned ont; saved nothin!
but their lives. One Of them said: 9
was a short distance below the dam. i5ok
ing after some brush shat | was afrai;
would take fire, wher. looking up, | saw
the fame crossing the river above th,
dam. which is here three quarters of
mile wide, 1t made tremendous roa
and rattle, making three swoops to til,