The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-08-11
A ScOurge of Fire.

GREEN BAY, Wis. Aug. For many weeks
past tins section and the nu lylng country has
been subjected to severe q dTOuth, which has
caused much apprehension III the minds of resi-
ucnts. rs forest aud prairie fires have prevailed
almost lnCessdntlY.
These conflagrations which have DESTROYED
great deal of valuable timber, reached their
height Sunu1v in "A whrlwind Of flame, few
miles cast Uf this place. Tne result ls the town.
ship OF Eaton, which is thIckly settled with a
farming community, was ceanlv swept by the
destructive element which consumed all Its
houses, on bJhdiDgs, fences and TIMBER
Iu the vicinity NJ WOOdIutfs Mills during the
past Two weeks the forests have been burning
WITH great severity, threatening the ADJOINING
settlements. ON saturday night last a small
hurricane urged on the fame, with lightning
rapidty, and the brands from the fiery stretches
were sONn broadcast by the sweeping winds
When sunday mormng came there was no
Dbatcment Of the flames but the wlud had,
however, moderator down somewhat It was
then thought tnat the worst was over, anu the
fears OF the people in the vicinity were cUnsd-
erably qmeted down by what thev felt INSURED
was u fnvo ahle turn of affairs. with this feel
ing the greater portion, in fact nearly # not
quite all of the farmers III the township left
ther homes TO pursue their avocation IN the
fields, leaving, as was natural, their wives aud
families at home. The flames sprung mp again,
however, and the women were Obliged to turn
to and do their utmost to flRht off tie uuwel.
come visitor. which was then upon them in ali
its fury. But no matter how vigorously they
luDOred their efforts were unavailing. The fire
flend bathed them at every point WHICH they
attempted to guard, Driven nom one pOlut 10
another they were compelled to seek new places
of safety, with their children, as the flames
swept onward, lcklng up everything IN taelr
course. Where in the morning tn re was n
thriving town before many hours had passed
awag there were no mo than three houses left
stal ding TO mauiS the village site. MOI hing
was saved so far rs to household possessions:
the women and children barely escaping with
their lives ana the clothes they wore In many
instances these were % burned and torn A. TO
be of comparatively little service IN the matter
Of protection,
one OF the citizens Of the destroyed town, a
man named Henry Seifert, came TO Green Bay
yesterday. trCm nm the particulars are
geuneu so far as they are at hand. Strange as
il may seem, ms house miraculOusly escaped
destruction while everything surI Oundl z IL
fences ana barns, eto.-were licked up by cine
trp. Ie reports that his house is occupied by
MANY OF the hOuseess and injured peOpe, Will
| others were without place TO lay tneir heads.
There was, he says P.0ughe9 he d near ms
| comphsnlng their tell work yesterday, abOnt
| thirty families cOneregated to escape The raw.
| ares OF the fierce Il imeA
These people were from all portions Of the
| desulated township, ard thelr story rs 10 the
| cOnhlgratlon was the same. Not one but lad
| TO relate that everything they had on eartn had
been swept away ana they left homeless and
penniless.
| II Is reported verv circumstlntially that two
! entire families were destroyed by the FIRE end
| three others are missing. Nothing has been
| heard as TO their whereabouts, and IL Is feared
| mat they. 100, have been consumed.
| There was settlement OF seventeen houses
| IN what is known as Benjamin's ana there IL
not one left, Every one was consumed. Not a
| fence in the entire township Is lett. All the
! c4ttie thus freed from their confines are IOqm
| ing aol Oss the helds wild with terror and sure
of destruction II they take shel tier IN .he woods
near at nand, and which are still burning. In
| every direction hundreds OF dead ANIMALS. such
rs cows, pigs aud sheep lie seattle ed, adunl
| greatly to the horrors oil the desOlate scene.
Mt Seltert says the standing graia was moi
| seriously injured.
| Large parties OF men from this city have gOnI
| TO the place, and as soon as theY can return
something will be done 10 relieve the su1ferlu2I
| OF the stricken people.
/ m ha mr. n hn hn I'D mn
| have been afforded shelter in the county poor
house. and viii remain there until some furth
eg measures can be taken for their relief. Tn
people who passed through this terrible oruea
Of name have many stories O. tell concerning II
ana relate that II was one of the most Hppa lin
COnhagratOns they ever beheld;