News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-09-09
FIGHTING THE FLAMES.
The sunerings OF the $ ttlers In Brown
County, Wis.

In the town of Bellevue, says news
paper correspondent who has been
travelling in Brown County, Wis, the
ravages OF the fire became apparent.
Little patches OF burned timber stood
among the surrounding pine forests.
The ground in places was covered by
gray ashes of the brush and leaves which
had been consumed, and here and there
great windfall. as a tree which has
fallen down is termed, gave out red
glow. A kick on the massive trunk
sent up a shower of sparks and little
flames darted forth from he cregices In
the log. The woods looked as if nipped
by an early frost The leaves on the oak
and hickory trees were brown and faded
from the effects of the heat, while in
the portions of the woods where the
fire had swept away the leaves and small
branches the great trees stood grim and
bare, spreading out their great black
ened branches without obscuring the
rays of the sun. The woods were de
void of life. in my six mile ride did
not see n single bird OF living thing OF
any kind The township of Eaton has
u..e.ed terribly, and the loss OF prop
erty has been great. Near what Is
known as Lilly Lake, mere pond, near
the iunct on of Bellevue. Depere and
Eaton townships, stood Woodruf's Mill.
which was Owned 10y one of the finest
typ cal youn Americans, Harry Wood
ruff. Along for tie past week Harry
has bcel anticipating he fires and dur
ing he time wo ked like beaver haul
ing water to his place and then to hls
neighbors, who were greater distance
frnY,, ha Of Monday
he left his house with number OF bar
rels OF water for James Clansen, aGer-
man neighbor. Returning at a slow trot
he saw smoke approaching and whipped
up his horses. Sat one moment" SAID
Mr.. Woodruff, ''there was not a sign OF
Z fire. Five minutes later it seemed as
though the woods all around me were
blazing" He started the team towards
home at mad gallop, barely escaping
with his life. There the fight with the
fire began. He wet down his house. barn
and old mill with water, of which he
had laid in a good supply, and as the
firebrands came. around eXtinguishcd
them. In less than an hour the FIRE had
swept on and left him out of danger. He
went to Clansens place to render what
aid he could. House, barn and wheat
farm had been swept away, and all
around were strewn the dead bodies OF
pigs, sheep and cattle. Mr.. Woodruff
began the mourn rul task of looking Tor
the bodies of the family, but without
snccess, when he heard cries and traced
them to an old well which contained
about four feet of water, and the elm
Mr.. Clansen, his wife and three children
were found The Clansens did not save
n Hollarfo Of, fu and had
insurance.
All through Eaton township similar
ale is told Some farm sites are ma ked
by dwelling which had been saved by
almost superhuman efforts, but not
barn in the burned district is left. All
through the woods, miles away from the
farms, are dead bodies of cattle and
and other domestic animals, some
burned to a crisp and others with no
signs of the manner of their death.
Anton Borgordin, John Shafner, Peter
Ronkers and Charles Brockman barely
saved their lives and those of their fami
lies They lost everything they pos
sessed. John and Henry Soper and John
Norcross lost all but their houses. Most
of the families in the belt of the fire have
taken refuge with friends, but one old
OtIDudH HAS COuSITuCJGud u hlhNt % oAi@'AiNJ
out of half-burned logs and is living on
the remains of a sheep which had been
killed by the flames and some provisions
given him by charitable neighbors. HIS
wife while talking to a newspaper cor
respondent burs: into fit of weepingas as
she rocked herself to and fro on the log
on which she was sitting. There was
no need to ask any questions. The
melancholy story was too plain. Years
of hard work to lay up little money
against the coming of old age had gone
for naught, and the hard earned savings
of years of frugalty and labor had van
ished in smoke l drove back by an
other route through the centre of Depere
and Bellevue townships The loss was
even greater than in Eaton. The in
habitants are tor rather were, FOR it
seems as though they had now deserted
their townshipsl mostly Polish, who
have carried no insurance; and Swedes,
who have something coming from that
source. In Bellevue township the deTas'
tation is complete, and the suffering
terrible. Many of the burned out people
have been injured in fighting the flames.