Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-08-15
THE BURNING FORESTS
A Vivid Description Of the Scenes in the
Burned Districts.
The SKY PAINTED A BRIGHT RED,
By the Sea Of Firs-The Wished For Rain
Does Not Come.
OF THE TERRIBLE FIRES

INCIDENTS OF THE TERRIBLE FIRES
CHICAGO, ILL, August 14.-The Daily
Neprs's Green Bay, Wis, special dated yes
terday says: "All night long the fires in
the northwestern section of Brown county
have been raging, and the ruddy reflection
of the flames has painted the murky sky
bright red. The sole topic of conversation
here is the fires and the probability OF
rain. Last night breeze sprung up from
the east, and hopes were entertained that
it would bring with it the long
looked for rain. The morning came, the
sun rose bright and brilliant. Every sign
of rain had vanished and the evening
breeze sprung up which had cleared the air
that for the past week has been almost
constantly obscured by the brown smoke.
Your correspondent drove southeast from
Green Bay this morning through the burnt
region. In that vicinity east of Green
Bay the country has been cleared of timber
and is occupied by farm houses. Every
one is suffering from the drought and the
crops are very poor. In the township of
Bellevue the ravageS of the fire became
apparent. Little patches of burnt timber
stood among surrounding pine forests.
The ground in places was covered by the
gray ashes of the brush and leaves which
had been consumed, and here had gathered
a great 'wind-fall," " as tree which has
fallen down is termed, giving out red
glow. A kick on the massive brush pile
sent up shower of sparks, and little
flames darted forth from crevices in the
log. The woods looked as though nippcd
by an early frost. The leaves on oak and
hickory trees we're brown and faded from
the effects of the heat, while in portions of
the woods where the fire had swept away
leaves and small branches the great trees
stood grim and bare, spreading out their
great blackened branches without ObScur-
ing the rays of the sun.
The township of
EATON HAS SUFFERED TERRIBLY
and the damage has been great Near
what is known as Lily Lake, mere pond
now, ut the junction of Bellevue, Depcre
and Eaton townships, stood Woodruff
mill, which l. owned by Harry Woodruff,
whose name will be remembered Us long as
Brown county lasts. All along for the
past week Harry has been anticipating the
fires. and during the time worked like n
beaver hauling water to his place, and then
to his neighbOrs who were greater dis
tance from the source of supply. On Mon
day he LETT his house with a number of bar
relS of water for James GlanScn, Il German
neighbOr. Returning at n slow tr0t he saw
the smoke approaching and whipped up
his horses. AT one moment" said Mr..
Woodruff, there WAS not sign of fire.
Five minutes later it seemed aS though the
woods all around were blazing lie
started the team toward home at Il mad
gallop," barely escaping with his life.
Then
THE FIGHT WITH THE FIRE
began. He wet down his house barn and
the old mill with water, of which he had
laid in good supply, and as the fire
brands came around eXtinguiShed them.
In less than an hour the fire had swept on
and left him out of danger. He went to
Clansen's 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 and cattle.
Mr.. Woodruff began the mOurntul task OF
looking for the bodies of the family, but
without success, when he heard sepulchral
cries and traced them To an old well
which contained about four feet OF water,
and Mr. ClanSen, with his wife and three
children were found. The ClanSenS did
not save n dollars worth Of property and
had no insurance.
All through Eaton township a similar
tale is told. Some farm sites are marked
by dwelling which has been saved by al
most superhuman efforts, but not 4 barn
in the burned districts is left. All through
the woods. miles away from the farms, are
dead bodies of cattle and other domestic
animals. some burned to 4 crisp, and
Others with no sign Of the manner OF their
death.
Anton Borgorlin, John Shaflner, Peter
Ronkers. and Charles Brockman barely
saved their lives and those of their families.
They lost everything they possessed. John
and Henry SOper and John NOrcrOSS lost
all but their houses. Most of the families
in this belt of fire have taken refuge with
friends, but one old German has construct
ed kind of shanty out of halt-burned
logs, and is living on the remains Of n
sheep which had been killed by the flames
and some provisions given him by some
charitable neighbOrs. The children, the
smaller OF whom were
ALMOST ENTIRELY NAKED,
peered out of the opening i'll the hut.
The old mrn returned my good morn
Ing" in a half-hearted way, and cOntin-
ued to smoke his pipe. The poor woman
looked at me, and then, hiding her face in
her apron, burst into fit of weeping, rs
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 upa little money against the coming
of old age had gone for naught, and the
hard-earned savings OF years of trugahty
and labor had vanished in smoke.
| drove back by another route through
the centre of Depere and Bellevue town
ships. Here the loss was even greater than
in Eaton. The inhabitants are (Or rather
were. for it seems rs though they had now
deserted their tOwnships) mostly Poles,
who have carried no insurance and SwedeS
who have something coming from that
source. In Bellevue township the devas-
tation is complete and the suffering
terrible. Many of the burned-Out people
have been injured in fighting the flames.