Peshtigo, Wisconsin Fire

October 8, 1871

Referred to as the Great Fire, the Peshtigo Fire swept through Peshtigo, WI and on to 2400 square miles or 1.5 million acres in Northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.

PESHTIGO.

Soul Harrowing Story an Eyewitness.

300 Persons Burned to Death.

The Coming Tornado of Fire Heard For Miles Away.

It Wraps the Town in an Instant.

Statement of G. T. Tisdale in the Green Bay Advocate, Oct. 12.

During the day-Sabbath-the air was filled with smoke which grew more dense toward evening, and it was noticed that the air, which was quite chilly, during the day, grew quite warm, and hot puffs were quite frequent in the evening.

About half past eight o’clock at night we could see there was a heavy fire to the southwest of the town, and a dull roaring sound like that of heavy wind came up from that quarter.

At nine o’clock the wind was blowing very fresh, and by half past nine a perfect gale. The roar of the approaching tornado grew more terrible at ten. When the fire struck the town it seemed to swallow up and lterally [sic] drown every thing. The fire came on swifter than a horse-race, and within twenty minutes of the time it struck the outskirts of the town, every thing was in flames.

What follows beggars all description. About the time the fire reached the Peshtigo House, I ran out at the east door, and, as I stepped on the platform. the wind caught me and hurled me some distance on to my head and shoulders, and blew me on to my face several times on going to the river. Then came a fierce, devouring, pittiless [sic] rain of fire and sand, so hot as to ignite everything it touched. I ran into the water, prostrated myself, and put my face in the water and threw water over my back and head. The heat was so intense that I could not keep my head out of the water for but a few seconds at a time, for the space of nearly an hour. Saw-logs in the river caught fire and burned in the water. A cow came to me, and rubbed her neck against me, and bawled most pitteously [sic]. I heard men, women and children crying for help, but was utterly powerless to help any one. What was my experience was the experience of others.

Within three hours of the time the fire struck the town, the site of Peshtigo was literally a sand desert, dotted over with smoking ruins. Not a hen-coop or even a dry-goods box was left.

Through the sugar-bush the case seems to be even worse than in the town, as the chances for escape were much less than near the river. I estimate the loss of life to be at least three hundred in the town and sugar-bush. Great numbers were drowned in the river. Cattle and horses were burned in the streets.

The Peshtigo Company’s barn burned with over fifty horses in the stable. A great many women and children and men were burned in the streets and at places so far from anything combuftible [sic] that it would seem impossible they should burn; they were burned to a crisp. Whole families, heads of families, children, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, were burned, and remnants of families were running hither and thither, wildly calling and looking for their relatives after the fire.

Another Account.
The fire struck the village about 10 o’clock Sunday night, through Oconto Avenue. It came in a qast [sic] cloud of fire, without a moment’s notice. It was so sudden, appaling [sic] and overwhelming, that nothing was thought of but to seek refuge. Few names can yet be obtained of those who are probably lost. We get those of JOHN E. BEBEE, wife and two children;--Mr. B. was a clerk and bookkeeper in the the Peshtigo Co’s store; W. F. THOMPSON. clerk in same store, wife and mother: D. MCGRAGOR, conductor on the Peshtigo Railroad, and sister; JAMES MELLEN, forman [sic] of machine shops, two daughters; MICHAEL CREAMER’S wife and child; MRS. DANIEL HUNT and one or two children. The who [sic] town was in ashes in less than two hours, and there was so much confusion that it is yet too early to obtain reliable particulars.

One family, consisting of father, mother and three children, were found dead together within 30 feet of the river. Large numbers are reported as having been burned in the Peshtigo Co.’s boarding house.

It is impossible to give anything definite as to the loss of life. Every report from the neighborhood brings information of entire families supposed to be lost. Those nearest the river rushed into it. Those who lived any distance away were burned to death. Next morning the streets were strewn with dead bodies. In one case nine bodies were found together.

We have no statistics as to the actual population of the village. The census of the town in 1870 was 1,750, of which the largest part, probably, was in the village.

Waukesha Plaindealer, Waukesha, WI 17 Oct 1871

The house, barn and fences of Mr. Hill, of the upper Sugar Bush, were burned, and Mr. Hill and his family all lost. By the side of the family was a narrow alley, just wide enough to drive through. In this alley stood a wagon, and while the barn and fence were entirely destroyed, the wagon-box was not even signed [sic].

Alf. Phillip’s house, in the upper Sugar Bush, was destroyed but the family escaped. They state that two opposite currents of air apparently struck the house, which was 16 by 24 feet, and carried it bodily into the air, they think about 100 feet. In the air it burst into flames, and in a few minutes was entirely destroyed. The house was not on fire when it left the ground.

Waukesha Plaindealer, Waukesha, WI 7 Nov 1871

The Revival of Peshtigo.

From the Menominee (Wis.) Herald, Nov. 1.

Things are again assuming an appearance of life and activity after the recent conflagrations and destruction of property. The mill is now running night and day, with full crews to make up for lost time. It is expected that the stock of logs on hand will be cut up before the close of navigation. Dimension and other lumber is in active demand for Chicago; large bills are received daily. The rebuilding of Peshtigo village has commenced: carpenters from this place are erecting houses and temporary stores for the company and individuals. Mr. Wm. B. Ogden is on the ground, actively engaged in organizing matters, and promises every encouragement and assistance to parties to induce them to rebuild. Two of the recent sufferers are at the boarding house both badly burned about the face and hands. Large quantities of lumber and material are sent daily to the site of the late village, and several buildings of a temporary style are already erected, and with the aid of outsiders and the company Peshtigo will soon be rebuilt.

J. J. McGillis has taken the contract to rebuild the company’s store on the old foundation. The building will be 30x90, two stories high, and is to be completed in thirty days. A small engine for machine shops and grist mill has been received. A new 16-ton locomotive for the harbor road is ready for use, and iron rail enough has been received to repair the track. The water mill at the village is to be rebuilt this winter.
Mr. Lister is intending to erect his foundry immediately. The bridge across the river will be completed this week. Real estate is again on the move, two lots having been sold this week near the centre of the village for $300 [illegible] and $350, respectfully. F[illegible] Bartells is making preparations to build his store on the former site. A corral has been built for the care of stray stock. All the roads to the settlements have been repaired, and build-material is being furnished to the farmers as fast as required.

Fort Wayne Daily Sentinel, Fort Wayne, IN 10 Nov 1871

Articles transcribed by Stephanie.  Thank you, Stephanie!

Special from the Marinette Eagle.  The Dead, as far as can be ascertained.  From the Upper Sugar Bush. as reported by, P. M. Brown:

L. H. Hill and wife, Augusta Brackett, John Jackson, James Law, L. H. McPherson, Alfred Peniree, Joseph Peniree, Cas. Peniree and wife, Terrence Kelley and daughter, Fred Seymour, Mrs. Charlotte Seymour, Chas. Bush wife and 6 children, John Taylor and two children, Patrick Doyle, wife and seven children, Harry Jackson, 2yrs., Bohrmaster, wife and child, Wm. Pape, Mrs. Olive Bosworth, A Jackson, Sally, McPherson, P. Weinhardt, wife and five children. Wm. Duquette., Benj Duquette, and wife, Mrs. John Utner and two children, Miss. Augusta Bartels, L. E. Spear, wife, and two children, James Hayes, John Loyal, Fred Carrough, wife and one child and the father-in-law and mother, Nelly Oleson, Miss Kasta Oleson and Mrs. Anna Oleson.

Middle Bush. Lindsay Loucks and wife, Mrs. M. Fagan and 2 children. Mrs. William Bell, Halsey Fletcher, Mary Fletcher, Mrs. Wm. Aymar, Joseph Lefevre wife and 4 children, Mattie Curtiss, William Curtiss, Mrs. Joseph Leasure and 5 children, Mr. A. A. Pratt, wife, and 2 children, Mrs. Henry Hayes Jr. and 1 child, Mr. Henry Hayes Sr., wife and boy, Miss Glass, Mrs. Jane Peniree and child, Wm. EIliot, Martin Race wife and 2 children, Chas. Chapman wife and child. Norman Davis wife and 3 children, Smith wife and 2 children.

Lower Bush. C. R. Towsley, wife and three children, John Hoyt, his mother and infant brother,  Darius Hoyt, Charles Hoyt, wife and 3 children, Lymar Segear, wife and three children, Mr. Hoyt Sr., wife and daughter, Robert King, wife and four children, John Church, wife and two children, Walter Newbury, wife and three children, Stoughton Newbury and wife, Dr. Newbury and son, Lot Leach and wife, Mrs. Peter Leach, N. May, wife and three children, Mrs. Ouse and lady visitor, Joseph Cramer, wife and four children, George Meyers, wife and four children, Mrs. Hiram Moore and five children, Mrs. Cook and child, Joseph Deidrich, wife and three children, Mrs. Fanny Moore and six children, Charles Stetinz, Wm English, John McGregor and wife, Peter Cheauponteau, Mrs. Wm. England, James Haves, Chas Helms died at Dunlap House, wife and child, Mrs. Bruce, daughter and two sons, Mrs. Prestine, Chas Lamp and five children, Peter Kiever, wife and child, Mrs. Chris Capoose and three children, John Wanikee, Mrs. Perlault and eight children, Wm. Aldous, wife and two children, Mrs. Wm Phillips, Mrs. Sturgeon, Wm. Soper, Peter Hanson, wife and two children, son of John Alschwager died at Dunlap House yesterday.

Peshtigo.  Known dead: J. E. Beebee wife and two children, Mrs. J. J. Tanner and 2 children. James Keenan, Mrs. Chas Bruette, and child, Wm. T. Thompson and wife, Chas. Plush, Mrs. Antonie Bruett, Geo. Clement, Mrs. England and 3 children, Mrs. Salomon, James Kerr, Mrs. Lottie Seymour and sister's child, Patrick Monaghan, child of J. T. Potter, son of Frank Jacobs, son and daughter of James Mellen, Dan McGregor, wife, and sister, Mrs. Donald, Leroy McDonald and 5 children, James McGregor wife and child, wife and child of Robert Slaughter, Charles Westfall, wife and sister, daughter of P. J. Marshall, Davis family of 7 persons, two sons and a daughter of John Timmer and Mrs. Silas McMinn; Roger Burton died at Harbor yesterday.

Stevens Point Daily Gazette, Stevens Point, WI 10 Nov 1871

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