While history recorded the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 as one of the worst in American history, the headlines overshadowed a greater tragedy due to the slow spread of the news.
October 8, 1871, the same day as the Chicago fire, between 1,200 to 2,500 Americans lost their lives, and 1.2 million acres of land were burned in the Upper Midwest in what is known as the Peshtigo Firestorm of 1871, the deadliest in the United States recorded history.
The match to this great disaster started earlier as numerous small fires had already been burning from an arid summer season and human carelessness.
Due to climate change I suppose.
ReplyDeleteAin't everything?
DeleteThere was also a fire in Hinkley MN the same day? It was felt that cinders from the Pestigo fire actually started the fire in Hinkley.
DeleteAnon @ 10:22 The Peshtigo fire moved to the Northeast. Hinkley is Northwest of Peshtigo your theory is most likely incorrect. Cinders did fly out into Lake Michigan and started boats on fire.
DeleteIf you get the chance spend a day at the Peshtigo fire museum.
Two other accounts
ReplyDeletehttps://www.americanheritage.com/forgotten-catastrophe-peshtigo
https://www.americanheritage.com/fire-makes-wind-wind-makes-fire
I have every issue of American Heritage Magazine from 1954 to about 1993 in a bookcase. Having read most of them when I was young, I'm always surprised when others don't know about events like this fire.
I recall reading once that the fire was hot enough to melt the railroad rails. (As an addendum to the first linked article, C.S. Lewis also died on Nov 22, 1963.)
When talking about major fires, California conveniently only refers to fires after 1960. It's how they keep saying worst fire season ever, every year.
ReplyDeleteFires brokeout all over that region, at the same time. I remember a meteorite theory a few decades ago suggested it brokeup in low atmosphere throwing molten iron over a 300ish mile area..
ReplyDeleteMultiple fires occured over a large region, at the same time. I remember a meteorite theory a few decades ago suggesting one broke apart in low atmosphere throwing molten iron over a 300ish mile area.
ReplyDelete