"The Forgotten Fire"

The deadliest fire in the history of the United States occurred in a town you probably never heard of -- right here in Wisconsin. On October 8 1871, Peshtigo, Wisconsin was totally consumed by fire, and over 1,200 people died. The fire was not widely reported in the press, however, because the Great Chicago Fire also took place on that date.

More than 1,200 people died in Peshtigo; only 250 in the Chicago Fire.

Read a harrowing account of the Peshtigo fire at Damn Interesting.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:42 PM  I   I  0 comments