Historical research project : reflections of Kewaunee Co.

              gusts of wind. With the forest foliage being as dry as it was, the fires just kept on growing bigger and bigger. Soon these big fires combined and grew still bigger. By this time the fire was totally out of control. At this time fires began long before flames reached them; just from the intense heat, things would start to burn. The cries of birds could be heard all over the county. Wild animals, such as deer and bear, came running out of the woods to seek whatever shelter they could find out in the fields with the cattle. People were running all over trying to find any kind of shelter that they could. Many people sought shelter on the beaches and at the lake. A lot of people climbed into wells to find protection. Many people died in the wells, but then again some people were saved by climbing down in them. In one story, a man told some women to put on some men's pants for a little extra protection. These women were very shocked at even hearing this suggestion. In 1871 no decent women ever wore trousers. The fires grew so hot that there are stories of peoples clothing catching on fire just from the heat. Some people that lived through the fire were very badly burned from the heat and many others became fully or partially blinded from it. Some people sought shelter out In open fields. In one story a women was laying out in a field under a blanket which she used for protection. Outside she heard shouts and confused voices In the darkness. Someone stumbled against her and fell down next to her. The lady parted the blanket and peered out; she saw a woman's body laying next to her. The body was on fire and the flames were blowing directly toward the lady. The lady put out her hand, keeping it covered with the blanket, and tried to push the burning woman's head away but the head would not turn. She quickly drew back away when she heard the flesh of the burning body began to crackle. The flames from the dead body did not set the woman's blanket on fire. She clawed handfuls of dirt from under the blanket to cover her shoes. The dirt was so hot   It  burnt  her  hands.
Many people thought that it was the end of the world. One woman decided to stop fleeing from the fire and fell to her knees and told her husband that the day of judgement had come. Her husband ordered her to get up and run, but she refused and bowed her head to the ground. The husband studied the tempting target she made, then drew back his leg and gave her what was described as "an affectionate lift with his boot." This got her off her knees and into motion! He used this method  to  make  sure  his  wife  did   not  slow  down   again!
Another man told his story of how he survived and what happened  later the  next day.  The  man  was   lying  out   in   the  field
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