How many of you were taught about the great Wisconsin fire in history class? (Peshtigo: how much, teacher)

[susancruzs]

On my bus tour about the fire, they said, while the popularity of Mrs. O'Leary's cow story, the lantern, is what alot of people believe, extreme summer heat, dryness that summer contributed to it. They also talked about the meteor theory.

Actually we came away feeling after the tour that no one really knew then or knows now, not to where they can say, yes this is exactly what happened.

[TKramar]

Was it the Peshtigo fire or the Triangle Fire?

[Milwaukee City]

Never heard of the pe****go fire until I heard it here on city data forum and I'm 27!

[DASULAR17]

We were not taught about the fire and little was mentioned about the
Chicago fire which got more press in spite of the Peshtigo fire causing
more damage and deaths. It is theorized that the fire in chicago began
in a hay barn and that might be the case,but the cause was more than
likely a astroid that fragmented and hit both cities simultaneously. Being
from Oshkosh we should have been informed.

[Milwaukee City]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

Never heard of the pe****go fire until I heard it here on city data forum and I'm 27!

I guessed I spelled Pheshtigo wrong...lol. Didn't do that on purpose

[wigirl920]

Originally Posted by TKramar

Was it the Peshtigo fire or the Triangle Fire?

Peshtigo Fire is what I've always heard it called...but that doesn't mean it didn't go by other names. Have you heard it referred to as the Triangle Fire?

[Maineah]

The meteor theory has been redefined as a plasma vortex forming ( like an electric tornado) in the atmosphere from a passing comet and grounding in the Peshtigo and Chicago areas. The strange way people were burned in fields that were NOT burned, people having coins fuse in their pockets and blue/green fires seen in the basements of buildings add to the mystery. It's a fascinating fire to study.
The first hand accounts are really amazing to read and make no sense (fire columns coming out of nowhere) when thinking of what we call a normal fire.

From Thunderbolts.info web page on the fire

The proponents of the cometary explanation cite many fascinating details confirmed by eye witness reports: the descent of fire from the heavens, a great “tornado” of fire rushing across the landscape and tearing buildings from their foundations, descending balls of fire, a rain of red dust, great explosions of wind accompanied by blasts of thunder, buildings exploding into flame where no fire was burning, and a good deal more.

[wigirl920]

Originally Posted by Maineah

The meteor theory has been redefined as a plasma vortex forming ( like an electric tornado) in the atmosphere from a passing comet and grounding in the Peshtigo and Chicago areas. The strange way people were burned in fields that were NOT burned, people having coins fuse in their pockets and blue/green fires seen in the basements of buildings add to the mystery. It's a fascinating fire to study.
The first hand accounts are really amazing to read and make no sense (fire columns coming out of nowhere) when thinking of what we call a normal fire.

From Thunderbolts.info web page on the fire

The proponents of the cometary explanation cite many fascinating details confirmed by eye witness reports: the descent of fire from the heavens, a great “tornado” of fire rushing across the landscape and tearing buildings from their foundations, descending balls of fire, a rain of red dust, great explosions of wind accompanied by blasts of thunder, buildings exploding into flame where no fire was burning, and a good deal more.

Interesting. That could explain how it managed to cross over the Bay of Green Bay. From what I've read it was supposedly just such a massive fire that it made the leap. While not a very wide body of water it's hard to imagine how that could have happened.

Going to check out the link you posted - thanks!

[TKramar]

Originally Posted by wigirl920

Peshtigo Fire is what I've always heard it called...but that doesn't mean it didn't go by other names. Have you heard it referred to as the Triangle Fire?

There was a fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist company during the 19th century. I'm not sure it's the same fire, to be honest. I knew there was one in Peshtigo...

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by TKramar

There was a fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist company during the 19th century. I'm not sure it's the same fire, to be honest. I knew there was one in Peshtigo...

That tragedy was in New York,1911. Horrible working conditions contributed to that fire.


triangle shirtwaist fire - Google Images

T R I A N G L E F A C T O R Y F I R E