The Victims
In this section:
[ Area Affected ] [ The Dead ] [ The Survivors ] [ Relief Efforts ] [ Database ]
At first, I had designated
separate sections of this site for "Victims" (those who
perished) and "Survivors." It then occurred to me
that, no matter if they lived or died, everyone who went through
the fire was a victim. Many who survived had loved ones who did
not. Some survivors suffered physical and mental scars for the
rest of their lives. For a few, the personal and economic loss
was so great that they had no other option but to live out their
days at the county poor farm or asylum. Individuals who did not
experience the tragedy first hand, but who came from outside to
help clean up the mess and bury the dead, were also deeply affected.
This section will illustrate the
tragedy's wide reach. Here you will find examples of other
communities that suffered losses (besides Peshtigo), learn about
the impossible task of identifying all the dead and missing, and
hear what it was like for some of the survivors, in their own
words.
