On October 8, 1871 the worst fires in US history occurred. Chicago burned to the ground, as did many other towns around Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Peshtigo, Wisconsin was hardest hit, with more than 1,000 dead.
Balls of fire were observed to fall like meteors in different parts of the town.
It seemed as if the love of God had been withdrawn from the place, and the fury fiends of hell had been loosened to wantonly vex and torment the people.
