Fire Caused Strange Scene Near Portland

In the year 1870 fire caused consternation among the wild things which inhabited a strip of uncultivated land on the north side of the Rideau across from Portland. The land was in North Burgess and was partly rocky, partly stumpy (had been cut for timber) and partly beaver meadow.

The land in question had a frontage of about a mile on the lake. The year 1870, as most people know, was a very dry year and fires broke out everywhere. Something started a fire in this “bad land.” The fire came from the north and the denizens of the “bad lands” could not escape that way.

The fire drove them towards the Rideau River. One day the residents of the south side of the Rideau witnessed a strange scene. They saw red foxes, coons, ground hogs, squirrels and rabbits jump into the river and swim towards the south side. It was a scene never before witnessed.

The Drought of 1871 and the Mills on the Mississippi River

What Do You Know About the Burnt Lands?

When Crops Failed — Lanark County Went Manitoba Dreamin’

Run Pig Run–Shake it Off! Convictions of 1870