Great Michigan Fire loss, animal deaths, and forest devastation has never been determined. Also unknown is the total number of human deaths. Some estimates put the loss of life at fewer than 500, but they were largely based on families reporting their members missing. In 1871 in Michigan there were hundreds to thousands of lumberjacks and salesmen spread out across the state, along with settlers in remote areas, making it impossible to total the loss. Because these fires happened in the day other estimates of the Great Michigan Fire death toll is lower than the Great Chicago Fire's estimated 250-300 dead. One speculation,
Great Gale of 1871 at over 50. Great Gale of 1871 The Great Gale of 1871 was a severe storm in the North Sea which struck the north east coast of England on Friday 10 February 1871. Shipping near the town of Bridlington was severely affected by the storm, and, in an attempt to rescue seamen, the RNLI lifeboat RNLB "Robert Whitworth" was put out of action and the fishermans lifeboat "Harbinger" upturned with nine locals on board, killing six of them. A memorial obelisk in Bridlington Priory Churchyard commemorates 43 burials there. 28 ships were wrecked on the north east coast, and total