This episode of Shadows from the Tree we discuss tales of natural disasters that affected many lives. The Peshtigo Fires were nearly forgotten, having occurred the same day as the great Chicago fires in 1871. A rare audio clip of survivor, Charlie Bateman, paints the harrowing picture of the tragedy. Also we shed light on the survival story of Ignatius Roth, during ice bridge crack, on February 4, 1912, in Niagara Falls, NY.

Join us in this exciting season opener, where we uncover intriguing stories of prison breaks. From bars to headlines in 192os, the tale of William Griffith, a West Virginian coal miner who took to a life a crime, making several successful escapes from the state penitentiary. We also cover the 1902 Pittsburgh jailbreak of the Biddle Brothers, with the assistance of the warden's wife, Kate Soffel.

Join us for Season 3 of Shadows of the Tree- returning late September 2025.

This season, expect the return of listener favorites like:

Love triangles

Natural Disasters

Deathbed Confessions

… plus brand-new themes, including:

Prison Breaks - following fugitives in the family line

Buried Alive- stories of premature burials and mistaken deaths

Industrial Accidents - where early labor often came with a fatal cost

… and many more

This season also introduces Shadow Spotlight, where at the end of each episode, we feature a listener submitted story tied to the theme - bringing even more ancestral voices into the light.

Your ancestors left more than a name. Are you ready to hear their story?