The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1870-11-19
AN EXCITING SCENE.
The PraFie on Fire AFOun q
Sioux Gity-EgUfEaI0eS Flee Be
fore the DeVOurlns' Elem mis-
The y are Driven by The Fire
into the 3EidSg Of the Settle
E1enfS.


nlenfs.
From the Sioux City Journal 4th,l
From a gentleman just arrived from Sioux
Falls City we learn the following particulars
of an exciting affair which occurred at that
place few nights since
The prairie had been burning in the
nei2hborhood all the afternoon, and toward
evening the country on the Cekuta side of
the river was seen to be ablaze, and the
winds from the westward waited a dense
cloud ofsmoke and ashes toward the city.
As night drew on the lurid flames illumina
ted the streets, casting crimson light up
on the windows Of the buildings, and cau.-
ing weird expression to overspread the
countenauces Of the citizens who were con
gregated upon the streets corners, watching
the leaping flames as they writhed and
twisted, like souls in purgatory, on the
opposite side of the river All was still.
aud no sound Was to be heard save the
occasional cracking Of the tall bunch grass
as it struggled and fought with the fiery
serpents that attacked it, stems. The
citizens gazed with awe upon the grandeSt
of estern sights, and though gathered
together in little knots and groups, near
each other, the sublimi,y and grandeur IF
the Immense panorama overpowered all
speech, and all stood silent and motionese
watching the approaching fires
llark what means the rumbling sound
tbo+ b,,-n., ,,r,r H. r,;.,bt. ,r;,d, Lr,.E
with ch dismay upon the ears of the
affcishred Spectators Men look into each
others faces. and though the lips move
not their eyes strive to seek the cause Of
these strange noises Uneasily they gaze
along the river banks The river Is not
rising, 30 it is not thence the sounds pro.
coed. No hurricane is felt, so the winds
can furnish no solution to the mystery
What can it be? Soon the noise Of rol ing
thunder is min-led with other sounds, ap
pearirg like the click of bridal bits or sheaths
of swords, and, enon, the snorting, putin
breaths of animals can also be clearly
heard. Can it be that the savages hnv,
fired the country. and with this fearful ally,
are coming to destroy the settlements Tn
knots and groups of citizens began to move
uneasiiy toward their homes, as if feelin4
that their strong arms would soon be needed
to WELD the knife and rifle for the Irote,-
ton Of their threSeholds
Now, strange, exciting cries are heard
from those who have remained last upon
the streets, and she cry Of Buffalo, the bur
falo ara crossing the river f. was ech ed by
Hany mouths.
Men hurried ont Of their houses, women
appeared in the doorways and windows
their Right garments giving them the ghos.y
appearance OF the inhabitants of the sevuI.
chrp. Rifle barrels cleaned and shone with
a crimson lustre in the light of the fires
which were now laving their serpent tongues
in the aters Of the river edge.
Heavens! what was that huge body
ru~hes past the frightened women, a d ike
Il demon incranate ruShes up the street
Then another, and still another, then the
place resounds with the clicking hoofs, and
a Sea If moving hair and gIistening horns
fills the streets and sidewalks Crash
crash crash the rifles resound upon the
streets, Crash crash and heavy bodies
sink to rise no more moment of horror
and bewillderment, and then t town i
quiet-the streets empty, and the thunder
of recedine hoofs comes almost inaudibIy to
the ears of the citizens who now cautiously
sally forth. In the streets and cutters, dark,
shaggy masses are dimly to be seen by the
light OF the noF dying fires They struggle
and vainIy strive to rise, to their hIE3 heads
against the hard roaivty, and as the Grim
son life stream pours from mouth AMI nos
tris, roll their eyes ia the death agony
| BY the morning light narght Is to be seen
but gorg pools whi-h yet lay like NINA
ture lakes upon the streets