The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-11-16
An Exciting scene-The Prairie on
Fare Around Sioux Falls Clay-Ruf.
fnzo Flee before ssle Devourins EIe-
From the Sioux City Journal. I

From the Sioux City Journal
From gentleman just arrived from Sioux
Falls CITY we learn the following Darticu
lars of an exciting affair which occurred Al
that place few nights since:
The prairie had been burning in tho
ne'ghborhood all the afternoon, and TO-
wal ds evening the country on the Dakota
side of the river was seen to be abaZe, ans
the winds from the westward waited dense
cloud Of smoke and ashes towards the city
as night drew on the. lurid flames illumi
mated tnc streets, casting Il crimson ligh,
upon the windows OF the buildings, and
causing wierd expression to oVcrsprc7ld
the countenances of the citizens, who were
cOngie2ated upon the Strcct-corncrs watch
ing ire leaping flames as they writhcd and
twisted like souls in purgatory on the op.
poSitc side OF the river.
All WAS still and 10 sound was heard save
the occasional cracking OF the tall buncn
graSS rs it struggled and fought with the
fiery scrpentS that attacked its stems. The
citizens gaZcd with awe upon the grandeSt
Of western sights, and though gathered to.
gether in little knots and groups near each
other, the sublmity and grandeur of the
immense panofoma overpowered all speech
and al stood silent and motlonless, watch.
the approaching fires.
Hank what means the rumbling sound,
that, borne upon the night winds, break
with such dismay upon the ears of the
others faces, and though their lips move
nof, their eyes strive to seek the cause OF
these strange noises. UneaSily they gaze
along the river banks. The river is
not rising, 50 ii is not thence the
sounds proceed. No hurricane is felt,
50 the winds can furnish no solution Of The
mystery. What can il be? Soon The notSe
OF rolling thunder is n,iugiad with other
sounds, appearing like the click of br.Lle
lit, or shcaths of swords, and anon, the
snoring, putting breath Of animals can also
he clearly heard. Can it be that the Siyage>
have tired the country, and with this fear
full ally. are coming 10 destroy the settle
mentS: The knots and groups OF citizens
began 10 move Enoa>lly toward iheil
homes, as if feeling that their strong arms
would soon be needed to weld the knife
and rife for the protection Of their TIRES
holds.
Now strange, exciting cries are heard
from those who have remained Tic last upon
the streets, and the cry OF " Buffalo. he
buffalo are crossing the riyerH Was echoed
By many mouths.
Men hurried out of their houses, women
appeared in the dOorWays ana windows,
their night garments giving them the
cnostiy appearance OF the Inhabitants OF the
sepllchre. Riile-barrels cleaned and shone
with IL crimson lllstre in the light Of the
fires which were now tapping their serpent
tongues in the waters Of the rivers edge.
Heavens! what was that a huge body
rushes past the frightened women, and,
like demon incarnate, dashcs up the
street. Then another, and still another,
then the place resounds with blinking hoofS,
and a sea OF moving hail and gllsteniug
horns fills the streets and sidewalks.
Crash crash crash ! the rifles re
sound upon the streets Crash crash !!
and heavy bodies sink to rise no more.
4 moment Of horror and bcwildcr-
mcnt, and then the town is quiet-the
streets empty. and the thunder OF rccedlng
! hoois comes almost lnaudlbly 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 now dying fires. They strug-
gle, and vainly stIive to rise to their feet,
but soon sink back and beat Their huge
heads against the hard roadway, and as the
crimson life-stream Dours from mouth and
uostrl, roll their eyes in the death agony
BY the morning light naught is to he seen
but the CORY pools, which yet lay like mi
mature lakes upon the streets.