The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-10-13


DRED AND FIFTY MILES or WooD-
LAND AND PRAIRIE IN A BLAZE
TIE PEOPLE FLEEING FOR LIFE.
From small beginning somewhere
near the western boundary OF tho State
says the st. Paul Pioneer of Oct. .,
within few days past, prairie fire
spread until ii has reached tho "EiE
Woods" $50 miles from the point Of
starting. In striking the woods il was
not stayed in It's course, hut the fancs,
setting upon tho dry uuderbrush, and
from thence to the tall trees of the for
est, extending its line for distance Of
fifteen miles in the heavy timber, until
it reached Smith Lake. When once
fairly under hcadway in the timber, the
scene is described rs grand beyond tho
power Of pen or pencil to picture. Roar
ing, cracking with q sound that could
ho heard for miles the flames tore their
yay, leaving behind thCm smoking,
dcsolatC waste to mark their onward
march. Everything in their course was
destroyed. The grain and haystack5,
the cOrnAcId5, fences, and the rude
homes and scanty household goods of
the settler all fell prey TO the insatiatc
monster. The terror stricken people
fled, leaving all their worldly posses
sions behind, thankful to escape with
their lives.
On Saturday morning thc flames alp.
preached the line Of the st. Paul aud
Pacific road at different points. The
men in charge of DE Graf ~ Co.. ware
house, at the terminus of the iron on
Il ia, cor
twenty miles this side of Brcckinridge,
supposed there was no danger, as the
buildings were situated on the opposite
side of thcrailroad track, and the flames
would have to make leap OF some
forty feet to reach them. They did not
calculate upon the force OF the coming
Whirlwind of fire, and the buildings,
together with all their contents, fell an
easy prey to tho flames.
l.oaping the road land at different
points setting fire to the ties,) the ilamc5
spread onward with the heetncSs of the
wind, The passenger train that left
here on Saturday morning for Morris,
arrived safely at the station, although
the employees and passengers on the
train were almost suilOcated with the
smoke and heat, and when it reached
Morris the cars were filed with the cin-
dcrs and ashes Of the prairic grass. Ihe
whole country for miles was covered
with dense volume Of smoke, and the
air filled with the dying cmberS OF grass,
shrubs, etc.
All day on Sunday the fire ragged with
unabatcd fury, and yesterday when the
passenger train from Morris came over
| the roul there was n line of fire for
miles on each side; that i'll the "Big
| Woods" between Darwin and Smith
Lake, being especially grand and terri.
fic. The fire had crossed the road, and
was still sweeping. That in the woods
would probably extend to Crow river
where its course would be stayed, but
that on the paririo will probably sweep
| far northWard, unless Al providontial
rain puts Il stop to its ravagcs.
Henry Gagor, Of st. Cloud, was re-
turning from Fort AbercrOmblc with
five fine horses, the flames overlook hin
and seeing his only safety in facing
them, he headed his horses for the wall
of nrc, and dashed through, burning
his ovorCOat from his back, and injurini
his horses TO such an extent that they
are almost worthless. Fortunately Mr
eager, escaped with only few burns
lie is an old hand on the prairics, and
holding his breath, swallowed no flame
A mile or two behind Mr.. eager wa
, man driving a flock Of some 10
sheep. NcithCr man nor sheep had bceI
heard from Mt last accounts.
on Sunday Mr.. Cuvcudcr, the con
ductor of the Morris train, went ou
some two miles on the prairie with
companion or two. They saw the fir
approachiug In the distance, but did 10
calculate upon its rapid march, an,
| turuiuu too late 10 Hv would have per