New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-10-19
PRAIRIE FIRES IN DAKOTA.
RACE FOR LIFE.

LA CROSSE, Wis, Oct. ia party has ar
rived in this city who travelled or several days through
and alonR'the burning district Of Dakota and North
Western For some days previous to leaving
Cheyenne River, in Dakota, at point rs miles west of
the crossing of the Northern Pacific Railroad at Red
River dense smoky atmosphere prevailed, which
each day grew dense, warning them that
immense prairie fires" were approaching rapidly, and
the party deemed 1t prudent to move eastward as fast
as possible. They made immediate preparations, but
found that they In the saddle none too The
intense heat and weight Of cke affected them very
much and soon after starting they forced TO ride
as rapidly as possible All through that long day they
toiled along their eyes nearly blinded, with parched
throat and cracked lips and intense thirst,
till at nightfan they In sight OF Red
River having ridden rs miles without rest or halt but
once. At points along the route the wall Of flames
would be quite near. Its could be heard
many miles, and its rapid motion was surprising
The line Of fire seemed to be a solid wall Of
fame Of about 20 so feet in hight, and moved as
rapidly as feet horse could rum Occasionally portion
of the line would break away in bodies Of forty or more
feet square, and be carried with almost electric rapidy
q distance of fifty or hundred rods ahead, and then
strike the high, dry grass which would Immediately
ignite and its destroying force to the already ggan
tic confagratton.
After resting at Red River the party reduced to three
persOns, moved on eastward and southwark, passing
over district but lately burned They could not dstin
gish an object nifty yards away great heavy clouds Of
smoke hanging like q pail through all the
distance Of $50 miles they Travelled before reach
ing the Mississippi River, and even there the
smoke was very oppressive. They deviated somewhat
from @ usual route travelled, and found at different
points the charred remains OF three human beings moth
Ing left but the bodies, and those burned to crisp
Nothing could be found that would In any way identity
the burned corpses.
letter from Yankton reports that the last down coach
found the country pretty well burned over to within
mile or two of YanktOn and the IRE B still burning In
various directionE The ruins OF four smOdering
houses were SEEM grain and haystacks were blazing ON
ali sides and burning fences swept across the country In
ell directions. Another terrible fire ragged the same
day this side of YRnktOn, and within few miles
of that city The flames swept toward YauktOn and In
their course devOured several houses beside numerous
barns sheds and stacks OF grain: The coach due In
YanktOn Wednesday evening had an exciting time Of
race ensued. The driver piled his whip, and away
the horses went RallOp Nearer and nearer
came the dre The rcd glare klled the sky the Tored
tongue shot OUT the terrible hssngs OF the demon were
I'm the ears Of the ahnghted passengers The driver
gthered his lines, drew the leaders from the road the
horses gathered Jumped, railfeDce was beneath the
wheels Of ts coach. the coach on piece Of pOwed
ground and the fire went by with roar Ike cataract