White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1871-11-02
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From the L. Cmsse Republiean.
From party lately arrived In this city from
Dakota, who travelled some days through and
along the burning district of Dakota and North
western Minnesota, we CLEAN the following. We
use the language Of our informant:
"FOr some days previous to leaving Cheyenne
river, in DekOta, at point seventy nve miles west
of the crossing of the Northern Pacific kailroad at
Red river, dense smoky atmosphere prevailed,
which each day grew more dense, warning us that
immense prairie fires were approaching our
quarters rapidly, and our party deemed II prudent
to move eastward as fast ~ possible. We made
immediate preparations but found that we were
in the saddle none too soon. The intense heat
and weight Of smoke affected MS very much, and
after starting, were forced to ride as rap
idly rs it possible for our beasts to carry u.s.
All through that long day We toiled along, our
eyes nearly blinded with parched throat and
cracked lips, and intense thirst, we rode on, and
on, till at nghtfall we came in sightof ked river
having ridden sevenfy-five miles without rest or
halt but once. Glad were the hearts of our party,
and much rejoicing was there ut our escape from
great danger, if not from loss of life. At points
along the route the wall of flames would be quite
near us. Its roar could he distinctly heard many
miles, and its rapid motion WAS surprising. The
line of fire seemed tO be solid wall of flame Of
about 20 to 30 feet in height, and moved as rapidly
as fleet horse could run. Occasionally portion
of the line would break away in bodies Of 40 or
more feet square, and be carried, with almost
electric rapidity distance of so 100 rods ahead
and then strike the high dry grass, which would
Immediately ignite and add its destroying force to
the already gigantic cOnhagratiOn.
After resting at Red river our party, reduced to
three persons, moved on eastward and southwark,
passing over a district but lately burned. We
could not distinguish an object SO yards away.
Great, heasy clouds of smoke hanging, like pail
through all the distance of $50 miles we Travelled
before reaching the mississippi river, and even
there the smoke was very oppressive. We devia-
ted somewhat from the usual route Travelled, and
found at different points the charred remains of
three human being, nothing left but the bodies,
and those burned to crisp. The sight was hOr
rible in all particulars, and not q thing could be
found that would in any way identify the burned
cOrpses
We heard of one case that showed great pres
ence of mind and much calmness. A man who
had been with Sherman in his march to the sea-"
was caught in the midst of a fire which was ap-
preaching him from all sides. Having nOmatches
to create what is called ''setting hack fire" and
death staring him in the face, his wit suggested
"gopher hole" Setting at work with he will thata
tackled the sod with large hunting knife, cutting
a large piece away; he rolled it back, and at once
commenced throwing the soft dry earth upward
and outward, and soon had hole dug Of sufficient
size to admit his body. Carefully drawing the
sod toward him he succeeded in drawing it over
his body, and then filed mp the "chinks" from
dirt within. He laid there until the fire passed
over him, and was spreading fIrously on its way,
miles distant, then slowly he crawled out of his
living grave, heated fearfnlly, but injured in
way whatever. His soldier experience had saved
his life.
No one who has not witnessed this besom of de-
structiOn the plains can form any adequate
idea its magnitude, its velocity, its endsh like
cruelty, its laundering like and its vast de-
structiOn.
The latest information we had was that the fire
had reached the Big Woods" about two hun
dred miles northwest Of La Crosse, and was rag
ing furiousy, destroying everything it came in
contact with horses, barns, cattle, everything is
of the destroying element. Iu the peat country,
the fire will lingcr longer than on the prairies,
and do much more damage, it destroys the
earth.