The avant courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1871-1872, 1871-11-16
The Prairie Fires.

From party lately arrived i'll this city
from Dakota, who travelled some days through
and along the burning district of Dakota and
Northwestern Minnesota, we CLEAN the fol-
lowing. We use the language of our in
formant
For some days PREVIOUS to leaving Chey-
enne river, in Dakota, ass a point seyenty-flve
miles west of the crossing OF the Northern
Pacific Railroad at Red river, dense, smoky
atmosphere prevailed, which each day grew
more dense, warning us that immense prai-
rie fires were approaching our quarters rap
idly, and our party deemed it prudent to
move eastward as fast as possible. we made
immediate preparations. but found that we
were in the saddle none too soon. The in
tense heat and weight Of smoke affected us
very much, and soon alter starting we were
forced to ride as rapidly as it was possible for
our beasts to carry us. All through that long
day we toiled along, oilr eyes nearly blinded;
with parched throat and cracked lips, and III
tense thirst we rode on, and on, till at night
fall we came in sight of Red river, having
ridden seyenty-five miles without rest or halt
but once. Glad were the hearts Of our party,
and much rejoicing was there at our escape
from great danger, if not loss OF life. 1T
points along the route the wall OF names
would be quite near rs. Its roar could pe
distinctly heard many miles and its RAPID
motion was surprising. The line OF lire
seemed to be solid wall OF flames OF about
! 20 to 80 feet in hight, and moved as rapidly
as a fleet horse could run. Occasionally
portion of the line would break away IN
| bodies of 10 or more feet square. and De car
ried with almost electric rapidity. distance
| of so or 100 rods ahead. and then strike the
high, dry grass, which would Immediately
| ignite and add its destroying force to the al
ready gigantic contiagration.
After resting at Red river, our panty, re
| duced to three persons, moved on eastward
and southwark, passing over district buf
lately burned We could not distinguish al
object fifty yards away. Great heavy clouds
of smoke. hanging like a pail, through ali
the distance of two hundred and fifty miles
we travelled before reaching the Mississippi
river, land even there, the smoke was very
oppressive. We deviated something from
the usual route travelled, and found at differ
ent points the charred remains of three
human beings, nothing left but the bodies
and those burned to crisp. The sight Waf
horrible in all particulars, and not thing
could be found that would in any way iden
ltify the dead eorpses.
| We heard Of one case that showed great
presence of mind and much calmness. q
man who had been with Sherman in hi
.march to the sea- was caught in the mIdsl
of fire which was approaching him from al
sides. having no matches to create what Is
called "a back fire. and death staring him IL
the face, his wit suggested gopher hole
Setting to work with the will that mar
would use who was working for life. ne at
tackled the sod with large hunting knife
cutting large piece away he rolled it back
! and at once commenced throwing the soft
dry earth upward and outward, and soon nae
/ hole dug of sufficient size to admit his body
Carefully drawing the sod toward him ht
succeeded ir drawing it over his body. ant
then filled up the chinks from dirt within
He laid there until the fire passed over him
and was spreading furrioiisly on its way
miles distant, then slowly he crawled out
his living grave, heated fearfully, but injured
/ in no way whatever. His soldier experience
/ had saved his life. No one who has not VII
messed this bosom of destruction on the plains
can form any adequate idea ofits magnitude
its velocity, its fiendish like cruelty, its fhun
dering roar and its vast destruction.
4 The latest information we had was tnar W
! fire had reached the Big Woods. 2 about tW'
] hundred miles northwest Of La Crosse, ant
was raging furiously, destroying everything
4 it came in contact with horses. barns, cattle
4 everything is lost to settler and farmer Wn
are iii the track of the destroying element
i In the peat country, the fire will linger muc
/ longer than on the prairies, and do muc
more damage, as it destroyes the earth
Il Id Crosse Republican,.
i THAT woman was great philosopher, VINO
when she lost her husband, said she had on
great eonsoIation-she knew where ne wa
| OF nights.