The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-11-20
A TERRIBLE NARRATIVE FROM
NEBRASKA.
A Whole Family Consumed by Fire in
an Attempt to Escape.
Lst. Joseph Herald, 18th

braska, brought the news of sad acci-
dent that occurred by reason of the great
prairie fires that are now raging in that
section of the State. Those gentlemen
claim that it is not altogether improba-
BILE that many other families have suf-
fered in the same manner, and that it
will be necessary to extend liberal aid,
and that very shortly.
Captain Lakeland, a recent citizen of
Lincoln, Nebraska, and a gentleman
well known in this community, says that
ever since Friday night one week ago
the fires on the prairie have been burn
ing with terrible vim, sweeping every
thing that comes in their way. The
heavy winds now prevalent upon the
prairies of course add fury to the flames,
and those families that can move are
Fastening to avoid its wrath and save
what little of their property they can.
Many of them are leaving behind al
most all of their worldly possessions
and are travelling with nothing but their
team and a scant allowance of provis-
ions. Many of these people are but
poorly clad and have already suffered
much from the pinching wind. He says
that their suffering must of necessity be
great. He gives US the details of the
terrible calamity that overlook the
family of Mr.. VIM. S. Herndon, we'll
known farmer of Gage County. He says
he met Mr.. Herndon ON Monday night
on his way to Lincoln, where he has re-
lations residing and where he expects
aid From Mr.. Herndon's own lips he
learned the story of his sufferings. Some
three years ago, Herndon moved to Gage
County from Iowa, and purchased sixty
acres of land nine miles from the coun-
ty seat. He prospered and was doing
we'll until the late disaster, which not
only destroyed his property, but left
him alone in the world, the fire having
overtaken his family, consisting of his
wife and two Children, and burned them
to death.
Herndon says he noticed the fire miles
away on Saturday night, but it was no
uncommon thing to see the grass burn
ing and he paid but little attention to
it, although his wife seemed considera-
bly, alarmed, and before bed time she
had called his attention to it several
times. He still thought nothing of it, or
that it was nothing more than the grass
burning, and would be out by morning.
Under this belief he, with his family,
retired. In the morning it was noticed
that the fire was even burning with more
vim, and had evidently come nearer TO
them. He was still inclined to believe
that it would pass around and leave him
unmolested, or that it would rain, and
thus put danger out of the question.
A heavy wind springing up at noon,
however, and blowing directly from the
fire toward the house, warned him that
the danger was growing imminent. His
children were now crying through fear,
and his wife was importuning him to
make the best of time. Arrangements
were soon made for the journey, and in
a two-hOrse wagon they started, more
than ten miles in advance of the fire,
with every probability of being able to
get out of its reach. Good time was
made by the team, and not until late in
the evening, when the wind increased
in fury, was there any apprehension of
danger. About dusk the wind increased
to a hurricane, and the flames began to
approach them with terrible speed and
awful grandeur. Faster and faster they
came, and Mr.. Herndon says that it was
very few moments. What to be done
under the circumstances was a question
that had to be decided quickly. The
horses had now. become unmanageable,
and were as likely to overturn the wa
gon and start for the flames as any 9TH
er way. A marshy piece ofground was
some two miles distant, and near this
was a small branch of water from which
he remembered he had frequently wa
tered his horses. This was the only
chance for life, and hastily leaving his
wagon and team to their fate, he started
for the marsh with his youngest child, a
lad of eight years, in his arms. 1t was
struggle for life. Death was coming,
and they made one grand effort to get
out of its reach, but alas! it was una
vaIling, We will not undertake to de-
pict the anguish of that father as he was
compelled to see the cherished ones of
his own heart, those whom he loved ev-
en- better than his own blood, sink down
one after the other and become prey to
that most terrible of all death-by fire.
The little daughter was the first that was
overtaken, and the mother was prone to
stayf and give up her life with her dar-
ling, but she kept on, while the flames
were more than hundred yards behind
and little Mary was left upon her knees
praying that her Heavenly Father
might take her to His bosom and save
her mother, and father and little broth
er from perishing. Death soon came for
her. and not long did it wait for the lit
tie brother and mother. In a few mo-
ments the mothers clothes were on fire,
and she was unable to proceed. The
father, with desperate determination to
save his little son pushed on, already his
clothes were on fire, and the little boy
the pride of his heart, was struggling
to free himself from the tortures, and
soon he was at rest in death. His body
but hIndered the progress of the father
and, to save himself, he determined to
abandon it. Thus freed of all incum-
brances, he made greater speed, and sue
ceeded in reaching the stream.
After the fire had passed by he re-
traced his steps and gathered in one
place all that was earthly of his treas
nred ones. 1t was sight when that
poor father gathered the blackened and
charred remainSoOf his late household,
in the stiffness Of the night, upon that
lone and desolate prairie, which we hope