The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-11-26
BURNED IN A PRAIRIE FIRE.
A Terrible Narrative from Nebraska
"A Whole Family Consumed.
[Fron the St. Joseph (Mol Herald. Nov. IL

IRON Inc St. Joseph mo Herald, Nov. II. J
Last evening Capt. George Lakeland
and Mr.. Charles Lanshaw, who came in
ON the IL 0 clock train Of the Kansas
City, st. Joseph & Council Bluffs rail-
road from Gage county, Nebraska.
brought the news of sad accident 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 inpro bable that
many other families have suffered in
the same manner, and that it will be
necessary to extend liberal aid, and
that very shortly.
Capt. Lakeland. a recent citizen Of
Lincoln, Neb., and a gentleman we'll
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
prairles, 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
almost all their worldly possessions. and
are travelling with nothing but their
team and scant allowance Of provisions.
Many of these people are bat 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.. William S. Herndon, a
well-known farmer Of Gage County.
He says he met Mr.. Herndon on Mon
Cay night, on his way to Lincoln. where
he has relations residing, and where he
expects aid. From Mr.. Herndon S own
lips he learned the story of his suffer
lngs. Some three years ago Herndon
moved to Gage county from Iowa, and
purchased 90 acres of land nine miles
from the county seat. He prospered
and was doing we'll until the late disast-
er. which not only destroyed his prop
erty. but LETT him alone IN the world,
the fire having overtaken his family
consisting of his wife and two child rem.
and burned them to death.
Herndon says he noticed the fire
miles away on saturday night, but it
was not uncommon to see the grass
burning, and he paid but little atten-
ton to it. although his wife seemed con-
siderably alarmed, and, before bedtime,
she had called his attention to it sew
eral 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 mad evil
IDENTIFY come nearer to them. lie was
still inclined to believe that it would
pass around and leave him unmolested,
or that it would rain and thus put dan
ger out of the question.
\ heavy wind springing up at noon,
however. and blowing directly from the
fire towards 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
two-horse wagon they started, more
than ten miles in advance OF the ire,
with every probability Of beng able to
get out Of its reach. Good time was
made By the team, and not till late IN
the evening. when the wind increased III
fury, was there any apprehension OF
danger. About dusk the wind in
creas ed to hurricane. and the flames
began to approach them with terrible
speed and awful grandeur. Faster and
faster they came. Mr.. Herndon says
that it was evident that they
would overtake them in a very few mo-
ments. What wss to be done under
the circumstances was question that
mad to be decided quickly. The horses
had now become unmanageble, and
were as likely to oyerturn the wagon
and start for the flames as any other
way. 4 niarshy piece Of ground was
some two miles distant, and near this
was small branch Of water from
which he remembered he had frequent
" watered 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 ) years III his arms. 1t
was struggle for life. Death was coming
and they made one grand effort to get
out of its reach. but alas . 1t was una
vaiiing. 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 ne
loved even better than his own life
blood, sink down one after the other
and become prey to that most terri
bic of all deaths-by fire. The little
daughter was the first that wss over
taken. and the mother was prone TO
stay and give up her life with her dar-
ling, but she kept on. while the flames
were yet more than hundred yards
away. 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
brother frcm perishing. Death soon
came for her. and not long did It wait
for the little brother and mother. II
few moments the mothers clothes
were on fire. and she was unable to pro-
coed. The father. with desperate de-
termination to save his little son. push
ed on. but 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 prog ress of the father and. TO save
himself. he determined to abandon it.