The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1874-12-09
BURNED ON THE PRAIRIE.
Terrible Fate OF n Nebraska Family.
Escape OF tho Father After ~ Long
Race From tho Flames.

Terrible Fate OF n Nebraska FamiIy--
Escape OF tho Father After ~ Long
Raoo From tho Flames.
Capt. Lakeland, recent citizen of
Lincoln, Neb., and well known, gives
the details of the terrible calamity that
overlook the family of Mr.. William g.
Herndon, farmer of Gage county,
Nebraska. He says he met Mr.. Hern-
don 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-
ings. Some three years ago Herndon
moved to Gage county from Iowa, and
! miles from the county seat. He pros
pered, and was succeeding we'll until
the late disaster, which not only de-
stroyed 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, but it was no unoom-
mon thing to see the grass burning,
and he paid but little attention to it,
although his wife seemed considerably
alarmed, and before bedtime she had
called his attention to it several times.
In the morning it was noticed that the
fire was 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 un-
molested, 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
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 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 evident they would overtake
them in a very few moments. What to
be done under the circumstances was q
question that had to be decided quickly.
The horses had now become unmanage-
able, and were as likely to overturn the
wagon and start for the flames as any
other way. A marshy piece Of ground
was some two miles distant, and near
this was small branch of water. from
which, he remembered, he had fire.
quently 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, lad of eight years, in
his arms. 1t was a struggle for life.
Death was coming, and they made one
grand effort to get out of its reach but,
alas it was unavailing. We will not
undertake to depict the anguish Of that
father, as he was compelled to see the
cherished ones of his own heart, those
whom he loved even better than his
own life blood, sink down, one after the
other, and become a prey to that most
terrible of all deaths-fre. The little
daughter was the first that was over
taken, and the mother was prone to
stay and give up her life with her
darling, but she kept on, while the
flames were yet more than hundred
yards behind, and little Mary was left
upon her knees, praying that her
| Heavenly rather might tako ner 10 Ills
bosom, and save her mother and father
and little brother from perishing.
Death soon came to her, and not long
did it wait for the little brother and
mother. In few moments the mothers
clothes were on fire, and she was un-
able to proceed. The father, with des-
perate determination to save his little
son, pushed 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 progress of the father, and
to save himself he determined to
abandon it. Thus freed of all incum-
brances he succeeded in reaching the
stream.
After the fire had passed by he re-
traced his steps, and gathered in one
place the blackened and charred re-
mains of his late household. Next day
the homes of some distant farmers were
reached, and they returned with Hern.
don and assisted him in the burial.