Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1878-12-14
AN IOWA CASABIANCA.
A Brave Little Boy Burned on the
Prairies in Trying to Save His
Fathers Property.

But the saddest of our story is vet
to come. The next day, Sunday
forenoon, another fire was set short
distance from where the ore the day
before originated, and the wind being
in the same direction, and blowing a
great deal harder, the fire was driven
parallel with the other. About l
o'clock it had reached Grant town
ship, and was coming at furious
speed toward the premises of Mr.. B.
F. Aiken. Mr.. Aiken's oldest child,
lad of Is summers, saw the fire.
storm approaching, and Immediately
mounted a horse and galloped out
into the field to try and save his
fathers hay. which was in imminent
danger. The boy let the horse 60,
and took the blanket upon which he
rode and wet it in the creek, and
thought to put the fire out while it
was crossing. When the fire neared
him it was so hot that he could not
stand it, and started TO run at one
side with the hope of getting out
of the way of the main head fire,
but he soon saw that he could not
get out of the way, and knew that
be must face the worst. With great
presence of mind the brave little tel.
low wrapped the vet blanket around
his head and shoulders and turned
and ran with all his might through
the fire. 1t was but the work of
moment and his doom was sealed.
When be reached the burned region
the blanket dropped from him in
pieces, and with his nailless and al
NEST fingerless hands he tore the re-
mainder of his burning clothing
from his body, except his shoes,
which were crisp tight tn his feet,
and there he stood, naked and scorch-
ed from head to foot, suffering untold
agonies. His father, who was a
short distance away, saw the fire as it
passed over his son. He ran his
horse through the side fire and was
soon at his boys side. frank, are
you badly burned T. asked Mr.. Aiken.
No, father, but let's hurry home"
was the reply. Mr.. Aiken lifted the
poor fellow upon the horse and start
ed to lead il home, holding on t. the
boy with one hand lest he might
fall. They had proceeded in this
manner but few steps when the
suffering boy said, "Oh. father, let
me have the reins; l can't stand it to
go so SLOW" The father obeyed, and
Frank ran the horse at full speed to
the house. dismounted. tied the horse
and went into the house without
assistance. A neighbor Immediately
came to town for Drs. Robinson and
Walker. and in the meantime the al
most distracted parents were bathing
him with tallow, which seemed the
only thing to afford ease. The
doctors did all in their power to
restore the suffering boy, but all
was in vain. He died without
struggle at 2 the next morning.
He was burned internally, which
caused his death so suddenly. His
limbs up to his knees and elbows
were so badly burned that the blood
had ceased to circulate in them, and
they were cold and dead long before
the patient ceased to breathe. His
father, who stood bv his bedside
until life had fed, frequently asked
him to nave courage, and the brave
little fellow would reply, "Yes,
father, l have got courage, and think
l will stand it all right" Frank
was very smart boy for his age,
and was highly esteemed by the
neighbors and all who knew him.
He was always very kind and obedi-
ent to his parents.-Iowa Paper.