Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1878-11-23
AN IOWA CASABIANCA.
STORY OF a BRAVE LITTLE Boy WHO
WAS BURNED ON THE PHAIRIES.

From the Ida County Iowa) Pioneer.
But the saddest of our story is yet to
come. The next day, Sunday forenoon,
| another fire was set u short distance
from where the one the day before origi
mated, and the wind being in the same di
| rection, and blowing great deal harder,
the fire was driven parallel with the
other. ALout o'clock it had reached
Grant township, AMI was coming at furi
GUS speed toward the premises of Mr.. b.
F. Aiken. Mr.. Aiken's Oldest child, a
lad of fifteen 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 go, aud 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 it's way and knew
that he must face the worst. With great
presence of mind the brave little fellow
wrapped the wet blanket around his
head and shoulders and turned and ran
with all his might through tho fire. 1t
was but the work of a moment and his
doom was sealed. When he reached the
burned region the blanket dropped from
him in pieces, and with his nail-less and
almost tingerless hands he tore the re-
mainder OF his burning clothing from his
body, except his shoes, which were crisp
tight to his feet, and there he stood,
naked and scorciled from head to foo,
suffering untold agonies. His father
who was short distance away, saw the
fire as 1t passed over his son. He ran his
horse through the side fire and was soon
at his boys side. "Frank. are You bad
ly burned - asked Mr.. Aiken. "No ia
ther, but let 5 hurry home," was the re-
ply. Mr.. Aiken lifted the poor fellow
upon the horse and started to lead it
home, and holding on to the boy with
one hand lest he might fall. They had
proceeded i'll this manner but few steps
when the suffering boy said "Oh, IA
Their, let me have the rein-I can't stand
1t to go so slow" The fathe. obeyed. and
Frank ran the horse at full speed to the
house, dlsmounted, tied the horse and
went into the house without assistance.
neighbor Immediately came to town
for Drs. Robinson and Walker, and in
the meantime the almost distracted pa
rents 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
III vain. lie died without Il STRUGGLE ,1
f"eo.ti;"ly; winch caused his death 90
suddenly. His limbs up to his knees and
elbows were so badly burned that tb.
oioou ceased to circulate in them. and |
'hey were cold and dead long before 1,a
patient ceased to breathe. His t:tl ar
VINO STOOD by his bedside until life he'd
leu, frequently asked him to have co,,r
lSe, ana :nc brave little fellow v,ull
ep'S lH'' father, i've got c",lra.,
-''' '''''N "'' Stand it ali liyhl.H rn,.
"''c'a ii! sciE!r" were conducted TT ia.
''l ''' inns place last Monday aiIeruo,D
y hev. y. l.. Smith, after which thc re-
HILLS were taken to the Ida Grove Gem
Try Tor lnterment. Frank was q worry,
i''''' ooy 1or his age, and was highly
seemed by the neighbors and all who !
nc" MN. He was always very kind
III opedlent TO lis parents The emit %
sympathizc with the berc.,,
family i'll this great misfortune