The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1878-11-16
AN IOWA CAssABIANCA.
story Of Brave Little Boy who
was Burned on the Prairies.

But the saddest of our story Is yet
TO come. The next day, Sunday
forenoon, another fire was set short
distance from the place where the
one 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 o'clock it had reach
ed Grant township, and was coming
at furious speed toward the prem
ises of Mr.. Ii. +. Aiken. Mr.. Aikcn's
child, lad of fifteen summers, saw
the fire storm approaching, and I'M
mediately mounted horse and gal
loped out into the field to try and
save his fathers hay, which was in
imminent danger. The boy let the
horse go, and took the blanket upon
which he rode and wet in the creek
and thought to put the fire out while
il was crossing. When the fire near
ed him II was so hot that he could
not stand it. and he started to run to
one side with the hope of getting
out of the way of the main head fire,
but he soon saw that lie could not
get out of its way, and knew that he
must face the worst. With great
presence of mind the brave little fell
low wrapped the wet blankets around
his head and shoulders, and turn
ed aud ran with all his might through
the fire. II 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 nailless and al
most ingcrless 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 scorched from
head TO foot, suffering untold ago
MES. His father who was a short
distance away, saw the fire as 1t pass
ed over his son. lie ran his horse
through the side fire, and was soon
at his boys side. Crank, are you
badly burned?'' asked Mr.. Aiken.
mo, father, but let's hurry home"
was the reply. Mr.. Aiken lifted the
poor fellow upon the horse, and
holding on to the boy with one hand
lest he might fall. They had pro-
ceedcd in this manner but n few steps
when the suffering boy said, ooh,
father, let me have the rcins-l can't
stand il 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 neigh
Dor Immediately came to town for
Drs. Robinson and Walker. and in the
meantime the almost distracted par
cnts were bathing him with tallow,
which seemed the only thing to af-
ford ease. The doctors did all in
their power to restore the suffering
boy, but all was in vain. He died
without struggle at 2 o'clock the
next morning. lie was burned in
ternally, which caused his death so
suddenly. Ills 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 by
his bedside until life had fled, fire.
quently asked him to have courage,
and the brave little fellow would re-
ply, eyes, father, I've got courage,
and think will stand Il all right!'
The funeral services were conducted
at the hall at this place last Monday
afternoon by Rev. A. Il. Smith, after
which the remains were taken to the
Ida Grove cemetery for interU'ent.
Frank was very smart boy for his
age, and was highly esteemed by the
nJighbors and all who know HIM
lie was always very kind and obedi-
ent to his parents. The entire COM
munity sympathize with tho bereav-
ed lnmilv in This nreni misfortune.