St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-11-22
An Iowa Casabianca.
STORY OF A BRAVE LITTLE BOY WHO
WAS BURNED ON THE PRAIRIES.
IFrom the Ida Comfy Iowa) Pioneer

STORY OF BRAVE LITTLE BOY WHO
WAS BURNED ON THE PRAIRIES.
[From the Ida County Qowa) Pioneer
But the saddest of our story is yet to
come. The next day, Sunday fore
noon, another fire was set short dis
tance from where the one the day be-
fore originated, and the wind being in
the same direction, and blowing Il great
deal harder, the fire was driven parallel
with the other. About l O'clock it had
reached Grant township, and was COM
ing at a furious speed toward the prem
ises of Mr.. B. F. Aiken. Mr.. Aiken's
oldest child, lad of Is summers, saw
diately mounted Il 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, and
took the blanket upon which he rode
and wet it in the creeE 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 get
ting out of the way of the main head
| fire, but he soon saw that he could not
get out of its way and knew that he
must face the worst. With great pres
ence of mind the brave little fellow
wrapped the wet blanket around his
head and shoulders and turned and ran
with all his might through the 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 fingerless hands he tore
the remainder 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 agonies. His
father, who was 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 ?" asked Mr..
Aiken. ''No, father but let's hurry
home,n was the reply. Mr.. Aiken lifted
the poor fellow upon the horse and
started to lead it home, holding Oh to
the boy with one hand lest he might
fall. They had proceeded in this man
ner but few steps when the suffering
boy said, "Oh, father, let me have the
reins; | can't stand it to go so sow."
L lie ldCueT OUcy Gu, anu L Iduh Idu buc
horse at full speed to the house, dis
mounted, 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 mean
time the almost 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 two the
next morning. He was burned in
ternally, which caused his death SO
suddenly. His limbs up to bis knees
aud 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, frequently asked him
to have courage, and the brave little
fellow would reply, eyes, father, | have
got courage, and think will stand il
all right"